Reuters: Saudi Arabia will not seek to replace Iranian oil in the case of oil sanctions against Iran, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said on Wednesday.
Iran says Saudi won’t fill Iran gap in oil embargo
Iran to move enrichment operations if needed – report
Reuters: Iran will move its uranium enrichment plants to safer sites if necessary, a Revolutionary Guards commander was quoted on Wednesday as saying, following speculation that Tehran’s enemies could attack the facilities.
Iran denies plan to close vital oil-transit strait
AFP: Iran on Wednesday deflated a rumour about it closing the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most strategic transit points for oil — by saying such a move was “not on the agenda.”
Iran says Saudi visit aimed to refute US claims
AP: Iran’s foreign ministry says a rare visit by the country’s intelligence chief to Saudi Arabia sought to refute U.S. claims that Tehran planned to kill the kingdom’s ambassador to Washington.
Iran crude exports to China’s Sinopec to fall a third in Jan
Reuters: Iran’s crude exports to China Sinopec Corp for January loading are set to fall by about 165,000 barrels per day, or a third from December, as the Chinese firm and its Iranian counterpart haggle over terms to renew a 2012 supply pact, Chinese industry sources told Reuters.
Iran did not shoot down drone: key US lawmaker
AFP: A key US lawmaker on Tuesday denied Iran’s claims of having brought down a US drone, saying “technical” problems pulled the state-of-the-art unmanned aircraft from the sky and into Tehran’s hands.
Nokia Siemens to ramp down Iran operations
Reuters: The world No. 2 mobile telecom equipment maker Nokia Siemens Networks will start to gradually ramp down its business in Iran, pressured by tightening international sanctions.
US sanctions 2 Iran military figures
AFP: The United States placed sanctions Tuesday on two top Iranian military figures for their roles in the brutal crackdown on dissenters in the wake of the June 2009 election.
Iran lawmakers pass Syria free trade bill
AFP: Iran’s parliament on Tuesday passed a bill for a free trade agreement with Syria in a show of support for President Bashar al-Assad’s regime beset by protests and international pressure.
Iran indicts 15 ‘American and Zionist’ spies
AP: Iran’s official news agency says the country’s judiciary has issued indictments against 15 ‘American and Zionist’ spies.
