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.
Obama says he doesn’t foresee sending troops to Syria
Feds in NY seek 25 years in Saudi ambassador plot
AP: Prosecutors are seeking a 25-year prison sentence for a Texas man who admits he plotted to kill Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, saying he deserves the maximum in part because he didn’t care if an explosive he sought to put in a Washington restaurant killed a lot of people.
Iran’s quandary in the upcoming polls
The Hill: Iranians are going to the polls next June in what will prove to be a defining moment for the future of the mullahs’ regime. High on the supreme leader’s agenda remains the Islamic Republic’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.
U.S. calls for shutting down Iran, North Korea arms networks
Reuters: The United States said on Friday that Iran and North Korea were trying to obtain high-tech materials linked to their nuclear programs in violation of U.N. sanctions.
European sour crude to stay tight on Iran, fuel oil: JBC
Bloomberg: Supplies of sour, or high sulfur, crude oil in Europe will continue to be tight because of the loss of Iranian and Syrian exports and “strong” refining margins for fuel oil, according to JBC Energy GmbH.
Pentagon bulks up ‘bunker buster’ bomb to combat Iran
Wall Street Journal: The Pentagon has redesigned its biggest “bunker buster” bomb with more advanced features intended to enable it to destroy Iran’s most heavily fortified and defended nuclear site.
Azerbaijan’s Israel diplomacy tests Iran
Asia Times: Azerbaijan in late April crossed a self-imposed “red line” in its relations with southern neighbor Iran by dispatching Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov to Israel, Tehran’s arch-foe. Reasons for the timing of the move are not clear, but, so far, Tehran appears to be biding its time with a response.
Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei embroiled in German car dealer row
The Telegraph: An investment company controlled by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been accused of bullying in the takeover of the country’s biggest dealer in German cars.
Iran, Syria ranked among world’s worst countries for press freedom
Al-Arabiya: North Korea, Iran and Syria have been named among the top 10 worst countries for press freedom, according to an annual ranking by Freedom House.
Ashland says joint venture sold products to Iran
Bloomberg: Ashland Inc. (ASH), the biggest producer of specialty papermaking chemicals, said a 50-50 joint venture with Switzerland’s Clariant AG (CLN) sold products to Iran without the approval of the U.S. government.
