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.
Hagel vows Pentagon to help combat Iran’s ‘malign’ role
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.
UN cannot guarantee all Iranian nuke work peaceful
AP: The head of the U.N. nuclear agency says he cannot guarantee that all of Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful unless Tehran provides more cooperation with his organization.
Iran’s Central Bank to issue larger nanknotes, Donya says
Bloomberg: Iran’s Central Bank plans to issue banknotes with twice the value of the largest ones in circulation, Donya-e-Eqtesad reported, citing Majid Saniei, an official at the financial institution.
Kerry talks Syria, Iran in Saudi Arabia
AP: U.S. Secretary John Kerry is in Saudi Arabia for talks with Saudi and Gulf Arab officials expected to focus on the crisis in Syria and fears about Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran to start liquid gas plant on Kharg in 2014, Tehran Times says
Bloomberg: Iran plans to complete a 1.2 billion euro ($1.6 billion) natural gas liquid production plant on Kharg island by March 2014, the Tehran Times newspaper reported.
