Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are considering Bush administration budget requests for building new nuclear weapons, a move supporters say will create safer warheads. Critics say the move could undermine global non-proliferation efforts. VOA's Stephanie Ho reports from Washington, where a House Appropriations subcommittee recently heard arguments for and against the new plan.

The U.S. Navy is conducting its largest war games in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq at a time of increasing tensions with Iran.

Iran says it is limiting cooperation with the United Nations nuclear agency after the Security Council imposed new sanctions. A government spokesman says Iran will reconsider when its case is returned to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution authorizing expanded sanctions against Iran for its continuing failure to halt uranium enrichment. After the vote, Iran dismissed the resolution as "unnecessary and unjustified."

The United States says a U.N. Security Council vote increasing sanctions on Iran for failing to halt uranium enrichment could come as early as Saturday. U.S. officials say visas have been issued to allow Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to deliver a statement at the concluding council session on the resolution. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

U.N. diplomats say sponsors of a resolution aimed at imposing more sanctions on Iran for its refusal to stop enriching uranium are ready to put it to a vote. The diplomats say they hope the U.N. Security Council will vote on the resolution Saturday.

The Senate committee that oversees U.S. banking heard testimony yesterday about the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions on Iran. The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote on a new resolution toughening the existing sanctions. Meanwhile, Iranian leaders remain defiant in the face of international pressure to suspend nuclear enrichment. VOA's Sean Maroney reports.

Six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear program came to an abrupt halt today. North Korea's nuclear envoy did not talk to reporters before his sudden departure from Beijing. A statement by host China said the six countries had agreed to meet again "at the earliest opportunity."

South Korean and U.S. negotiators at talks to end North Korea's nuclear programs are indicating rising frustration with delays. North Korea has refused to hold discussions until millions of dollars are transferred to its account in China from a Macau bank. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.

Both Russia and Iran today rejected a report that Russia has told Iran it will withhold fuel for Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant unless Tehran complies to UN demands to suspend its uranium-enrichment program.

"The New York Times," quoting anonymous sources, reports that Russia has threatened to withhold fuel for Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant unless Tehran suspends its uranium-enrichment program, as the UN Security Council demands.

South Africa has offered amendments to a UN Security Council draft resolution expanding sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. South Africa -- this month's council president -- wants a 90-day pause on imposing new sanctions on Iran, something mentioned in the past by Muhammad el-Baradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.