Across Asia: Iran

Iran won't bow to pressure

Iran will not give up its rights in the face of Western pressure, its supreme leader said yesterday, two days after major powers said they would make a new offer to convince Teheran to halt its nuclear plans.

State television said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cited "some recent threats by arrogant powers", a reference to the Islamic Republic's Western foes. The United States has recently repeated it wants diplomacy to end the nuclear row but will not rule out military action.

(China Daily 05/05/2008 page6)