Reuters: The United States held out the possibility on Thursday of giving Iran some short-term sanctions relief in return for concrete steps to slow uranium enrichment and shed light on its nuclear program.
U.S. hints Iran could get some sanctions relief if takes steps
US administration urges Congress against new Iran sanctions
AFP: President Barack Obama’s administration urged lawmakers Thursday not to impose new sanctions on Iran as it seeks to respond to overtures from new leader Hassan Rouhani.
Iran probes ‘horrific’ death, denies assassination
AP: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it’s investigating a “horrific incident” that caused the death of a member of the powerful military force but denies reports that it was an assassination.
U.S. talks with Iran must be based on concrete steps by Tehran: Kerry
Reuters: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday that the United States hopes to engage with the new Iranian administration, but Tehran must first prove it is willing to end the stand-off over its nuclear weapons program.
Kerry: ‘Diplomatic malpractice’ not to engage Iran
AP: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says it would be “diplomatic malpractice” not to test Iran’s willingness to comply with international demands over its nuclear program. Kerry’s comments in Tokyo are his first on the subject since Netanyahu warned the U.S. and the West against trusting Iran.
Iran parliament endorses Rouhani’s diplomatic gambit
Reuters: Iran’s parliament strongly endorsed President Hassan Rouhani’s diplomatic bid to dispel mistrust at the United Nations last week during a visit which ended with an historic phone call with President Barack Obama, Iranian media said.
No real progress in ‘constructive’ Iran-IAEA talks: diplomats
Reuters: The U.N. atomic watchdog and Iran appeared to make little real headway in talks last week and it is uncertain whether Tehran’s more positive attitude will help yield a long-sought breakthrough, diplomats said on Wednesday.
Rouhani won’t decide on nuclear Iran
Wall Street Journal: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s ploy to persuade skeptical Western leaders that he is seeking a diplomatic rapprochement appears sharply at odds with the some of the policies currently being pursued by his government in Tehran.
Shutdown undercuts Obama defining America’s global role
Bloomberg: Many Obama administration foreign policy decisions, including the reluctance to arm Syrian rebels, the call for former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster, and the tentative engagement with Iran, have unsettled long-time allies, including Saudi Arabia and Israel.
New sanctions likely despite thaw in US-Iran ties
AP: A war-weary Congress generally backs President Barack Obama’s outreach to Iran, but with tougher U.S. economic measures against Tehran on the way, the president’s diplomatic task could get harder if he doesn’t make quick progress.
