AFP: EU nations Thursday agreed to sanction Iran’s central bank, freezing assets used to finance its nuclear drive, but have yet to clinch an oil embargo deal that could penalise debt-hit Greece.
EU to sanction Iran bank, Greece holds up oil embargo
Japan oil industry likely to cut Iran imports in 3 mths time
Reuters: Japan’s oil industry is likely to cut its purchases of Iranian crude oil in about three months as Tokyo grapples with a new U.S. sanctions law, Akihiko Tembo, president of the Petroleum Association of Japan (PAJ), said on Thursday.
Iran says in touch with powers on new talks, U.S. denies
Reuters: Iran said it was in touch with world powers to reopen talks soon on its nuclear program, but Washington and the European Union denied this and said they were still waiting for Tehran to show it was ready for serious negotiations.
China’s Wen defends Iran oil, warns on nuclear aims
Reuters: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao defended his country’s extensive oil trade with Iran against Western sanctions pressure in comments published on Thursday, and yet also warned Tehran against any effort to acquire nuclear weapons.
Syria’s Brotherhood rejected Iran-mediated deal
Reuters: Iranian officials contacted Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood to try to mediate a political solution to a 10-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad but their efforts were rebuffed, a senior Brotherhood member said on Wednesday.
U.S. mulls options for slashing Iran’s oil revenues
Reuters: The Obama administration, still grappling with how to punish a nuclear-ambitious Iran, is focusing on making countries cut purchases of Iranian oil, rather than allowing them to avoid U.S. sanctions simply by winning price cuts.
Iran currency hits new low in blackmarket trading
AFP: Iran’s currency, the rial, hit a record low against the dollar on Wednesday, the ISNA news agency reported, based on rates in blackmarket trading that the government has tried to ban.
Obama: Iran’s economy a ‘shambles’ after sanctions
AFP: US President Barack Obama said US-led sanctions had reduced Iran’s economy to a “shambles,” in a robust defense of his policy towards Tehran following sharp Republican attacks.
Panetta: US ‘fully prepared’ for an Iran challenge
AP: The U.S. military is now “fully prepared” to deal with any Iranian effort to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital Gulf avenue for international oil shipments, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday.
France’s Juppe sees EU sanctions on Iran Monday
Reuters: EU foreign ministers are expected to agree on an oil embargo against Iran and a freeze on the assets of its central bank at a meeting scheduled for Monday, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said.
