Fox News: Secretary of State John Kerry, in a first-ever statement from his office on the case of imprisoned Iranian-American Saeed Abedini, called for Abedini to be “immediately released” and said he is “disturbed” by reports that he’s suffered physical and psychological abuse at the Iranian prison where he’s being held.
Kerry calls for ‘immediate’ release of American in Iran after letter detailing abuse
Obama says he hopes diplomacy can prevent a nuclear Iran, but all options are on the table
AP: President Barack Obama says he hopes military action isn’t required to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon. But Obama adds that he would never take an option off the table to respond to the threat.
Obama shrugs off Iran’s new Israel threat
AFP: US President Barack Obama said Friday that Iran’s leader should spend more time working to improve the lot of his people than firing off warnings that he will annihilate Israeli cities.
U.N. keeps focus on Iran human rights in run-up to election
Reuters: The United Nations agreed on Friday to keep investigating reports of human rights violations in Iran, a move welcomed by activists who report a crackdown ahead of presidential elections.
Iran faces oil losses as Asian buyers balk
UPI: Iran faces losing a big part of its oil revenues as key Asian trading partners cut back on Iranian imports because of escalating U.S. and European pressure.
U.S. to hold bankers responsible for sanctions violations
Reuters: The U.S. Treasury Department plans to hold bankers personally responsible and subject them to fines when their banks help countries such as Iran evade economic sanctions.
Korea’s Jan-Feb Iran crude imports down 23.7 pct y/y
Reuters: South Korea’s imports of crude oil from Iran fell nearly a quarter in the first two months of this year from a year earlier as the country faced U.S. sanctions pressure targeting Tehran’s nuclear development, Korean official data showed on Friday.
Cyprus convicts Hezbollah operative
Washington Post: Pressure for Europe to declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization increased after a court in Cyprus found a man guilty of helping to plan an attack on Israeli tourists in the island nation. The Iran-backed group, which is also a mainstream political and social movement in Lebanon, is the primary voice of the Shiite community there.
Senators seek to target Iranian business in euros
AP: Two senators are proposing a new round of Iran sanctions aimed at preventing the Islamic republic from doing business around the world in euros.
Iran leader hints at first direct US nuclear talks
AFP: Iran’s supreme leader on Thursday signalled openness for the first time to US offers to hold direct talks on his country’s disputed nuclear drive, but voiced pessimism over the chances of a breakthrough.
