Reuters: China’s top refiner Sinopec Corp will in January buy less than half the crude it typically imports from Iran, trade sources said on Monday, as the two haggle over terms against a backdrop of rising international pressure on Tehran.
China halves Jan Iran oil imports in payment dispute
Iran admits the pain of sanctions
AFP: Western sanctions have taken such a toll on Iran over the past 18 months that now — as the screw is about to be tightened yet further — Tehran’s studied insouciance is slipping, with officials admitting the economic damage being felt.
Iran excludes Polish PGNiG from its gas field
Reuters: Iran has excluded Poland’s state-controlled gas monopoly PGNiG from developing a gas field, accusing the company of dragging its feet over the project, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Monday.
Iran parliament sends condolences over Kim Jong-Il
AFP: Iran’s lawmakers on Monday sent condolences to the parliament of North Korea over the death of Kim Jong-Il, with speaker Ali Larijani saying he grieved the loss of the leader of “the friendly nation,” according to the ISNA news agency.
APNewsBreak: Diplomats say Iran invites nuke aides
AP: Iran has reinstated an offer for U.N. nuclear agency officials to visit Tehran, but is not saying whether they will be able to focus on suspicions that it is secretly working on nuclear arms — a key condition set by the agency, diplomats said Monday.
Russia’s Tatneft denies agreed deal in Iran
Reuters: Russian oil company Tatneft denied on Monday it had agreed to develop an oil field in Iran.
Iran TV shows ‘CIA spy’ speaking of alleged mission
AFP: An alleged CIA agent being held in Tehran is a US citizen of Iranian origin, state television said Sunday in a report showing the young man confessing to his “mission” to infiltrate the intelligence ministry.
U.S., allies step up Iran embargo talks
Wall Street Journal: The Obama administration, its European allies and key Arab states are intensifying discussions on how to maintain stability in the global energy markets in a possible precursor to a formal embargo on Iran’s oil exports and its central bank.
Russian company signs up to develop Iran oil field
Reuters: Iran signed a deal reportedly worth up to $1 billion with Russia’s Tatneft on Sunday to develop an oil field, a rare example of new foreign investment into the oil and gas sector of a country under ever tighter economic sanctions.
Iran releases two Kuwaitis, says were not spies
Reuters: Iran has released two Kuwaitis held for a month, clearing them of spying, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Sunday.
