Bloomberg: Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad must be pleased at how, within a week, the conversation has shifted from his regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons to an international peace conference on Syria’s civil war.
U.S. action in Syria could sway Iran on nukes
Iranian cleric: Women can’t be president in Iran
AP: A member of Iran’s constitutional watchdog says women cannot be presidential candidates, effectively killing the longshot bids by about 30 women seeking to run in the June 14 election.
Iran says ready for nuclear talks with world powers
Reuters: Iran is prepared to pursue nuclear diplomacy with world powers before or after next month’s presidential election in the Islamic Republic, its chief negotiator said on Thursday.
Senators urge Obama to press Iran by increased sanctions
Bloomberg: Members of Congress from both parties today urged Obama administration officials to impose greater economic pressure to curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions and punish its human-rights violations.
US targets Iran rial, gold imports in sanctions pressure
AFP: The United States is working to block sales of gold to Iranians in order to undermine their currency the rial and to step up pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program, officials said Wednesday.
US slams ‘repression’ in run-up to Iran polls
AFP: US officials Wednesday slammed a campaign of “unrelenting repression” ahead of Iran’s presidential elections, and said the outcome would be very hard to predict amid a secret vetting process.
UN fails again to reach nuke probe deal with Iran
AP: U.N. nuclear agency officials on Wednesday again failed to reach a deal with Iranian counterparts that would allow the agency to relaunch its probe of suspicions that Tehran might have worked on atomic arms.
U.S. State Department: Iran sanctions ‘potentially’ having impact on nuclear program
Wall Street Journal: U.S. economic sanctions on Iran are likely changing the thinking of its leadership toward its nuclear program, administration officials told a Senate foreign relations panel Wednesday.
U.N. watchdog, EU’s Ashton to press Iran in nuclear dispute
Reuters: Iran faces international pressure over its nuclear program in two separate meetings on Wednesday, but no breakthrough is expected with the Islamic state focused on next month’s presidential election.
Iran hard-liners urge election ban on 2 candidates
AP: Hard-line Iranian lawmakers have petitioned authorities to bar two contenders – a moderate former president and a protege of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – from running in next month’s presidential election.
