Kerry surrogate:Kerry will offer Iran a 'Great Bargain'.

Iraq redo how?

Sanctions?

Oh and I didn't know Reuters had emoticons. Cool!

:-D

Iran arms plan 'major threat'

AMMAN: An Iranian nuclear arms buildup would be a "nightmare," German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer warned yesterday, saying Europe is looking to head off any dangerous confrontation with Tehran.

Fischer said an Iranian nuclear challenge only adds to Middle East problems that include bringing security and stability to post-war Iraq, resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict and introducing democratic reforms.

"It would be a nightmare for the region ... if there'd be the beginning of an arms race - a nuclear arms race - in the region," Fischer told reporters in Jordan, where he was meeting with Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher.

"We are in intensive talks with Iran, and we hope the leadership in Tehran would not miscalculate the situation."

Fischer also indicated Germany, France and Britain were near an understanding with Tehran on supplying Iran with nuclear energy technology - a prospect the European have held out if their suspicions about a nuclear weapons programme are alleviated.

"We think we have reached an agreement, and we are ready to fulfil our part step by step and word by word," Fischer said. The Iranians accused the Europeans of backing out on a previous commitment.

Fischer did not elaborate, but said: "We are really very serious to find a way out of a very dangerous, possible confrontation."

Washington has been lobbying for the International Atomic Energy Agency to refer Iran's nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions on Iran.

The German minister is on a regional tour that will include Israel, the Palestinian territories and Egypt. He already has visited Lebanon.

On Iraq, Fischer said Germany still had a different perspective from that of the United States: "The US is our close friend and ... most important ally, but I think we have a different view."

Reflecting on the Iraq situation and Arab-Israeli conflict as well as the need for reform in the Arab world, Fischer said American leadership was needed, but that Europe and others must play a role.

"If you put all three together, it's quite clear (that) we need American leadership," he said.

"But, on the other side, I don't believe this can be done alone by the United States."

"Europe will play an important role in the Quartet," he said, referring to America's partners - including Russia, the United Nations and the European Union - trying to resolve the Mideast conflict.