New York Times: Amid signs that Iran’s military is resisting efforts to open its nuclear program to deeper inspection, the Obama administration on Friday imposed sanctions on several Iranian organizations, including one run by the reclusive scientist who is widely believed to direct research on building nuclear weapons.
U.S. Adds penalties amid resistance by Iran to inspection of nuclear work
Iran’s forgotten Crime Against Humanity
Townhall: With all of the back and forth between Congress and the White House on the Iranian nuclear deal, it is critically important for all involved in the debate – and all Americans – to remember with whom we are dealing when making deals with the Iranian regime. August marks anniversary of the massacre of tens of thousands of political prisoners by the Iranian regime in 1988.
Iraq’s new leader must heal sectarian divides
Chicago Tribune: The coming days and months are critical. Only an assertive U.S. stance that calls for an inclusive and independent Iraqi government can stop the cycle of sectarian bloodshed. With the introduction of a new prime minister-designate, Haider al-Abadi, Washington has an opportunity to ensure that all of Iraq’s diverse political voices are embodied in a democratic political order.
Deadline passed, no sign of breakthrough in Iran nuclear probe
Reuters: Iran may have failed to meet a deadline for addressing U.N. concerns about suspected nuclear bomb research, but it could still act to influence a key report due next week, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday. The sources said they had seen no indications so far that Tehran had replied in substance to questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by the agreed Aug. 25 date.
Iran chemical sales still restricted by sanctions, official says
Bloomberg: Iran’s petrochemical exports are still hampered by western sanctions even as an embargo on sales of the products are suspended during negotiations with global powers to limit the country’s nuclear program, an official said. Transferring payments for sales and securing insurance for exports remain the biggest hindrances for petrochemical producers.
Iran’s crackdown on women
FrontPage Magazine: Under the new Islamist state, the Ayatollahs and ruling clerics utilized methods in order to control and exercise power over women to gradually take away their capacity to act in social affairs particularly by regulating their day to day activities, monitoring all their actions, as well as by having authority over their bodies.
Iran, the Islamic State, and the rise of Islamic extremism
The Diplomat: Those who closely follow Iran’s activities in the Middle East understand that its government and its Revolutionary Guards are the major driving force in the civil war that is still tearing Iraq apart. Moreover, Iran is central to the broader conflict that has seemingly put the entire Middle East beyond hope of stability.
Iran provided weapons to Iraqi Kurds; Baghdad bomb kills 12
Reuters: Iran has supplied weapons and ammunition to Iraqi Kurdish forces, Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani said on Tuesday at a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Arbil. The direct arming of Kurdish forces is a contentious issue because some Iraqi politicians suspect Kurdish leaders have aspirations to break away from the central government completely.
Sanctions hurt South Pars, Iran says
UPI: Sanctions targeting the Iranian energy sector have curtailed development of the South Pars natural gas field, the Iranian energy minister said Tuesday. Iranian Energy Minister Bijan Zangeneh said sanctions imposed in response to Iran’s controversial nuclear research program means the Iranian economy is using more fuel oil than it would if South Pars were fully developed.
U.S., Iran boats have brief hostile encounter
Wall Street Journal: A small U.S. Coast Guard boat fired a single shot toward an armed Iranian-flagged ship in the Persian Gulf during a brief encounter on Tuesday, a potentially provocative incident in a volatile area. U.S. officials emphasized that the situation didn’t escalate and that both vessels ended contact after the warning shot was fired.
