Iran Focus – Editorial: Another round of negotiations with Iran over its precarious nuclear program took place on December 6-7 in Geneva without any results except an agreement on a date for more talks in January.
Nuclear time-wasting
US urged to strike Iran opposition from terror list
AFP: Several Bush-era officials on Friday urged the Obama administration to strike an Iranian opposition group from a terrorism blacklist and support regime change in Iran.
Three charged in scheme to send money to Iran
Reuters: Three people were charged on Thursday with conspiring to defraud the United States and launder money in a scheme that prosecutors said sent $1.8 million to Iran.
Iran detains family of imprisoned filmmaker
AP: Iranian authorities on Thursday detained family members of an imprisoned documentary filmmaker after they showed up outside a Tehran prison to inquire about his reportedly failing health, an opposition website said.
Gambia denies it was intended recipient of Iran arms
AFP: Gambia rejected Thursday claims that it was the intended recipient of a cargo of weapons from Iran that was intercepted in Nigeria, and accused neighbour Senegal of a campaign of “hatred” over the case.
American accused of trying to sell F-5 to Iran
Philadelphia Inquirer: When a certain F-5 Tiger fighter jet outlived its military use years ago, it was sold for surplus, and the plane became the toy of a rich Californian. He leased it as a big prop for Hollywood movies. This year, the fighter jet became the star of a real-life sting – against an American accused of trying to sell it to Iran.
WikiLeaks: Chevron eyed oil deal involving Iran
AP: Chevron Corp. expressed interest in developing oil reserves straddling the Iran-Iraq border, potentially putting the American energy giant at risk of violating U.S. sanctions against Tehran, according to comments made public in a leaked diplomatic cable.
Iran approached Bedouin for Gaza gun running: cable
Reuters: Egypt’s spy chief told U.S. officials last year Iran was trying to recruit Bedouin in the Sinai Peninsula to help smuggle arms into the blockaded Gaza Strip, a leaked U.S. diplomatic cable said.
New Iran FM to make first foreign foray to Turkey
AFP: Iran’s new acting foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi is to accompany President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a regional summit in Turkey next week, his first foray abroad since taking up the job, the Mehr news agency reported on Wednesday.
Rebel group Jundollah claims Iran attack-TV
Reuters: Sunni Muslim rebel group Jundollah said it was behind an attack which killed dozens in southeastern Iran on Wednesday, Al Arabiya television said.
