AP: An Iranian national has been sentenced to 23 months in federal prison and an American who worked as an airline pilot received a 46-month sentence for their roles in a plot to ship helicopters and aircraft parts to Iran’s state-run civilian airline in violation of the U.S. trade embargo.
2 sentenced in plot to ship aircraft parts to Iran
Biden, Netanyahu set tone on Iran for Obama visit to Israel
Reuters: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden insisted on Monday that President Barack Obama was not bluffing about using force to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions if all else fails, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a “credible military threat” against Tehran.
Vatican, Iran resist UN effort fighting violence on women
AFP: The Vatican, Iran and other religious states are resisting efforts by a UN conference, which started Monday, to demand tougher global standards to prevent violence against women and children.
Standard Chartered set for record $7 billion profit despite Iran fine
Reuters: Standard Chartered (STAN.L) is set to report its 10th successive record annual profit on Tuesday after strong growth in its core Asian markets offset a big fine for breaking sanctions on Iran.
Hagel vows Pentagon to help combat Iran’s ‘malign’ role
Bloomberg: U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has vowed to Congress that he’ll “focus intently on countering Iran’s malign influence”. “Iran’s activities are malevolent and intended to be destabilizing,” Hagel wrote.
48 Syrian soldiers killed in Iraq ambush
AP: Dozens of Syrian soldiers who had crossed into Iraq for refuge were ambushed Monday with bombs, gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades in an attack that killed 48 of them and heightened concerns that the country could be drawn into Syria’s civil war.
Biden on Iran threat: Obama is not bluffing
AP: Seeking to reassure anxious Israelis and their American supporters, Vice President Joe Biden vowed Monday that the United States won’t back down from its pledge to use military action to thwart Iran’s nuclear program should all other options fail.
U.N. nuclear chief presses Iran on access to military base
Reuters: The U.N. nuclear watchdog raised pressure on Iran to finally address suspicions that it has sought to design an atomic bomb, calling for swift inspector access to a military base where relevant explosives tests are believed to have been carried out.
Second trading firm says it supplied Iranian firm linked to atomic work
Reuters: Switzerland-based Trafigura on Monday became the second major trading house to confirm that it had traded with an Iranian firm that the European Union says has links to Iran’s nuclear program.
Kerry says nuclear talks offer to Iran are time-limited
Bloomberg: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said an offer to negotiate with Iran about its nuclear program is limited in time and warned about the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.
