Iran Live: Ahmadinejad Hits The Election Trail

1505 GMT: Nuclear Watch

Ali Asghar Soltanieh, the Iranian envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, has said that Iran can work with the West in the Middle East if the US and European partners take a more cooperative approach in talks over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Soltanieh, asserting that current US and European policies and sanctions were bound to fail:

Western countries are advised to change gear from confrontation to cooperation, the window of opportunity to enter into negotiation for long-term strategic cooperation with Iran, the most reliable, strong and stable partner in the region, is still open.

1315 GMT: Economy Watch

The opposition site Iran Green Voice, citing Fars, says that price-fixing is threatening the car industry, with 130 suppliers already shut down.

1305 GMT: Threat of the Week (Ahmadinejad Edition)

During his tour of Khuzestan, President Ahmadinejad has reportedly warned his political enemies, "If I reveal only a bit of your files, you will have no more place in society."

The weekly 9 Dey has been banned and its editor, MP Hamid Rasaei --- a fervent supporter of the Government in the past --- has been given an 18-month prison sentence and a ban on media activities.

1120 GMT: Terrorism Watch

The Foreign Ministry has denied claims by Canadian police that a planned terrorist attack to derail a passenger train was linked to Al Qaeda elements in the Islamic Republic.

Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Ottawa had “no shred of evidence regarding those who’ve been arrested and stand accused".

He continued, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is the biggest victim of terrorism, but the extremist administration of Canada has put Iranophobia on its agenda over the recent years."

The Canadian police said on Monday that there was no indication of state sponsorship by Iran of the suspected conspiracy. But, announcing the arrest of two men, Assistant Commissioner James Malizia said that the suspects had received “direction and guidance” from “Al Qaeda elements” located in Iran.

He declined to explain how the link to Al Qaeda had been made.

0900 GMT: Nuclear Watch

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has restated Tehran's fundamental conditions for a settlement, referring to Iran's discussions with the 5+1 Powers earlier this month:

During the Almaty 2 talks, two road maps were proposed to the opposite party for the continuation of talks. The first route is step-by-step confidence-building, and is favored by the P5+1. This route is long and time-consuming.

But the second route is a shortcut: Based on the instructions of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei], if the P5+1 countries recognise Iran’s...right to enrichment, avoid the hostile approach and lift sanctions, then everything would go ahead easily and quickly.

Araqchi repeated the Iranian line that representatives of the 5+1 Powers "were not ready enough and did not have the authority" to reach a final agreement with Iran. He said they needed to know the views of their respective governments.

0625 GMT: Election Watch

The formal declaration of candidates for Iran's Presidential election is still two weeks away, but President Ahmadinejad is always working the election trail on behalf of his would-be successor, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai.

Ahmadinejad's latest tour has been in Khuzestan in southwestern Iran, which has a large Arab population. The President's appearance and his rhetoric are tailored to the message that he and Rahim-Mashai are "serving the people and the Revolution", and that others within the system are trying to prevent this.