Thursday, 06 May 2010 
The chief U.N. nuclear official said Wednesday he is launching a new effort to resolve questions about alleged atomic weapons research by Iranian scientists, hinting at a firmer stance by the U.N. watchdog agency in seeking answers from Iran about its nuclear intentions, reported Washington Post Thursday.

The United States and its allies are making progress on drafting new U.N. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, but there is still work to do to reach a final document, a top U.S. official said on Friday.

"We're going to continue our efforts in New York and in capitals through the beginning of next month and as long as it takes to get a strong and sound resolution passed," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said.

 Iran announced new naval war games on Tuesday and revealed that one of its military aircraft had photographed a U.S. aircraft carrier, a day after Washington said Tehran was challenging its sea power in the Middle East.

The plane flew over the carrier in the Sea of Oman and took pictures of it, a senior Iranian commander was quoted as saying on Tuesday. Navy commander Habibollah Sayari did not say when the incident took place, but suggested that the U.S. ship's crew had objected to the Iranian action.

A top US Republican lawmaker on Tuesday made a sweeping election-year attack on President Barack Obama's foreign policy, blasting a landmark nuclear cuts treaty with Russia and efforts to engage Iran.

With six months before November mid-term elections, Representative Eric Cantor urged US voters to back Republicans at "a pivotal time for America to restore its credibility by pursuing peace through strength."