Reuters: Yemen’s president has asked his Iranian counterpart to stop backing armed groups on its soil after coastguards seized a consignment of missiles and rockets believed sent by the Islamic Republic, a government official said on Thursday.
Yemen demands Iran halts support for insurgents
Iran wants closer ties with Egypt
AP: After decades of mistrust, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday his country wanted closer relations with Egypt, something that if realized could mean a new and powerful alliance that could reshape the turbulent Middle East.
Iran’s Khamenei rebuffs U.S. offer of direct talks
Reuters: Iran’s highest authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday slapped down an offer of direct talks made by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden last week, saying they would not solve the problem between them.
US expands sanctions on Iran to press nuclear case
AFP: The United States on Wednesday tightened sanctions on Iran to further choke off its oil income, saying it was necessary to increase pressure on Tehran over its suspected nuclear weapons program.
Iran releases Ahmadinejad ally linked to deaths
AP: Iran’s official news agency is reporting that authorities have released a close ally of the president from custody, a day after he was arrested over an alleged role in the torture and killing of prisoners.
Bulgaria blames Hezbollah for deadly anti-Israeli bomb
AFP: Bulgaria has blamed Hezbollah for a July 2012 bomb attack that killed five Israeli tourists, leading to renewed calls on the EU to declare the Lebanese movement a “terrorist” organisation.
Egypt’s top cleric scolds Ahmadinejad over interference
AFP: Egypt’s top cleric has told visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad not to interfere in the affairs of Bahrain or other Gulf states, and to uphold the rights of his country’s Sunni minority.
Iran faces oil-cash squeeze as U.S. bolsters sanctions
Bloomberg: Iran faces a fresh obstacle to turning its most lucrative export into cash as the U.S. tightens sanctions this week to keep importers from paying for the oil with dollars and euros.
Analysis: Diplomatic window closing on Iran
AP) — Judging by its expanding nuclear program, harsh sanctions against Iran have done little but impose hardship on its people, while diplomacy has also failed to slow the Islamic Republic’s atomic progress.
Iranian ex-prosecutor arrested as power struggle flares
Reuters: A former Iranian prosecutor linked to the deaths of anti-government protesters was arrested on Tuesday as a public showdown between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his big political rival, Ali Larijani, gathers pace.
