AFP: Washington is standing firm on its stance that Iran has no place at a long-awaited Syria peace conference in Switzerland next month, a senior US administration official said Friday.
US not ready to budge on Iran role at Syria peace talks
Brahimi says he could work around Iranian absence from Syria talks
Reuters: Iran remains a sticking point in plans for a conference to end the conflict in Syria, international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said on Friday, with the United States still refusing to agree to Iran’s presence when talks begin on Jan 22.
Senate adjourns after passing resolution condemning Iran
The Hill: The Senate adjourned Friday afternoon, after a week full of passing a bipartisan budget deal, the Defense spending bill and confirming several of President Obama’s nominees.
Defying Obama, 26 senators push new Iran sanctions
AP: More than a quarter of the Senate introduced legislation Thursday that could raise sanctions on Iran and compel the United States to support Israel if it launches a pre-emptive attack on the Iranian nuclear program, defying President Barack Obama and drawing a veto threat.
Obama would veto Iran bill
AFP: The White House warned Thursday that President Barack Obama would veto a bill threatening new sanctions on Iran, because it could sink a final deal to stop Tehran getting a nuclear bomb.
Iran sanctions relief a ‘limited’ boost
AFP: The economic benefits of an interim nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers are already being felt in the Islamic republic but the relief is limited, a report said Thursday.
Senate Democrats defy Obama on Iran
National Journal: A bipartisan group of senators will soon introduce legislation that would level new sanctions against Iran, defying pleas from President Obama for Congress to wait while the administration works toward a comprehensive deal.
France dashes Iran nuclear deal hopes
UPI: Iran may not give up its atom bomb-making ability, dashing final nuclear deal hopes, France’s foreign minister said as technical talks were to resume Thursday.
Iranian linked to Setad wanted by U.S. for attempted arms smuggling
Reuters: An Iranian businessman linked to a sprawling conglomerate controlled by Iran’s supreme leader is wanted by the United States for allegedly trying to purchase hundreds of American-made assault rifles to smuggle into Iran.
UN criticizes Iran on human rights violations
AP: The U.N. General Assembly has approved a resolution criticizing Iran for serious rights violations including torture and its “alarming” and frequent use of the death penalty.
