Washington Post: The search, now 30 years old, for Iranian “moderates” goes on. Amid the enthusiasm of the latest sighting, it’s worth remembering that the highlight of the Iran-contra arms-for-hostages debacle was the secret trip to Tehran taken by Robert McFarlane, President Reagan’s former national security adviser.
The Iranian ‘moderate’
Rouhani says Israel must declare nuclear bomb
AFP: Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani Thursday called on Israel to admit it has a nuclear bomb ahead of a landmark meeting between Iranian and western foreign ministers.
World powers set to test Iran on nuclear dispute
AP: Foreign ministers from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany will meet with Iran’s top diplomat on Thursday to test the Islamic Republic’s apparent willingness to reach a deal to resolve international concerns about its nuclear program after years of defiance.
Pentagon Contractor Used Iran for Project
Wall Street Journal: The company that holds the multibillion-dollar Pentagon contract to supply U.S. forces in Afghanistan with food and water brought in supplies to build an Afghan warehouse through Iran, in a possible violation of U.S. sanctions.
‘They want to annihilate us’
UPI: “They want to annihilate us” — Hossein Madani from Camp Ashraf in 2005. How prophetic his words would become. While the death of all 52 Camp Ashraf residents was heart-wrenching, the assassination of Hossein Madani made my heart quite literally ache.
Iran seeks ‘phased actions’ in nuclear talks
AP: Iran’s foreign minister is urging step-by-step compromises between his country and world powers to advance negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The West fear Iran could eventually produce a nuclear weapon – a charge Iran denies.
Iran says it wants to resolve nuclear row within months
Reuters: Iran’s new government, stepping up a campaign to project a more moderate image abroad, said on Wednesday it wants to jump-start talks with world powers to resolve a decade-long dispute over its nuclear program and hoped for a deal in three to six months.
Father of Iran prisoner appeals to Rouhani
AFP: The father of a US citizen imprisoned in Iran forwarded a letter to President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday pleading with him to free his son on humanitarian grounds.
After Syria, Congress wary of Obama’s Iran thaw
Reuters: After balking at President Barack Obama’s plan to attack Syria, the U.S. Congress is also stirring in opposition to his latest foreign policy goal: an effort to improve relations with Iran. Many lawmakers are skeptical about a charm offensive by new President Hassan Rouhani.
Israel PM accuses Iran president of hypocrisy
AP: Israel’s prime minister on Tuesday voiced deep skepticism about the new Iranian president’s outreach to the West, saying the world “should not be fooled” and must keep up the pressure on Tehran’s suspect nuclear program.
