Reuters: EU states drawing up details of an oil embargo on Iran have given wide backing to a proposal to allow European entities to continue to receive repayments in oil for debts they are currently owed by Iranian firms, EU diplomats said.
EU moves towards agreement on details of Iran oil embargo
EU, US slam Iran nuclear work at UN council meeting
Reuters: France, Britain, Germany and the United States on Wednesday took advantage of a closed-door meeting of the U.N. Security Council to condemn Iran’s decision to begin enriching uranium at an underground bunker.
US hits 3 companies with sanctions for Iran links
AP: The Obama administration has hit three energy companies with sanctions for providing large amounts of fuel to Iran.
US denies blame in killing of Iranian scientist
AFP: The United States on Wednesday denied that it was to blame for the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist by a car bomb, after Tehran said Washington and Israel were responsible for the attack.
US seeking to ‘close down’ Iran central bank
AFP: The latest round of American sanctions are aimed at shutting down Iran’s central bank, a senior US official said Thursday, spelling out that intention directly for the first time.
India to cut Iran oil imports, may not seek waiver-sources
Reuters: India’s government has told refiners to reduce Iranian oil imports and find alternatives as New Delhi may not seek a waiver that would protect buyers of Tehran’s oil from a fresh round of U.S. sanctions, two industry sources said on Wednesday.
Treasury Secretary Geithner appeals to China over Iran
Reuters: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner appealed for Chinese cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation on Wednesday in Beijing, as he sought Chinese help on the White House’s efforts to toughen sanctions on Iran.
Bomb blast kills nuclear scientist in Iran; Israel accused
Reuters: An Iranian nuclear scientist was killed by a bomb placed on his car by a motorcyclist in Tehran on Wednesday, and a city official blamed Israel for the attack, similar to attacks on nuclear scientists just over a year ago.
The U.S. needs to intensify sanctions on Iran
Washington Post – Editorial: The flurry of initiatives and threats launched by Iran in the last couple of weeks may betray panic by the regime as it faces a crumbling economy and mounting pressure from the West. The measures are insubstantial; the threats implausible.
Japan ‘very concerned’ over Iran tension
AFP: Japan’s foreign minister, on a Gulf tour to seek assurances over oil supplies, said Tuesday that Tokyo was “very concerned” by escalating tensions with Iran and called for a diplomatic solution.
