AP: During a celebration last week to mark the Persian new year, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did something quietly remarkable: He stood modestly to the side and let his favored aide have the spotlight.
Ahmadinejad roadshow: Pitching his political heir
Iran sanctions may force BP to shut UK gas field earlier than planned
Wall Street Journal: BP may decide to shut down the Bruce natural gas field in the U.K. North Sea earlier than planned unless a way is found to restart production at the adjoining Rhum field, which is shutdown because of sanctions against Iran.
Iran condemns Arab League for handing seat to opposition
Reuters: Iran lambasted the Arab League for allowing an opposition leader to fill Syria’s vacant seat at the organization’s annual summit and described it as “dangerous behavior”, Iranian media reported late on Tuesday.
Stopping an undetectable Iranian bomb
Wall Street Journal: Iran’s nuclear program dominated last week’s meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A key challenge for both leaders: how to stop Iran’s rapid advance toward “critical capability.”
Velayati may run for Iran president as calm to Ahmadinejad storm
Bloomberg: Ali Akbar Velayati was addressing the United Nations as Iran’s foreign minister when a dissident rushed onstage, snatched his speech and tore it up. As security wrestled the man away, Velayati waited calmly with his hands in his pockets.
The most revealing moment of Obama’s Israel trip
Bloomberg: Obama succeeded in convincing the Israeli defense establishment that he means business when he promises to use military force against the Iranian nuclear project if sanctions and diplomacy fail.
Saudi says busted spy cell directly linked to Iran
AFP: An alleged spy cell dismantled last week in Saudi Arabia had “direct links” to Iran’s intelligence services, the kingdom’s interior ministry said on Tuesday.
Senate shows united support for blocking Iran access to euros
Reuters: The Senate showed strong support over the weekend for blocking Iran’s access to euros, as Congress continues to push for additional measures to choke funding to Tehran’s nuclear program.
U.S. urges EU action to overcome Iran sanctions court appeals
Reuters: The United States is concerned Iranian appeals to European courts could loosen sanctions against Tehran, said a State Department official on Monday who urged the EU to urgently find a way to allow judges to examine secret intelligence evidence.
Dubai’s trade with Iran shrinks a third in 2012
Reuters: Dubai’s trade with Iran plunged by a third in 2012, the Dubai customs authority said on Monday, an indication of how much U.S. financial sanctions are hurting Iranian business with the rest of the world.
