Bloomberg: Iran’s economic difficulties are 20 percent the result of international sanctions, according to Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, the Iranian Students News Agency reported.
Iran’s economic problems only partly blamed on sanctions
Iran offers to insure foreign ships to skirt EU ban
Reuters: Iran said it would insure any foreign ships that enter its waters, in an effort to skirt a European Union ban on insuring ships carrying Iranian crude that has hampered the country’s oil exports.
HSBC hid $16 bn in Iran transactions: US Senate report
AFP: HSBC apologized Tuesday for failing to apply anti-laundering rules and one senior executive resigned, as lawmakers accused the global bank of giving Iran, terrorists and drug dealers access to the US financial system.
Another cyber espionage campaign found targeting Iran
Reuters: Security experts have uncovered an ongoing cyber espionage campaign targeting Iran and other Middle Eastern countries that they say stands out because it is the first such operation using communications tools written in Persian.
U.S. House Committee urges fresh probe of UN agency WIPO
Bloomberg: The U.S. is pressing the World Intellectual Property Organization to allow an external probe of shipments it made to Iran and North Korea because the computer technology could have been used for military applications.
Iran hopes for resumption of high-level nuke talks
AP: Iran says it hopes upcoming talks with an EU official could pave the way for the resumption of high-level negotiations with world powers over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program.
Oil near seven-week high on Iran tension, Fed speculation
Bloomberg: Oil traded near its highest level in seven weeks in New York on estimates that U.S. supplies declined last week, concern that tensions with Iran will worsen and signs that the Federal Reserve may boost stimulus measures.
U.S. Navy attack “threatens regional security”: Iran foreign ministry
Reuters: Iran on Tuesday criticized the actions of a U.S. navy ship that shot at an approaching fishing boat off the United Arab Emirates, saying the incident showed foreign forces threatened regional security.
UN urges peaceful solution to Camp Ashraf standoff
AP: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the Iraqi government and an Iranian opposition group that was given refuge in the country during Saddam Hussein’s rule on Monday to work together to peacefully complete the group’s relocation without further delay.
US uses most forceful language yet to oppose Iran nukes
Daily Telegraph: THE US will “use all elements of its power” to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton declared after meeting top Israeli officials.
