AFP: Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Saudi Arabia Sunday hoping to repair ties with America’s longstanding ally, which have frayed over the Syrian conflict and US outreach to Iran.
Kerry lands in Saudi to ease tensions over Syria, Iran
Iran leader warns against undermining negotiators
AP: Iran’s Supreme Leader warned Sunday against undermining negotiators engaged in talks with the West, a message directed apparently at hard-liners who have criticized Iran’s diplomacy over its nuclear program.
Iran burning $7 billion to lead Gas OPEC as it faces sanctions
Bloomberg: Iran will lead a club of the world’s biggest natural gas exporters as its own shipments abroad are hampered by U.S. and European Union sanctions that force the country to burn off billions of dollars worth of the fuel.
Iran arrests head of reformist daily: wife
AFP: Iran on Saturday arrested the head of reformist daily Bahar, Saeed Pourazizi, for publishing an article seen by critics as questioning the beliefs of Shia Islam, Fars news agency reported.
Visit by Iraq’s prime minister stirs outpouring from ranks of former U.S. officials
Washington Post: Former senator Robert G. Torricelli (D-N.J.), former representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D-Mass.), former Republican homeland security secretary Tom Ridge and former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) spoke to the crowd of rain-ponchoed Iranian dissidents.
Iran Guards want to keep ‘Death to America’ chant
AFP: Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said Saturday that “Death to America” will remain their slogan, regardless of signs of detente between the Islamic republic and Washington.
Iraq makes request for WMDs
Standard.net: No, this is not The Onion. No, this is not a rip-off of The Onion. This is not satire. This is the plea from Iraq’s Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Defense and the Minister of National Security Affairs. All of whom happen to be the same person: Nouri al-Maliki.
Use US soft power to free the Ashraf Seven
The Hill: In Iraq, the buck stops with the Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, more so than any other country. He is the Commander in Chief, the acting Minister of Defense, the acting Minister of Interior, the acting Minister of National Security and the Head of Intelligence.
Loud protests as Obama hosts Iraqi leader
Wall Street Journal: More than 1,000 demonstrators marched in front of the White House Friday to protest President Barack Obama’s meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The Iraqi leader was meeting Mr. Obama seeking approval for new military equipment and other aid.
Iranian Kurd leader says West shouldn’t be fooled by Rouhani
Reuters: The leader of an armed Iranian Kurdish group says new President Hassan Rouhani is taking advantage of the West’s wary optimism towards him to step up pressure on citizens at home, particularly Kurds, and has markedly increased executions.
