Reuters: Iran is far apart from the six world powers negotiating with it over scaling back its nuclear programme, but that gap could be narrowed in talks next week, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Monday. Iran and the powers failed to meet a July 20 target date for an agreement and are due to hold their first negotiating round since then in New York on Sept. 18.
Ashton: Gap with Iran over nuclear programme can be narrowed
Iran’s supreme leader undergoes prostate surgery
AP: Iran’s supreme leader underwent prostate surgery on Monday at a government hospital in Tehran, state media said in a rare report on the state of health of the country’s top cleric. The 75-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters in Iran and has been the country’s top leader since 1989, was reported to be recovering.
Iraq parliament to convene for government vote
AFP: Iraq’s parliament is to meet on Monday to vote on a new government in a key moment for the country which is battling to regain territory from jihadist-led militants. “The Council of Representatives will hold a session… to form the government,” said an invitation from parliament for media to attend. If a government is not agreed, this will mean a return to the start of the contentious process.
Henry Kissinger: Iran ‘a bigger problem than ISIS’
Huffington Post: In an interview with NPR Kissinger explained that because Iran has a stronger footing in the Middle East, it has a greater opportunity to create an empire. “The borders of the settlement of 1919-’20 are essentially collapsing,” he said. “That gives Iran a very powerful level from a strategic point of view. I consider Iran a bigger problem than ISIS.”
Iran fails to address nuclear bomb concerns – IAEA
Reuters: Iran has failed to address concerns about suspected atomic bomb research by an agreed deadline, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday, a setback to hopes for an end to an international stand-off over Tehran’s atomic activity. The lack of movement in an inquiry by the International Atomic Energy Agency will disappoint the West.
Iran arrests suspected nuclear plant ‘saboteur’
AP: Iranian authorities have arrested a Ukrainian national suspected of sabotage at the country’s sole nuclear power plant, an Iranian newspaper reported on Sunday. The report in the Hamshahri daily said the “Ukrainian expert” was affiliated with a Russian contractor that works in Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, which went online in 2011 with Russian aid.
Chartered commercial jet carrying Americans makes unplanned landing in Iran
Washington Post: A military-chartered aircraft carrying about 100 Americans from Afghanistan to Dubai landed unexpectedly in Iran on Friday after Iranian officials questioned its flight plan and ordered it down, U.S. and regional officials said. Officials said the pilots landed of their own accord in the city of Bandar Abbas after being warned that the plane would be intercepted if they did not land.
Iran looking to recruit British Shi’ite jihadists
Gatestone Institute: The horrors perpetrated by ISIS, captured on camera and propagated through social media, distract the West from the threat posed by the Iran and its proxies. Iran’s attempts to woo British Shi’ites should not be dismissed, but monitored and fought. Iran and ISIS are two sides of the same coin.
Iran receives $1 billion under extended nuclear deal – IRNA
Reuters: Iran’s central bank has received a total of $1 billion (608 million pounds) of previously frozen oil revenue from Japan under the terms of an extended nuclear agreement with six world powers, state news agency IRNA reported on Thursday. Iran and the United States, China, France, Germany, Britain and Russia agreed in July to extend a six-month interim accord until Nov 24 .
Iran nuclear talks to continue in New York
Wall Street Journal: A new round of talks to seal a comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and six major world powers will start Sept. 18 in New York, Western diplomats said on Wednesday. The two sides had said negotiations would resume ahead of the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. For the past six months, the talks have taken place in Vienna.
