AFP: US Secretary of State John Kerry insisted on Tuesday there was a “diplomatic path” to be forged with Iran on its disputed nuclear programme, as world powers and Tehran held crunch talks.
Kerry sees ‘diplomatic path’ on Iran nuclear issue
Ally of Iran president accused in protester deaths
AP: Iran’s state TV says prosecutors have accused a close ally of the Iranian president of involvement in the deaths of detainees during unrest after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed re-election nearly four years ago.
Iran said to deploy aging foreign tankers, avoiding sanctions
Reuters: Iran is using old tankers, saved from the scrapyard by foreign middlemen, to ship out oil to China in ways that avoid Western sanctions, say officials involved with sanctions who showed Reuters corroborating documents.
4th round of talks start over Iran nuclear program
AP: World powers have begun their fourth round of high-level talks with Iranian officials in hopes of stopping the Islamic regime’s nuclear program from making atomic weapons.
US official on trip to push Iran, Syria sanctions
AFP: The United States sent its top sanctions official on a four-country tour this week as it seeks to bolster support of international economic sanctions against Iran and Syria.
Sanctions relief offered in Iranian nuclear talks
AP: World powers, fearful of scuttling negotiations beginning this week with Iran, are offering the Islamic republic some small new sanctions relief in return for curbing its nuclear program. But officials warned Monday that it’s unlikely that any compromise will be reached soon.
South Korea firm had U.S. contract while investing in Iran gas: GAO
Reuters: A South Korean construction company reported to have recently engaged in Iran’s energy sector had a contract with the U.S. government even as Tehran came under pressure for its disputed nuclear program, a U.S. government watchdog said on Monday.
Iran slams Hollywood over ‘Argo’ Oscar win
AFP: Iran on Monday criticised Hollywood for awarding its top honour to the Iran hostage drama “Argo”, with a senior official saying it “lacks artistic value” and media poking fun at US first lady Michelle Obama’s surprise appearance at the Oscar ceremony.
Return of sectarian threats in Iraq raises alarm
AP: The fliers began turning up at Sunni households in the Iraqi capital’s Jihad neighborhood last week bearing a chilling message: Get out now or face “great agony” soon. The leaflets were signed by the Mukhtar Army, a new Shiite militant group with ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
UN experts probe Iran-linked arms ship in Yemen
AFP: UN experts in Yemen on Sunday investigated an Iran-linked arms shipment which authorities intercepted in January, the official Saba news agency reported.
