Six world powers are meeting in Brussels to discuss possible measures against Tehran for its refusal to halt nuclear enrichment activities.

Showing impatience with Iranian foot-dragging, President Barack Obama said Thursday that the U.S. and its allies are discussing possible new penalties to bring fresh pressure on Iran for defying international attempts to halt its contested nuclear program.

SINGAPORE—President Barack Obama wrapped up a busy day of diplomacy in Singapore yesterday, saying the U.S. and Russia made progress on reducing nuclear arms and had found common ground on curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Russia said it may back more sanctions on Tehran if it fails to cooperate with nuclear inspectors. Obama said he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to urge Iran “to take the path that leads them to meeting its international obligations.“

The assets include Islamic centers in New York City, Maryland, California and Houston, more than 100 acres in Virginia, and a 36-story office tower in New York.

A senior Iranian prosecutor says three Americans detained on the border with Iraq have been accused of espionage.

Iranian security forces beat anti-government protesters with batons Wednesday on the sidelines of state-sanctioned rallies to mark the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover. The counter-demonstrations were the opposition’s first major show of force on Tehran’s streets in nearly two months.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that Tehran will not give up its nuclear program, but noted that the West and Iran are now cooperating — remarks that appear to reinforce Iran’s support for the general outline of a U.N.-drafted nuclear deal.

Iran’s foreign minister said Monday that Tehran may agree to ship part of its stockpile of low enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment in response to a U.N.-drafted plan.

Iran has convicted an Iranian-American academic for his alleged role in the post-election unrest in the country and sentenced him to more than 12 years in prison.

Iranian investigators are still questioning three American hikers detained in late July after straying across the border and their fate rests with judicial authorities, Iran’s foreign minister said Tuesday.

On Monday, North Korea test-fired five short-range missiles off its coastline. The odd behavior had even Moscow scratching its head. “It was not the most suitable time to do this now, when all efforts are made to restart six-way talks on Korea’s nuclear option,“ a Foreign Ministry official remarked to the Itar-Tass News Agency. North Korea would prefer to forgo the six-party talks and is pushing for the prestige of bilateral discussions with the United States.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says talking about sanctions against Iran could ruin negotiations with Tehran regarding its nuclear program.

The Pentagon is speeding up delivery of a colossal bomb designed to destroy hidden weapons bunkers buried underground and shielded by 10,000 pounds of reinforced concrete.

Administration officials say they are ready to take swift and substantial action against Iran if that country disregards current diplomatic efforts aimed at assuring it will not become a nuclear weapons power.

Iran and six world powers ended a landmark meeting Thursday with an agreement to take a new stab at overcoming years of mistrust generated by Tehran’s nuclear program and meet again this month for wide-ranging discussions on the two sides’ concerns.