Reuters: The United States and its allies are preparing for naval exercises in the Gulf energy export hub that will include minesweeping and escorting commercial ships in a region where Iran is seen as a threat both to trade and security.
U.S., allies to stage naval exercise in Gulf energy shipping hub
Iran: Quake rattles region near nuke reactor
AP: Iran says a moderate earthquake rattled a region near the country’s main nuclear reactor, but there were no reports of damage or deaths in the surrounding area.
A look at reasons for Israeli airstrikes in Syria
AP: Israeli defense officials believe Iran has stepped up shipments of weapons to Hezbollah through Syria, including accurate longer-range Iranian missiles, as President Bashar Assad’s position weakens.
Strikes in Syria raise alarm
Wall Street Journal: An official briefed on the operation said the strike appeared to target advanced Iranian-made surface-to-surface Fateh 110 rockets that had arrived by air and that Israel suspected were to be driven to Lebanon and given to Hezbollah.
Iran offers new oil contracts to lure India
Times of India: As US and European sanctions cripple its economy, Iran on Saturday offered India a new production sharing regime for oil exploration in an attempt to keep its third largest buyer of oil engaged.
Iran ready to ‘train’ Syria army, says commander
AFP: Iran is ready to help “train” the Syrian army if Damascus seeks such assistance, the commander of the Islamic republic’s army ground forces, General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, was quoted as saying on Sunday.
Israeli warplanes strike Syria in escalation
AP: Israeli warplanes struck areas in and around the Syrian capital Sunday, setting off a series of explosions as they targeted a shipment of highly accurate, Iranian-made guided missiles believed to be on their way to Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, officials and activists said.
Media crackdown in Iraq
UPI: Iraq’s descent into another sectarian civil war, prompted by Maliki’s determined efforts to marginalize the Sunni population, has become an embarrassment to the United States, which regard the Iraqi prime minister as their adopted son.
Iran diplomat’s arrest due to “misunderstanding:” minister
Reuters: Iran’s foreign minister said he believed the detention of a former diplomat linked to the country’s reformists was caused by a “misunderstanding” and defended the man’s record, Iranian media reported.
Obama says he doesn’t foresee sending troops to Syria
Bloomberg: President Barack Obama said he doesn’t foresee circumstances that would require putting U.S. troops on the ground in Syria, where rebels are trying to topple the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
