Reuters: Iran is prepared to pursue nuclear diplomacy with world powers before or after next month’s presidential election in the Islamic Republic, its chief negotiator said on Thursday.
Iran says ready for nuclear talks with world powers
Senators urge Obama to press Iran by increased sanctions
Bloomberg: Members of Congress from both parties today urged Obama administration officials to impose greater economic pressure to curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions and punish its human-rights violations.
US targets Iran rial, gold imports in sanctions pressure
AFP: The United States is working to block sales of gold to Iranians in order to undermine their currency the rial and to step up pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program, officials said Wednesday.
US slams ‘repression’ in run-up to Iran polls
AFP: US officials Wednesday slammed a campaign of “unrelenting repression” ahead of Iran’s presidential elections, and said the outcome would be very hard to predict amid a secret vetting process.
UN fails again to reach nuke probe deal with Iran
AP: U.N. nuclear agency officials on Wednesday again failed to reach a deal with Iranian counterparts that would allow the agency to relaunch its probe of suspicions that Tehran might have worked on atomic arms.
U.S. State Department: Iran sanctions ‘potentially’ having impact on nuclear program
Wall Street Journal: U.S. economic sanctions on Iran are likely changing the thinking of its leadership toward its nuclear program, administration officials told a Senate foreign relations panel Wednesday.
U.N. watchdog, EU’s Ashton to press Iran in nuclear dispute
Reuters: Iran faces international pressure over its nuclear program in two separate meetings on Wednesday, but no breakthrough is expected with the Islamic state focused on next month’s presidential election.
Iran hard-liners urge election ban on 2 candidates
AP: Hard-line Iranian lawmakers have petitioned authorities to bar two contenders – a moderate former president and a protege of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – from running in next month’s presidential election.
Iran-based hackers traced to cyber attack on U.S. company
Bloomberg: A previously unknown hacking group believed to be based in Iran has started cyber attacks inside the U.S., according to Mandiant Corp., a security company that’s linked China’s army to similar activity.
Iran must free the Bahá’í leaders who have been jailed for five years too many
The Guardian: Today is the fifth anniversary of the unjust imprisonment of seven Bahá’í leaders in Iran. They were jailed for 20 years for no reason other than their beliefs – the longest jail terms handed down against any prisoners of conscience in the country.
