AP: Iran’s supreme leader pushed defiant senior clerics to throw their support behind the government Tuesday as he began a 10-day visit to the holy city of Qom, hoping to end a split in the powerful religious establishment over last year’s disputed elections.
Iran’s top leader seeks to secure clerics’ support
Iran planes being refused fuel in Europe
Reuters: Iran confirmed that some companies at European airports were refusing to sell it fuel, and its flag carrier said planes were making unscheduled stops en route to Tehran because they could not refuel in London.
Crisis over Iran atom work may peak in 2011: expert
Reuters: The dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme risks turning into an all-out crisis next year unless Tehran shows seriousness in negotiations expected to resume next month with world powers, an expert on nuclear diplomacy said.
Iran doesn’t need nuclear weapons: Pakistan
AFP: The foreign minister of Pakistan said Monday that Iran had no justification to pursue nuclear weapons and urged the neighboring country to embrace overtures from the United States.
Iran rejects fresh Argentine call for bombing trial
Reuters: Iran has rejected an Argentine proposal to nominate a third country to host a trial of Iranian officials accused by Buenos Aires of masterminding a Jewish center bombing that killed 85 people.
US plays down importance of Maliki visit to Iran
AFP: The United States on Monday played down the importance of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s visit to Tehran, but urged Iran to be a better neighbor to Iraq.
Three Iranian footballers risk jail for kissing woman
Reuters: Three Iranian football players are facing jail for kissing a woman fan in the Islamic state where physical contact between unrelated men and women is legally forbidden, an Iranian website reported on Monday.
U.S. envoy to meet with Iran’s neighbors
Wall Street Journal: The Obama administration dispatched its point man on Iran sanctions to Turkey and Azerbaijan, as the U.S. attempts to further constrict trade flows between Tehran and its closest neighbors.
Namibian uranium mine mulls action on Iran stake
Reuters: A Namibian uranium mine majority-owned by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto said it is considering what to do with a stake held by the Iranian government in light of the latest U.N. sanctions.
Iraq’s Maliki meets rival al-Sadr in Iran: report
Reuters: The Iraqi prime minister met his erstwhile Shi’ite Muslim rival in Iran Monday, state television said, as Tehran moved to patch over their differences to help ensure Iraq’s next government is led by Shi’ites.
