AP: Syria’s government said stopping terrorism – not talking peace – was its priority, while the Western-backed opposition said “the road to negotiations” had begun, offering a glimmer of hope Thursday for a way to halt the violence that has killed more than 130,000 people.
Syrian peace talks yield hard stances, slight hope
Iran oil exports exaggerated, U.S. officials say
Bloomberg: Iran is exaggerating its crude oil export figures and won’t be allowed to sell more than 1 million barrels a day over the next six months, U.S. officials involved in managing sanctions against the country said.
Iranian official on nuke deal: ‘We did not agree to dismantle anything’
CNN: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif insisted Wednesday that the Obama administration mischaracterizes concessions by his side in the six-month nuclear deal with Iran, telling CNN in an exclusive interview that “we did not agree to dismantle anything.”
French Senators express support for Iranian Resistance
PRNewswire: French senators representing several political parties united today in support Iranian dissidents and in opposition to Iran’s meddling in regional crises, notably Syria and Iraq.
Financing death: Iran’s ‘War on Drugs’
UPI: This controversial drug control program, financed both bilaterally and via the UNODC, has enabled the regime in Tehran to carry out a “killing spree of staggering proportions” as Amnesty International puts it.
Eni’s Recchi interested in seeing Iran open up as sanctions end
Bloomberg: Giuseppe Recchi, chairman of Italy’s biggest energy company Eni SpA (ENI), said he’d be interested in seeing Iran open up to investment following years of sanctions.
Khamenei’s business empire gains from Iran sanctions relief
Reuters: One of the chief beneficiaries of this week’s easing of Iranian sanctions is the country’s ruler – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei controls a massive business empire known as Setad.
House to probe Iran deal
The Hill: Two House panels will examine the details of the Obama administration’s nuclear deal with Iran next week amid pressure from Congress to slap new sanctions on the country.
Iran oil exports seen little changed by IEA amid sanctions deal
Bloomberg: Importers of Iranian crude kept purchases little changed in December, the month after world powers agreed to relax some sanctions against the Persian Gulf state as part of an accord to curb its nuclear program, the International Energy Agency said.
Engineer charged with trying to send Iran U.S. fighter jet secrets
Reuters: A former engineer for defense contractors has been indicted on charges that he tried to send Iran secret details on the U.S. Air Force’s F-35 joint strike fighter program, the office of the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said on Tuesday.
