PolicyMic: With the recent emergence of cleric Hassan Rouhani following the presidential elections in Iran, much has been made about the prospects for change in the country.
Rouhani is not a moderate, and Iran is still a theocracy
Iran says new U.S. sanctions will complicate nuclear issue
Reuters: Iran has played down the impact of U.S. sanctions that came into effect this week, but said the measures would complicate a resolution to the dispute over its nuclear program.
Arms ship seized by Yemen may have been Somalia-bound: U.N.
Reuters: An Iranian ship laden with arms seized by Yemeni authorities in January may also have been bound for Somalia, according to a confidential U.N. report seen by Reuters on Monday.
From Monday gold sales to Iran under US sanction
AFP: Rigid new US sanctions against Iran came into force Monday, including bans on the sale or barter of gold to the Islamic republic, as Washington ratchets up efforts to isolate the country over its nuclear program.
US official condemns Hezbollah’s actions in Syria
AP: Fighters from the Iranian-backed Shiite Lebanese party have joined Assad’s forces in their battle to crush the anti-Assad rebellion, which is dominated by Sunnis.
Alternatives to Iran sanctions ‘are worse’: US
AFP: US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew expressed hope the economic sanctions aimed at stopping Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program will work, because “the alternatives are worse.”
U.S. says oil market can cope with more Iran export cuts
Reuters: The top U.S. energy official said world oil markets could cope with further cuts in Iran’s oil exports from tighter sanctions over its nuclear program as rising supply from the United States and Iraq offsets the loss.
Iraq’s Maliki discusses oil project in Russia
AFP: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki held talks in Moscow on Monday with the Russian oil company Lukoil about enacting an existing energy contract and possible participation in future deals, Lukoil said.
Insurers warned on links to Iran
Wall Street Journal: New York’s finance regulator is setting his sights on the world’s reinsurance firms, alleging some of them may be involved in practices that won’t comply with pending U.S. laws against doing business with Iran.
Iran confirms detention of Slovakia tourists
Aljazeera.com: Iran has confirmed the detention of several paragliders from Slovakia two days after their country announced they had been apprehended, reportedly accused of espionage.
