Bloomberg: Standard Chartered Plc (STAN) Chairman John Peace was forced by U.S. regulators to apologize for claiming breaches of sanctions on Iran that led to a $667 million fine were unintentional.
Standard Chartered forced to apologize for Iran statement
Iran will destroy Israeli cities if attacked: Khamenei
Reuters: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Thursday that the Islamic Republic would destroy the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if its nuclear infrastructure came under attack from the Jewish state.
UK top court holds first secret session over Iran case
Reuters: Britain’s Supreme Court held the first secret session in its history on Thursday to consider evidence about an Iranian bank’s alleged links to Tehran’s nuclear program that the British government does not want to make public.
Open America’s doors to MEK, or give a green light to murder
Huffington Post: Every war leaves in its wake refugees and the displaced. Often, many among them are political refugees fleeing from oppressive political systems who may face torture or death if repatriated to their former countries.
Obama, Netanyahu show solidarity on Iran
AP: Seeking a fresh start to a strained relationship, President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday demonstrated solidarity on the key issues that have stirred tensions between them.
Khamenei urges Iran to stand up to sanctions
AFP: Iran began the Persian New Year on Wednesday with its most senior leader asking the people to stand up to piling Western economic sanctions and also warning that the pressure was unlikely to ease.
Shell reveals Iranian oil trade loss, $2.3 bln Iran debt
Reuters: Oil major Royal Dutch Shell lost money trading Iranian crude in 2012 shortly before a European Union embargo and still owes $2.3 billion to Tehran for oil purchases.
Iran crisis: Would Israel launch an attack?
BBC: As US President Barack Obama arrives in Israel, he does so amid a growing sense of urgency among the Israeli leadership over Iran’s nuclear programme – and the possibility it will take military action to stop it.
Hard times weigh heavily on Iranians on New Year’s holiday
Reuters: These should be prosperous days for Ali Pasha, who owns a tourism company in Dubai that arranges holidays for those seeking a break in the sunny Gulf emirate.
Ukraine says private firms mull more food sales to Iran
Reuters: Ukrainian private companies are considering an increase in their food exports to Iran despite payment problems caused by international sanctions against Tehran, Ukraine’s agriculture minister said.
