Iran Focus: London, Apr. 08 – Iraqi forces on Friday raided a camp belonging to members of Iran’s main opposition group in Iraq’s Diyala Province, north-east of Baghdad, killing 32 people and wounding hundreds.
Iraqi forces kill 32 Iranian dissidents
Malaysia arrests nine Iranians over drug haul
AFP: Malaysian police said Thursday they had dealt a major blow to a drugs syndicate operating across Asia after arresting nine Iranians and seizing more than 70 kilogrammes of methamphetamine.
Pentagon chief: Iran, Qaeda will exploit Arab unrest
AFP: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said in Iraq Thursday that Iran and extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda would try to exploit the unrest sweeping the Arab world.
No solution yet to Iran oil fund row – India bank source
Reuters: No solution has yet been found to a dispute over how India could pay for Iranian oil imports, a source at the State Bank of India said on Thursday and a finance ministry official said the two sides were still exploring options.
U.S. says Iran is meddling in Bahrain
Wall Street Journal: Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the U.S. has “evidence” of Iranian meddling in Bahrain and other Middle Eastern countries hit by political turmoil.
Nuclear-related site detected in Iran: opposition
AFP: A group close to the Iranian opposition in exile said Thursday it has located an industrial site near Tehran that produces components for centrifuges used to enrich uranium.
Iran bans investor foreign exchange trade to prevent ‘fraud’
Bloomberg: Iran banned investors from trading on foreign exchanges in a move the Central Bank said was aimed at protecting Iranians from the risk of “fraud.”
Gulf between Arab-Iran rivals grows stormy
AP: Inside a Kuwaiti palace, military brass hosted senior NATO envoys to discuss closer ties and possible joint naval maneuvers. At the same time in Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was belittling the Western-allied Gulf states for casting Iran as a regional menace.
Iran’s NIOC names new head of international affairs, Shana says
Bloomberg: Mohsen Qamsari was appointed as the National Iranian Oil Co.’s new international affairs director, Shana. the Oil Ministry’s official news website reported.
Iran lawmakers review delays in nuclear plant start, Arman says
Bloomberg: Delays to the start of Iran’s first nuclear power plant, Bushehr, are being reviewed by parliament’s energy committee and discussed with the country’s Atomic Energy Organization officials, Arman reported, citing the committee’s head, Hamid-Reza Katouzian.
