AP: A leading academic says there’s not much more the world can do to sanction Iran, and that such penalties could drive Tehran to take radical action.
Expert: Iran sanctions near end of effectiveness
Iranian Guard asserts power over Strait of Hormuz
AP: The top commander of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard insists his force controls shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, gateway for one fifth of the world’s oil.
Japan arrests three for Iran sanctions violations: report
Reuters: Japanese police have arrested two men and a woman in connection with alleged illegal money transfers to an Iranian shipping firm suspected of involvement in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, Japanese media said on Wednesday.
Iran proposes nuclear talks in Egypt
AP: Iran has proposed Cairo as a venue for restarting talks with the U.S. and other world powers over its controversial nuclear program, the country’s foreign minister said Wednesday.
Russia urges Iran to speed up nuclear cooperation
AFP: Russia on Wednesday urged Iran to speed up its answers to the UN nuclear watchdog addressing suspicions that Tehran is operating an atomic weapons programme.
EU says Iran stalling on nuclear talks
Reuters: Iran is stalling on fixing a date and location for a new round of talks on its nuclear program, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Wednesday, but there is still hope that talks between Tehran and six world powers can begin soon.
Netanyahu turns focus to Iran after narrow election win
Reuters: Hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed victory in Israel’s parliamentary election, shrugging off surprise losses to centre-left challengers and vowing to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran currency falls further on concerns over bank
New York Times: Iran’s currency, weakened by Western sanctions and economic mismanagement, has fallen further in value over the past few days in an apparent reaction to a leadership problem at the Central Bank that has stirred new concerns about political tensions.
Iran’s president scoffs at Western sanctions
AP: Iran’s president claims his country can make much more money from inventions than from oil, rendering Western economic sanctions powerless.
Iran may use U.N. nuclear talks to seek leverage with big powers
Reuters: Iran may be holding back from working with a U.N. investigation into its nuclear program to use it as a bargaining chip in pursuit of significant sanctions relief or other concessions in broader negotiations with world powers.
