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.
Iraq’s Maliki discusses oil project in Russia
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.
A facelift!
Iran Focus: Iran has a new president in cleric Hassan Rowhani. But this cosmetic facelift for a dead beat regime should not dupe the West into thinking that there are fresh prospects for a nuclear deal.
Iran’s Rouhani hints will balance hardline, reformist demands
Reuters: Iran’s president-elect Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday he would appoint ministers from across its political spectrum as Iranian voters had chosen a path of moderation over extremism.
Tough US sanctions on Iran hit Monday
Wall Street Journal: Sanctions on Iran by the U.S. signed into law in January, and implemented and expanded via executive order in early Junecome into effect on Monday.
Iran detains Slovak hang-glider group: Slovak media
Reuters: A group of five or six Slovak hang-glider enthusiasts has been detained in Iran on suspicion of espionage, the Slovak news website www.sme.sk said on Friday.
Ore. jury convicts doctor of breaking Iran embargo
AP: An Oregon jury has convicted a Texas urologist and his attorney wife of defrauding the government in a scheme prosecutors allege also violated a U.S. trade embargo with Iran.
Iraq Shiites fighting in Syria: Zebari
AFP: Iraqi Shiite Muslims are fighting in Syria alongside troops of President Bashar al-Assad, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Friday, while insisting this was not the policy of the Shiite-led Baghdad government.
Iranian official signals no scaling back in nuclear activity
Reuters: Iran will press ahead with its uranium enrichment programme, its nuclear energy chief said on Friday, signalling no change of course despite the victory of a relative moderate in the June 14 presidential election.
