Tehran, July 29 : Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today urged Pakistan to respect and maintain the sanctity of the cease-fire that the two countries had agreed to in November 2003 for the sake of peace, stability and future progress in the composite dialogue process.

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that the world was entering a "new phase" in which the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) could turn into an alternative to the United Nations Security Council.

Speaking at the 15th NAM foreign ministers' meeting in Tehran, Ahmadinejad once again criticized the UN Security Council for serving the interests of world powers rather than all of its member states.

Tehran, July 28 : India is to lobby for the US-India civil nuclear deal at the Ministerial meeting of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrives here a shortwhile ago to attend that meeting which from New Delhi’s point of view is being seen as the final countdown for the voting on India specific safeguards agreement at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which is set to take place early next month.

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed Saturday that the world powers have agreed that Iran could have up to 6000 centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear plant in the centre of the country.

State media quoted Ahmadinejad as saying the five United Nations veto powers plus Germany have said that the operation of 5000 to 6000 centrifuges would be "no problem" and basis for continuing nuclear talks.

According to Ahmadinejad, Iran last April started installation of 6,000 new centrifuges of which, he said Saturday, 5,000 have in the meantime become operational.

Tehran - Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani said Friday that Tehran would not accept any ultimatum in the talks on its nuclear programme.

"We have agreed to talk (with the world powers) on the issue for finding a settlement (in the nuclear dispute) and are indeed hopeful to do so," Rafsanjani said at the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran.

"But again they (world powers) come up with ultimatums, timetables and even threats which are unacceptable for Iran," added the moderate cleric who is one of the most vehement critics of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Cairo - Egypt has shut down the Cairo office of an Iranian television channel, saying it was operating without a mandatory broadcasting licence, security sources said Thursday.

The closing of the office of al-Alam channel, which broadcasts in Arabic from Tehran, came weeks after an Iranian documentary film on the assassin of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat was aired in Iran.

An official from al-Alam said the channel had nothing to do with the film, according to the Dubai-based al-Arabiya news broadcaster.