AFP: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday urged greater pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme as he met Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Jerusalem.
Israel’s Netanyahu urges greater pressure on Iran
Tehran’s winning streak
The Hill: As the Middle East teems with masses yearning for relief from authoritarian rule, economic hardship and censored communications, Iran should be a prime candidate for popular unrest.
Putin to visit Iran for nuclear talks
AFP: President Vladimir Putin is to visit Iran in August to try and restart talks on Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme, Russia’s Kommersant daily reported on Wednesday.
India’s Iranian oil imports more than halve in June -trade
Reuters: India’s imports of crude oil from Iran more than halved in June from a year ago, as refiner Essar Oil became the only remaining Indian client of the sanctions-hit country, tanker data obtained by Reuters showed.
Congress, Obama at odds over new Iran sanctions
AP: Congress is considering a new series of hard-hitting Iran sanctions on everything from mining and construction to the Islamic republic’s already besieged oil industry, despite concern from the Obama administration that the measures could interfere with nuclear negotiations.
Iran seeks respite from sanctions in Iraq
Wall Street Journal: Iran has agreed to supply Iraq with natural gas in a four-year, $14.8 billion deal that offers Tehran a respite from sanctions and Iraq a needed energy source, and has already prompted concerns in Washington.
Iran condemns EU’s blacklisting of Hezbollah
Reuters: Iran condemned on Tuesday the European Union’s decision to put the armed wing of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on its terrorism blacklist and said the move was “contrary to all political and legal norms, surprising and unacceptable”.
Gulf’s crackdown on Hezbollah may endanger Lebanon cash flow
Bloomberg: Officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, met this month to coordinate action against Hezbollah supporters in the region, after labeling it a terrorist group last month, a move matched by the European Union yesterday.
Iran mobile company indicted for ”insulting Sunnis”
BBC: Authorities in Iran have indicted the main mobile network operator, Irancell, on charges of insulting Sunni Muslims in an SMS competition. Irancell was strongly criticised by Iran’s Sunni community over the contest, which allegedly insulted the Sunni’s revered Calipha, Omar.
Iran: US, Israel not invited to inauguration
AP: Iran’s Foreign Ministry says that the United States and Israel have not been invited to attend the Aug. 4 inauguration of the country’s president-elect. Spokesman Abbas Araghchi told a press conference Tuesday that leaders from all other countries, including Britain, have been invited to the swearing-in of Hasan Rouhani.
