Wall Street Journal: The candidacy of Ali Akbar Rafsanjani for the presidential elections in Iran elevates the internal power struggle within the regime and poses a tremendous challenge to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
NCRI’s briefing on Iran’s presidential elections
India aims to widen basket of exports to Iran
Wall Street Journal: India is looking to broaden its range of exports to Iran to help balance bilateral trade under an agreement that allows the countries to bypass Western sanctions, Indian industry and government officials said.
Iran pulls out of Los Angeles wrestling meet
AP: USA Wrestling says that Iran has pulled out of a dual meet set for Sunday in Los Angeles. The organization said Friday that the Iranian Wrestling Federation told them the team’s schedule has changed and that it has returned to Iran. No further reasons were given for Iran’s departure.
Turkish PM says no decision yet on further Iran oil import cuts
Reuters: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Turkey had already significantly reduced its oil imports from Iran, which is under the choke of Western sanctions, and further cutbacks would depend on his country’s energy needs.
US-led navies press Gulf manoeuvres amid Iran tensions
AFP: Divers leap from a helicopter into the Gulf’s choppy waters to destroy a mine, while a US marine fires at a floating target, as forces from 41 countries gathered for naval manoeuvres facing Iran’s shores.
Trying unlikely comeback, ex-Iran president strikes chord with public
New York Times: Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani headed a family empire that owned the second biggest Iranian airline, Mahan, had a near monopoly on the lucrative pistachio trade and controlled the country’s largest private university, Azad.
France wants ‘decisive sanctions’ against Iran
AFP: The United States and European nations should take “decisive sanctions” against Iran over its controversial nuclear program, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday.
Iran may ban candidates who seek ties with US
AP: The head of Iran’s constitutional watchdog says it may disqualify candidates in June presidential elections who seek full relations with the United States.
US takes no stand as women barred from Iran vote
AFP: The United States on Friday steered clear of taking a tough stand on reports that Iran’s electoral watchdog appears to have barred women from running in the June 14 presidential elections.
France opposes Syria conference if Iran to attend
Reuters: France spelled out on Friday that it would oppose a peace conference for Syria if Bashar al-Assad’s regional ally Iran is invited, clouding the prospect for a U.S.-Russian initiative to end the two-year-old war.
