Washington Post: An influential former Iranian president on Tuesday criticized the government in unusually blunt terms, saying that it is not taking U.S.-led sanctions seriously enough and that Iran could become a “dictatorship.”
Cleric says sanctions in Iran are a threat
EXCLUSIVE: Venezuela cancels round-trip ‘terror flight’ to Syria and Iran
Fox News: A Venezuelan airline’s “mystery” flight that shuttled among the capitals of three of the world’s most terror-friendly nations — Venezuela, Syria and Iran — has abruptly canceled its regularly scheduled departures amid accusations that it was used primarily to transport spies, terrorists and lethal cargo among the pariah counties.
Ahmadinejad says Iran, Africa wants new world order
AFP: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran and Africa wanted a new world order to replace the existing one which has been created by “slave masters,” as he opened an Iran-Africa conference on Tuesday.
Obama welcomes Iran release, urges freeing of other hikers
AFP: US President Barack Obama Tuesday welcomed Iran’s release of US citizen Sarah Shourd, but urged Tehran to also free two compatriots who were held with her and “other missing or detained Americans.”
Sanctions deter some Turkish banks from Iran trade
Reuters: Several Turkish banks with close ties to the European Union and the United States have halted financial trade with Iran due to United Nations sanctions though others could step in, according to Iran’s Bank Mellat.
Iranian diplomat defects, says seeks Norway asylum
AFP: An Iranian diplomat called Tuesday for an uprising against the Tehran government, as he became the third Europe-based envoy to defect this year and announced he was seeking asylum in Norway.
Rafsanjani urges Iran not to dismiss sanctions
AFP: Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani urged Iranian officials on Tuesday against dismissing international sanctions as “jokes,” saying the Islamic republic was facing its worst ever “assault” from the global community.
Iran frees American woman hiker on bail
AFP: Iran released American hiker Sarah Shourd on bail Tuesday, in a case which has highlighted deep divisions between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government and the conservative judiciary.
Ayatollah speaks of plot to abuse Koran
New York Times: Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a fiery address on Monday accusing the United States government of orchestrating desecrations of the Koran by right-wing American Christian groups last weekend, Iranian state news agencies reported.
Ahmadinejad under pressure inside and outside Iran
Reuters: Pressure mounted on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at home and abroad on Tuesday as his government’s disputes with the West deepened.
