AP: Iran’s top leader hinted Saturday that he disapproved of the phone call between Presidents Hassan Rouhani and Barack Obama during the Iranian leader’s trip to New York last month, but he reiterated his crucial support for the president’s policy of outreach to the West.
Iran leader hints at disapproval over Obama call
To this tycoon, Iran sanctions were like gold
New York Times: He called himself the “economic basij,” a reference to Iran’s hard-line paramilitary organization and defender of the Islamic Revolution. He drove a black Mercedes 500 SL and wore a $30,000 watch, as befits a man who put his self-worth at $13.5 billion.
Like an ostrich, the UN buried its head in the sand on Camp Ashraf
The Hill: Those who know the security setting in and around Camp Ashraf would agree with me that it is impossible for an operation of this scale to take place without the direct involvement of the Iraqi security forces.
Analysis: US reliability questioned overseas
AP: An unmistakable sense of unease has been growing in capitals around the world as the U.S. government from afar looks increasingly befuddled – shirking from a military confrontation in Syria, stymied at home by a gridlocked Congress and in danger of defaulting on sovereign deb.
The U.S. was supposed to protect these Iranians
PolicyMic: The situation surrounding a group of Iranian dissidents in Iraq has reached a dire phase. On September 1, 52 Iranian dissidents were killed with shocking brutality in Camp Ashraf in the Diyala province of Iraq.
Netanyahu struggles to set the terms in Iranian dispute
Reuters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that Iran’s new president was a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, but he himself looked increasingly like a lone wolf as his allies seek to bring Tehran into the fold.
Iran says nuclear fatwa exists; others don’t buy it
USA Today: In conflicts with religious law, “the expediency of the regime” rules, according to official Iranian government policy. Iran says its supreme leader’s letters and speeches denouncing nuclear weapons count as religious edicts, or fatwas.
Two words that should make the West wary of Iran
Bloomberg: Again and again, the trope appears: “Western-educated” as a sort of marker for “moderate” or “a man we can work with.” It’s hard to see what other purpose could be served by the constant invocation of the same compound adjective.
White House warns shutdown hits Iran sanctions
AFP: The White House warned Friday that the office which enforces US sanctions on Iran could not function as most of its staff was furloughed by the government shutdown. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control had seen its manpower cut from 175 full-time staff to 11.
No ‘suckers’: US threatens Iran with new sanctions
AP: The Obama administration said Thursday it would support tougher economic pressure on Iran if the Islamic republic doesn’t begin slowing the pace of its uranium enrichment activity and opening its stockpiles of nuclear material to greater inspection.
