Reuters: Iran was upbeat on Wednesday after talks with world powers about its nuclear work ended with an agreement to meet again, but Western officials said it had yet to take concrete steps to ease their fears about its atomic ambitions.
Iran upbeat on nuclear talks, West still wary
US lawmakers introduce new Iran sanctions bill
AFP: US lawmakers were introducing legislation Wednesday that would tighten sanctions on Iran, even as Tehran agreed to future talks with world powers over its contested nuclear drive.
After Kazakhstan talks, is Iran for real?
Bloomberg: At the end of multi-party talks today about its nuclear program, Iran’s chief negotiator Saeed Jalili called the two-day session in Kazakhstan a “turning point.” Did he mean it, or was he stretching out negotiations to buy time for the expansion of Iran’s capacity to build nuclear arms?
World powers coax Iran into saving nuclear talks
AP: World powers offered broader concessions than ever to Iran in attempts Wednesday to keep alive diplomatic channels that seek to rein in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program and prevent it from building an atomic weapon.
France, Israel for stronger sanctions on Iran
AFP: Sanctions on Iran over its contested nuclear programme are biting but need to be strengthened further, French President Francois Hollande and his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres said on Friday.
Iran opposition group urges more security in Iraq
AP: An Iranian opposition group urged the U.N. refugee agency Wednesday to provide better protection for its members in Iraq following a mortar attack on their camp near Baghdad airport in which seven people were killed.
Iran: Ignore US opposition to Pakistani gas deal
AP: Iran’s top leader told the visiting Pakistani president on Wednesday that the two countries should ignore U.S. opposition to construction of a gas pipeline.
Netanyahu urges “military sanctions” threat against Iran
Reuters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the international community on Wednesday to threaten Iran with “military sanctions”, saying economic measures are failing to curb Tehran’s nuclear drive.
Iran on edge of recession as sanctions bite: US study
AFP: Tough sanctions on Iran are biting hard, slashing oil revenue and pushing the country close to recession as it seeks ways such as bartering to stay afloat, a US government report said Tuesday.
Iran runs altered images of Michelle Obama gown
AP: Iranian state media has run altered images of first lady Michelle Obama’s Oscars appearance, making her gown look less revealing. The first lady wore a sleeveless, scoop neck gown. The semi-official Fars news agency ran an altered photo that covered her shoulders and neckline with added material.
