AFP: Despite Hagel’s impressive Vietnam War record, some Republicans insist his previous allegedly dovish position on Iran and supposedly lukewarm support for US-ally Israel disqualify him to be defense chief.
Hagel confirmed as next US secretary of defense
Shiite militant threatens Iranian exiles in Iraq
AP: The head of a new Shiite militant group in Iraq on Tuesday threatened to carry out more attacks on a camp for Iranian exiles that was struck by dozens of rockets and mortar shells earlier this month.
Iran said to plan countering offer by world powers
Bloomberg: Iran is preparing a counteroffer to a proposal by the U.S. and its partners to ease some banking, petrochemical and gold sanctions if the nation curbs its atomic activities, according to two officials close to negotiations over the Islamic Republic’s disputed nuclear program.
Researchers say Stuxnet was deployed against Iran in 2007
Reuters: Researchers at Symantec Corp have uncovered a version of the Stuxnet computer virus that was used to attack Iran’s nuclear program in November 2007, two years earlier than previously thought.
Kerry sees ‘diplomatic path’ on Iran nuclear issue
AFP: US Secretary of State John Kerry insisted on Tuesday there was a “diplomatic path” to be forged with Iran on its disputed nuclear programme, as world powers and Tehran held crunch talks.
Ally of Iran president accused in protester deaths
AP: Iran’s state TV says prosecutors have accused a close ally of the Iranian president of involvement in the deaths of detainees during unrest after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed re-election nearly four years ago.
Iran said to deploy aging foreign tankers, avoiding sanctions
Reuters: Iran is using old tankers, saved from the scrapyard by foreign middlemen, to ship out oil to China in ways that avoid Western sanctions, say officials involved with sanctions who showed Reuters corroborating documents.
4th round of talks start over Iran nuclear program
AP: World powers have begun their fourth round of high-level talks with Iranian officials in hopes of stopping the Islamic regime’s nuclear program from making atomic weapons.
US official on trip to push Iran, Syria sanctions
AFP: The United States sent its top sanctions official on a four-country tour this week as it seeks to bolster support of international economic sanctions against Iran and Syria.
Sanctions relief offered in Iranian nuclear talks
AP: World powers, fearful of scuttling negotiations beginning this week with Iran, are offering the Islamic republic some small new sanctions relief in return for curbing its nuclear program. But officials warned Monday that it’s unlikely that any compromise will be reached soon.
