Iran has called on the British ambassador to respond to accusations of his government's "interference" in the Islamic Republic, as pro-government rallies continue. Manouchehr Mottaki, the Iranian foreign minister, told a news conference on Tuesday that the ambassador had been summoned over Britain's interference in Iran's domestic affairs.

A Saudi-owned newspaper based in London reported on Wednesday that six of Osama bin Laden s children have been under house arrest in Iran since they escaped Afghanistan in late 2001. According to an article posted on the English-language Web site of Asharq Al-Awsat, the Saudi newspaper, Mr. Bin Laden s 17-year-old daughter Iman has sought refuge in the Saudi Embassy in Iran after succeeding in escaping Iranian guards watching over her. The newspaper added: Iman disclosed in a telephone call to her brother Abdullah who lives in Syria that she and five of her brothers and sisters have been detained by the Iranian authorities since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan at the end of 2001.

TEHRAN (Reuters) Iran would strike back at Israeli weapons manufacturing sites and nuclear installations if the Jewish state attacked the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi was quoted as saying Wednesday.

TEHRAN, Iran Iran claimed Wednesday that a newly built U.N. station to detect nuclear explosions was set up near its border so that world powers could spy on the country, an accusation that underscored the growing bitterness in Tehran's relations with the West.

Navy special forces on Wednesday took control of an Iranian vessel carrying arms intended for Hezbollah in a daring pre-dawn raid not far from Cyprus. The ship was believed to have set out from Iran and later docked in Yemen and Sudan before sailing through the Suez Canal. Its final destination was believed to be either Syria or Lebanon.

Senior Iranian official: If US or Israel attack us, missiles will hit Jewish state before dust settles.