Eight people were killed and 12 injured when a train traveling from Mashhad to Tehran derailed about 700 kilometers east of Tehran. It was the deadliest accident since February 2004 when a runaway train carrying fuel and industrial chemicals derailed, setting off explosions that destroyed five villages killing more than 200 people in northeastern Iran.1

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged Tehran to work towards allaying Western fears over its nuclear programme. He also stated that Western powers should take a sober approach and not push Iran into a corner by imposing fresh sanctions. Mr. Lavrov added that Russia was unhappy with Tehran’s dismissal of the UN-brokered proposal to send uranium to France and Russia for enrichment.2

• 1. ‘Eight killed in Iran train derailment’, Khaleej Times, January 23, 2010 at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2...
• 2. ‘Russia warns against rushing to Iran sanctions’, Khaleej Times, January 23, 2010 at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2...