Iran Focus: Tehran, Aug. 16 – Iran’s semi-official daily Kayhan, the mouthpiece of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has published a report lambasting former President Bill Clinton and current and former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice.
Iran lambasts the Clintons, Condi Rice
France warns new Iran enrichment plan increases concerns
AFP: France warned on Monday that already serious international concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme have deepened after Tehran said it would start building a third uranium enrichment site next year.
Opposing factions break off coalition talks in Iraq
Reuters: The Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance of former Iraqi premier Iyad Allawi on Monday formally broke off coalition talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, likely prolonging even further the formation of a government.
ANALYSIS-Turks walk diplomatic tightrope in trade with Iran
Reuters: Turkey’s decision to ignore a U.S. ban on gasoline sales to Iran has brought in cash and fostered Turkey’s image as an emerging regional power, but Ankara is unlikely to risk alienating Washington for long.
Iran won’t send woman who faced stoning to Brazil
AP: Iran’s president says authorities won’t send a woman who had faced death by stoning on an adultery conviction to Brazil, which has offered her asylum.
Barclays to pay £190 in sanctions case, U.S. court says
Reuters: Barclays Bank PLC has agreed to pay $298 million (190 million pounds) to settle criminal charges that it violated U.S. sanctions in dealings with Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Myanmar, according to U.S. court documents filed on Monday.
Iran says rise in oil stocks not due to sanctions
Reuters: An increase in Iran’s stocks of crude oil is a result of maintenance work at refineries at home and abroad rather than of international sanctions, a senior official was quoted as saying on Monday.
U.A.E. says it’s checking Iran ties comply with UN
Bloomberg: The United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to the U.S. said his country is checking its trade connections with Iran to be sure they don’t violate United Nations sanctions over the Iranian nuclear program.
Nobel laureates seek action on Iranian mother’s execution
AFP: Public figures including Nobel laureates and Hollywood stars published a letter of support Monday for Iranian mother-of-two Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani who is facing execution for adultery.
Engineer to be sentenced for Iran embargo charge
AP: A Princeton-educated man convicted of violating the Iran trade embargo after his family sent him millions of dollars is to be sentenced by a federal judge in New York.
