Reuters: Iranian natural gas flows to Turkey were halted after an explosion and could take up to a week to resume after repairs are completed, officials at the Turkish pipeline operator Botas said on Wednesday.
Iran-Turkey gas pipeline hit by blast, flow stopped
Iran Central Bank head seeks import reduction
AP: An Iranian state-owned newspaper quotes the country’s Central Bank governor as saying imports should be decreased in response to the sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program.
Carla Sarkozy urges clemency for Iranian sentenced to stoning
Bloomberg: French first lady Carla Bruni- Sarkozy published a letter today in three national media outlets supporting an Iranian mother sentenced to death by stoning after being convicted of adultery.
Kuwait concerned over Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant
AFP: Kuwait has expressed safety concerns over Iran’s new nuclear reactor on the opposite side of the Gulf, fearing fallout from possible leaks, the official news agency KUNA reported.
Iraq’s banks urge privatisation of state lenders
AFP: Iraq’s privately-owned banks have called for the country’s state-owned lenders to be privatised to break up a near monopoly in lending by politicians whose actions remain stuck in the Saddam-era.
Mideast talks will fail: Iran
AFP: Direct peace talks between Israel and Palestinians will fail as long as the “root” of the problem remained, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday.
Residents in western Iran city snub officials’ request for cash
Iran Focus: Tehran, Aug. 23 – From the Grapevine… Officials in the western city of Aligoodarz are taking boxes, marked with “contribution”, to people’s homes and collecting them at the end of each month.
Ahmadinejad names controversial aide Mideast envoy
Reuters: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has defied calls to fire one of his closest aides and appointed him envoy to the Middle East instead, suggesting that for now he may have the upper hand over his critics.
US concerned about Iran’s assault boats, drone
AFP: The United States said Monday that Iran’s unveiling of new assault boats and an aerial drone highlights US concerns about the Islamic republic’s growing military capabilities.
Iran to raise baby girls as Basij members
RFE/RL: A female commander of the pro-government Basij militia, Zohreh Abbasi, has said that her unit has introduced a special program that allows baby girls to be registered as members of the force and receive training.
