AFP: EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Monday played down Iran’s calls for a nuclear accord within a year, saying that technical work will take time. Ashton said it was critical to convince “those who are most worried and most skeptical.”
EU plays down deadline for Iran talks
Biden: Iran sanctions most effective in history
AP: Vice President Joe Biden says U.S.-led sanctions against Iran have been the most effective sanctions regime ever. Biden says Iran has a choice. He says Iran can suffer deepening economic sanctions or negotiate its way back into the global community and economy.
U.S. aims to ease doubt on Iran talks
Wall Street Journal: President Barack Obama is ramping up efforts to sell his diplomatic drive with Iran to skeptical Middle East allies and to Congress, starting with a crucial meeting at the White House on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rouhani enjoys Iran backing that matters as foes reject call
Boloomberg: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whose public support after a trip to the U.S. outweighed the detractors that tried to pelt his convoy with eggs, also has backing from the one who matters most: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Netanyahu expected to press Obama to keep Iran sanctions in place
UPI: Sanctions against Iran must remain unless it ends its nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to tell President Obama Monday. The two leaders are to meet in the White House Oval Office at 11:15 a.m. EDT.
Uneasy Gulf states weigh US-Iran overtures
AP: Lost in the blizzard of attention on Iran’s cautious openings to the U.S. was another bit of noteworthy outreach by President Hassan Rouhani: Sending greetings to Saudi Arabia’s king and appealing for more cooperation between the two regional rivals.
Oman looks beyond Iran sanctions for gas lifeline
Reuters: If Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s dream of reaching a deal with world powers on Tehran’s nuclear program in six months comes true, Oman, an important intermediary in the dispute, could be a big winner.
Iran nuclear deal could be reached in months: Kerry
AFP: US Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday a deal with Iran could be brokered within months if Tehran proves that its nuclear program was not being used to build atomic weapons.
Israel says it caught Iranian spy with photos of U.S. embassy
Reuters: Israel disclosed on Sunday the arrest of an Iranian-Belgian citizen on suspicion of spying for Iran, saying he had photographed the U.S. embassy and intended to establish business ties in the Jewish state as a cover for espionage.
Netanyahu heads to US to challenge Iranian charm blitz
AFP: Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu left for New York early Sunday in a bid to challenge perceptions that Iran under its new president poses less of a nuclear threat than before. On Monday Netanyahu will meet US President Barack Obama at the White House.
