AFP: An Iranian court has condemned a man convicted of robbing chocolates and cocoa from a Tehran pastry shop to have a hand chopped off, Fars news agency reported on Saturday.
Iranian chocolate thief ‘to have hand chopped off’
Iraqi Allawi tells CNN Iran funds, directs terrorism in Mideast
Bloomberg: Iran is trying to destabilize Iraq and its neighbors, former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi told CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” program.
Activists in Iran support sanctions on regime
Iran Focus: Tehran, Oct. 16 – From the Grapevine… Some parts of Tehran in recent days have been littered with graffiti in support of international sanctions targeting Iran’s theocratic regime.
Foreign minister seeks release of Germans arrested in Iran
AFP: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle personally asked his Iranian counterpart to help secure the release of two Germans arrested in Iran this week, his spokesman said Saturday.
Iraq PM to visit Iran as coalition talks hot up
AFP: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is fighting to keep his job after an inconclusive March 7 general election, is to visit neighbouring Iran soon, a close aide said on Saturday.
In Iran, future of university is in flux
New York Times: The future of Iran’s largest academic institution is in question after the supreme leader stepped into a tug of war this week between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his rival Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was instrumental in vastly expanding and improving the university.
Japanese firm will exit Iran oil project
Wall Street Journal: Japanese oil and natural gas producer Inpex Corp. said it agreed with Iran’s state-owned National Iranian Oil Co. that it will exit from Azadegan oil field.
Iran cleric warns Ahmadinejad over subsidy cuts
Reuters: A senior Iranian cleric warned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government on Friday that its plan to slash huge state subsidies on essentials like food in the coming weeks risked provoking popular dissatisfaction.
Americans accused of spying in Iran should be put on trial, minister says
Bloomberg: Two Americans charged with illegally entering Iran and espionage should be tried, Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi said.
Ahmadinejad sends message to US ‘with Lebanon visit’
AFP: Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Lebanon this week sent a message to Washington that Tehran is a key player in the region and cannot be isolated, Lebanese newspapers said on Friday.
