Wall Street Journal: Iranian-backed hackers have escalated a campaign of cyberassaults against U.S. corporations by launching infiltration and surveillance missions against the computer networks running energy companies, according to current and former U.S. officials.
Iran hacks energy firms, U.S. says
US adds 20 individuals, firms to Iran blacklist
AFP: The US Treasury on Thursday added 20 companies and individuals to its Iran sanctions blacklist, accusing them of supporting Tehran’s nuclear efforts and helping the country avoid international sanctions.
Iran stacks poll with safe Khamenei men: analysts
AFP: Iran’s ruling establishment has moved to prevent infighting by allowing only a handful of conservatives loyal to the all-powerful supreme leader to contest next month’s presidential election, analysts say.
Role of Hezbollah, Iran in Syria denounced
Wall Street Journal: The top foreign-policy officials of 11 Western and Arab countries denounced the militant group Hezbollah and fighters from Iran for intervening in recent fighting in the Syrian civil war, calling in a formal statement Wednesday for their removal from the country.
Barred from poll, Rafsanjani calls Iranian leaders ignorant
Reuters: Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has accused Iran’s leadership of incompetence and ignorance just days after he was barred from standing in an election next month, the opposition Kaleme website reported on Thursday.
Glencore, Trafigura deals with Iran may have skirted sanctions – U.N
Reuters: Metals swap deals with Iran by Switzerland-based commodities giants Glencore Xstrata and Trafigura could have been a way of skirting international sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program, according to a confidential U.N. Panel of Experts report seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
Iran paves over suspected nuclear-related testing site despite U.N. protests
Washington Post: Iran has begun paving over a former military site where its scientists are suspected to have conducted nuclear-weapons-related experiments, according to a new U.N. report, a move that could doom efforts to reconstruct a critical part of Iran’s nuclear history.
US House panel backs stiff new Iran sanctions
AFP: Iran could face tightened sanctions within months after a US congressional panel Wednesday adopted a measure targeting the nation’s auto and mining industries as well as its foreign currency reserves.
Rafsanjani’s campaign staff detained
Iran Focus: The security forces have reportedly detained a number of former Preisdent, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s campaign staff in the aftermath of his disqualification by the watchdog Guardian Council.
US says Iran nuke saga has hit ‘unfortunate milestone’
AFP: The UN nuclear watchdog’s latest report on Iran’s nuclear program marks the “unfortunate milestone” of a decade of Iranian defiance of the body, the US State Department said Wednesday.
