AFP: The announcement reflected the strain on the Navy’s fleet since President Barack Obama decided to maintain two aircraft carrier groups at all times in the Gulf, a policy driven by concerns over tensions with Iran.
Repairs force US Navy to cut back carriers in Gulf
Analysis: With eye on Iran, Gaza conflict reassures Netanyahu
Reuters: Both on the diplomatic and military front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will draw some comfort from his offensive against Gaza as he switches his gaze once more to his main strategic challenge — Iran.
Turkey swaps gold for Iranian gas
Wall Street Journal: Turkey on Friday acknowledged that a surge in its gold exports this year is related to payments for imports of Iranian natural gas, shedding light on Ankara’s role in breaching U.S.-led sanctions against Tehran.
Iran criticizes Turkish request for Patriots
AP: Iran lashed out Friday at Turkey for requesting that NATO supply it with Patriot surface-to-air missiles to deploy along the border with Syria, denouncing the step by Ankara as counterproductive.
Turkey request for missiles ‘new act of provocation’: Syria
AFP: Syria said on Friday plans by Turkey to site Patriot missiles along its border was “a new act of provocation,” while allies Iran and Russia warned the move would complicate the situation and could spark a regional conflagration.
Two powers, Qatar and Iran, try to sway Hamas
AP: The courtship of Hamas between rivals Iran and Qatar has been one of the Middle East’s intriguing subplots of the Arab Spring. The bloodshed in Gaza has now sharpened their competition for influence with the Palestinian militant group and the direction it takes in the future.
Iran and Egypt won in Gaza
Bloomberg: Israel and Hamas have claimed victory after their 8-day conflict, but both probably lost. The clear winners, for now, are Iran and Egypt’s President Mohamed Mursi.
‘Pakistan, Iran should establish banking channel’
News International: Abbas Ali Abdollahi, the outgoing consul general of Iran, has said that Pakistan and Iran should establish banking channel for the promotion of bilateral trade, according to a statement on Thursday.
Middle East shifts may weaken Iran’s influence with Palestinians
Los Angeles Times: Iran, which has for years supplied Hamas with weapons, is up against the new Egypt for the militant group’s loyalty. Changes in Syria could also weaken Iran.
Blogger’s death in Iran window onto cyber patrols
AP: In his last blog entry, activist Sattar Beheshti wrote that Iranian authorities had given him an ultimatum: Either stop posting his “big mouth” attacks against the ruling system or tell his mother that she will soon be in mourning.
