AFP: An Australian man indicted by a US federal grand jury for plotting to export components for missiles, drones and torpedoes to Iran said Thursday he had no idea his actions were in breach of an embargo.
Australian charged over Iran military parts
Thailand should store crude for producers spooked by Iran threat, PTT says
Bloomberg: Thailand should be used as a base to store crude-oil supplies from Middle East producers spooked by Iran’s threat to shut the Strait of Hormuz, according to the head of the country’s biggest energy company.
AI: Discussions focus on Iran nuclear programme at the expense of human rights
Iran Focus: An Amnesty International report published on Tuesday called on the global community “not to allow tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme or events in the wider region to distract it from pressing Iran to live up to its human rights obligations.”
MEK status on US blacklist may hinge on Iraq camp
Reuters: The United States sent a strong signal on Wednesday that dropping the Mujahadin-e Khalq (MEK) from a U.S. terror blacklist may hinge on the Iranian dissident group’s cooperation in closing its Camp Ashraf base in Iraq.
US skips first chance at new Iran penalties
AP: The Obama administration sidestepped a congressional deadline Wednesday and an opportunity to unilaterally ratchet up economic pressure on Iran by punishing foreign firms that do business there.
Iran suffers ‘crippling effect’ of sanctions
Bloomberg: The cascade of U.S. and European sanctions imposed on Iran is crippling its ability to export oil and conduct trade, hitting the Gulf state’s economy and stoking internal dissent, sanctions specialists and U.S. officials say.
Iranian navy boasts of abilities
UPI: A military leader said the Iranian navy has the capability to cope with military intervention, which is feared to arise in reaction to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Experts: Iran nuke facility not bomb-proof
UPI: The U.S. military says it is confident it could damage Fordow, an underground nuclear facility Iran says is “impregnable.”
UAE FM makes surprise visit to Iran
AFP: The UAE’s foreign minister made an unannounced visit to Iran on Wednesday for talks with his counterpart, state news agency IRNA reported.
US Air Force prepared if diplomacy with Iran fails: general
AFP: The United States has powerful bombs at the ready in the case of possible military action against Iran and work is under way to bolster their firepower, the air force chief said Wednesday.
