Business Insider: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been forced gradually to cede power to Iran to prop up his regime during the grinding conflict in Syria. The implications for the Middle East could be dramatic.
Iran is increasingly calling the shots for Assad in Syria
NY regulators query 20 reinsurers about Iran ties
AP: New York’s financial regulators asked 20 more reinsurance companies Wednesday for information about business with Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions, including measures they’ve taken to ensure they don’t underwrite prohibited shipping.
Global revolution takes center stage in Red Wednesday at Ice Factory 2013
Theatermania.com: Built for Collapse Artistic Director Sanaz Ghajarrahimi, great-niece of former Iranian Foreign Minister Sadegh Ghotbzadeh, explores his legacy and its relationship to present-day global upheavals.
Zurich among insurers said to be probed in expanded N.Y. inquiry
Bloomberg: Zurich Insurance Group AG (ZURN) is among companies being questioned by New York’s insurance regulator in a widening probe into compliance with an Iran sanctions law, according to a person familiar with the matter.
NCRI announced “Mullahs’ War” website
PRNewswire: Today it was announced a new website called “Mullahs War” has been launched. The new website, provides details on the Iran-Iraq War, one of the longest in modern history, and sheds new light on the decision and the reasons to continue the conflict after Iraq withdrew its forces.
Iraqi Kurdistan to host pan-Kurd conference
AFP: Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region is preparing to host a conference that will bring together Kurdish parties from Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey, an official said on Wednesday.
Israel’s Netanyahu urges greater pressure on Iran
AFP: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday urged greater pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme as he met Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Jerusalem.
Tehran’s winning streak
The Hill: As the Middle East teems with masses yearning for relief from authoritarian rule, economic hardship and censored communications, Iran should be a prime candidate for popular unrest.
Putin to visit Iran for nuclear talks
AFP: President Vladimir Putin is to visit Iran in August to try and restart talks on Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme, Russia’s Kommersant daily reported on Wednesday.
India’s Iranian oil imports more than halve in June -trade
Reuters: India’s imports of crude oil from Iran more than halved in June from a year ago, as refiner Essar Oil became the only remaining Indian client of the sanctions-hit country, tanker data obtained by Reuters showed.
