Washington Post: As Iran exerts its considerable influence in Syria and around the region, it is meeting resistance from an unlikely source: Iraq’s polarized and faltering democracy.
Iraq’s Shiite prime minister seeks alliances with Sunnis
Syria, Iran to run for U.N. Human Rights Council: envoys
Reuters: Syria and Iran are planning to run for a spot on the U.N. Human Rights Council later this year, U.N. diplomats told Reuters on Wednesday, despite criticism from watchdog groups about widespread rights abuses in both countries.
Mirror Rouhani, Iran tells Western rivals
UPI: Western negotiators concerned about Iran’s nuclear program should shift their stance to match that of the next Iranian president, an Iranian official said.
A dangerous new phase in Iran’s nuclear weapons program
Wall Street Journal: The most dangerous challenge to U.S. national security brewing in the region continues to be the Iranian regime’s pursuit of a nuclear-weapons capability.
Iran Jewish leader says Ahmadinejad views ‘smug’
AP: An Iranian Jewish activist is criticizing outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his remarks hailing his challenges over the extent of the Holocaust.
Iran: 75 hangings in 22 days
Iran Focus: With the execution of 11 inmates in the northwestern city of Arbabil and western city of Qazin from July 6 thru July 8,, the total number of executions following the election of Hassan Rouhani on June 14 has reached 75. One of victims was 15 at the time of his arrest. Six were women.
Iranian oil field slated for upgrade
UPI: Production from an oil field in the Strait of Hormuz should increase to 30,000 barrels per day because of upgrades, the Iranian Oil Ministry said Tuesday.
Underground music flourishes in Iran
AP: Heavy metal guitarists jamming in basements. Headphone-wearing disc jockeys mixing beats. There’s an underground music scene flourishing in Iran, despite government restrictions.
Iraqis mourn Shiite fighter killed in Syria
AP: Hundreds in Baghdad mourned on Tuesday a Shiite fighter killed in Syria, one of an unknown number of Iraqis who went to fight in the neighboring country for what they consider a religious duty to protect Shiite shrines.
Report: Iran, Sudan using U.S.-made monitoring tools
USA TODAY: Apparently skirting U.S. sanctions, Iran and Sudan are using Silicon Valley-made Internet-monitoring devices on government and commercial networks, The Washington Post reported Monday.
