Tehran faced deeper isolation yesterday after a major Western energy company withdrew from a giant Iranian gas field project and international threats to attack the country’s nuclear facilities grew.
Total, the French energy group, said that it was freezing its role in a $10 billion project to develop the South Pars fields in the Gulf, the world’s largest gas reserves. The decision was a big step in a US campaign to put pressure on Iran to stop enriching uranium.
Iran’s decision to carry out missile tests — with a second round yesterday — also prompted Ehud Barak, the Israeli Defence Minister, to suggest that his country was ready to launch a pre-emptive strike if necessary. “Israel is the strongest country in the region and has proved in the past that it does not hesitate to act when its vital security interests are at stake,” Mr Barak said. Tehran had said this week that Tel Aviv would be “set on fire” if Israel were to attack.
Iran’s warlike language led to a warning yesterday from Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State. “We are sending a message to Iran that we will defend American interests and the interests of our allies,” she said.
>>>Person | About | Day |
---|---|---|
نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |
Why profanity?
by News Goffer on Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:01 AM PDTDear Shiny Head: Thank you for your contributions in this section. Please refrain from using profanities in your supertitles. People who are interested in reading the news will read this section whether or not the title is "catchy."