China has proposed changes to a U.S.-drafted resolution that would impose tough new sanctions against Iran to pressure the Islamic Republic to start negotiations on its suspect nuclear program, U.N. diplomats said Wednesday.

Supporters of President Obama's engagement policy argued that if Tehran rejected U.S. diplomacy, Iran's belligerence would become obvious to the international community, justifying a more aggressive policy that would have strong international backing. There are two flaws with this thinking.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was pointedly left off the guest list for last week's Washington summit on nuclear security, which was attended by 47 world leaders... But Ahmadinejad is never one to stay home waiting forlornly for the phone to ring

"We have to expand bilateral relations, particularly with Azerbaijan, in the field of culture and tourism." [Iranian Culture Minister] Mohammad Hosseini welcomed the Days of Azerbaijani Culture which are to be held in Iran in May.

Saudi Arabia and Iran, two major regional powers bordering Iraq, have been a focal point for talks between competing Iraqi factions since the March 7 elections. Damascus, a crucial player in regional politics, is keen not to be overshadowed by Tehran and Riyadh.

In addition to the U.S., as a regional power and non-permanent UN Security Council member, Turkey's stance on the issue is crucial. Turkey leads the camp favoring another attempt at a mutually agreed-upon resolution.

The BBC has issued an apology for distorting the name of the Persian Gulf in one of its travel programmes, insisting it was a “genuine mistake” for calling the waterway the ‘Arabian Gulf.’

Panelists asserted that even in the face of severe government repression, the vibrancy of Iran’s blogosphere is offering the international community opportunities to develop citizen diplomacy and people-to-people connections with Iranians.