Reuters: Many Iranian householders have been stunned by huge electricity bills after the government suddenly withdrew fuel subsidies without warning exactly when the cuts would fall.
Iranians shocked by power bills as subsidy slashed
Iran coach targets fifth West Asian cup title
AFP: Iranian nation football team coach Afshin Ghotbi has said that he hopes to guide his side to a fifth title win in the West Asia Football Federation (WAFF) championship to be held in Jordan.
West presses Iran to join broad nuclear talks
Reuters: Western powers pressed Iran on Tuesday to enter wide-ranging talks about its disputed nuclear program, with France telling Tehran this was the alternative to “costly” sanctions on the major oil producer.
Iran criticizes its diplomats’ defections
AP: Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman has criticized the country’s two diplomats who defected this month in Europe, saying they chose to stay abroad for “personal interests.”
Iran says ready for nuclear talks with world powers
AFP: Iran is ready for talks with world powers “in the near future” on its nuclear drive, foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters on Tuesday.
U.S. must consider military force against Iran, Sen. Graham says
McClatchy Newspapers: Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Monday that the United States must be prepared to use military force to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon – and added that the last-resort step should be taken with the goal of overthrowing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Gulf states have ordered $123 billion of U.S. weaponry, FT says
Bloomberg: Arab states around the Persian Gulf have ordered U.S. weapons systems worth a total of $123 billion “to counter Iran’s military power,” the Financial Times reported.
Iran’s paramilitary force gets new missile
AP: Iran’s defense minister says the country’s powerful Revolutionary Guard has received its first batch of new missiles with enhanced guidance systems to hit ground targets.
Lawmaker wary of China/Iran ties
Reuters: Wary that Chinese oil companies could be undermining new U.S. sanctions against Iran, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said he would push the Obama administration to investigate.
Iran’s parliament outlines policies to counter UN sanctions
Bloomberg: Iran’s parliament outlined policies aimed at countering United Nations sanctions over the country’s nuclear program, the head of the body’s economic committee said.
