AFP: The visit of two Iranian naval ships to Sudan reflects strong ties between the countries, Sudan’s military said on Tuesday after Khartoum denied Iranian involvement in weapons manufacturing.

AFP: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to travel to France on Wednesday for talks with President Francois Hollande with the Iranian nuclear programme topping the agenda.

AP: Iran’s regular army has begun a two-day ground and air military exercise aimed at upgrading its combat readiness and increasing its deterrence against possible attacks.

AFP: Tehran on Tuesday asked Iraq not to stop and search its Syria-bound aircraft despite US pressure to do so, after Baghdad inspected Iranian planes twice this month.

Reuters: Japan is seeking an exemption from proposed new U.S. sanctions against Iran that could effectively freeze Tehran’s use of payments for oil, the Nikkei business daily reported on Tuesday, citing sources.

Reuters: Iran banned the export of around 50 basic goods, its media said on Tuesday, as the country takes steps to preserve supplies of essential items in the face of tightening Western sanctions.

Reuters: Japan’s crude oil imports from Iran fell about 38 percent in September from a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Tuesday, as western sanctions continued to squeeze exports from the Middle Eastern country.

AP: The Iranian national symphony orchestra has been disbanded for lack of funds, musicians said Monday, another sign of the effects of Western economic sanctions.

AFP: Sudan’s foreign ministry on Monday denied that Iran had any involvement in a military factory which Khartoum says was attacked by Israeli aircraft last week.