AP: Police have closed down dozens of toy shops for selling Barbie dolls in Iran, part of a decades-long crackdown against “manifestations of Western culture,” the semiofficial Mehr news agency reported Friday.
Agency: Iran shuts down shops selling Barbie dolls
US, Europe trying to pressure Iran into nuke talks
AP: The United States and its European allies joined Friday in saying they would try to pressure Iran back into nuclear negotiations despite the Islamic republic’s failure after three months to answer the nations’ terms for talks.
Edano: told U.S. that Japan imports of Iran crude falling
Reuters: Japanese Trade Minister Yukio Edano said on Friday he told visiting U.S. officials that Japan’s imports of Iranian crude oil are on the decline, and the trend will continue.
China shops around for oil, wary of Iran, Arab Spring
Wall Street Journal: China signed billions of dollars in deals with key U.S. allies during its premier’s visit to the Persian Gulf, forging ahead with long-term efforts to rely less on its traditional oil suppliers, including Iran—even as it publicly brushes aside U.S. and European pressure to cut its Iranian imports.
U.S. navy says it assists third Iranian crew in distress
New York Times: For the third time in less than a month, an American naval vessel came to the aid of Iranian mariners near the Persian Gulf, providing food and water to the crew of a sinking fishing dhow in the central Arabian Sea, the Navy said Thursday.
At least 100 hurt in Iran earthquake: reports
AFP: A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the area of the city of Neyshabour in northeast Iran on Thursday, injuring at least 100 people and damaging several houses, state media reported.
Britain pulls plug on Iran’s Press TV
Reuters: Iranian news channel Press TV disappeared from British television screens on Friday after Britain’s independent media regulator revoked its license in a move likely to fan diplomatic tensions with the Islamic Republic.
EU readies unprecedented Iran oil, bank sanctions
AFP: The European Union is readying its toughest action to date against Iran, moving to dry up funding of its contested nuclear drive by targeting both its oil and financial sector, diplomats said Friday.
Senators tell Geithner not to ease Iran sanctions law
Reuters: Senators on Thursday warned Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner not to weaken a new law aimed at thwarting Iran’s nuclear ambitions by allowing countries to use different criteria to escape financial sanctions.
Exclusive – Turkey works to cut dependence on Iranian oil
Reuters: Turkish refiner Tupras plans to cut its dependence on imports of Iranian oil and will meet Saudi Arabian authorities this month, industry sources familiar with the company’s strategy said on Thursday, as Western powers crack down on Iran’s oil sales.
