AFP: EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday urged Iran to commute death sentences against five members of the Ahwazi Arab minority in Iran.
EU condemns death sentences in Iran for five Arabs
Iran space launch may break UN resolution: US
AFP: Iran may have violated UN resolutions if its claims to have successfully launched a monkey above Earth’s atmosphere are true, a top US official said Monday.
Iran unveils new finger-amputating machine
The Independent: Iran unveils new finger-amputating machine ahead of announcement of increasingly severe punishment of thieves. Photographs published by Iran’s official press agency show a blindfolded man having his fingers severed by what appears to be a crude amputation device.
Large arms shipment intercepted off Yemen, Iran eyed as source
Reuters: Yemeni forces intercepted a ship on January 23 carrying a large cache of weapons – including surface-to-air missiles – that U.S. officials suspect were being smuggled from Iran and destined for Yemeni insurgents, officials said on Monday.
Iran says it successfully sent a monkey into space
AP: A gray-tufted monkey strapped in a pod resembling an infant’s car seat rode an Iranian rocket into space and returned safely, officials said Monday in what was described as a step toward Tehran’s goal of a manned space flight.
U.S. plays down purchase of Iran oil by company in South Korea
Reuters: The United States played down on Monday a company’s purchase of Iranian oil in South Korea, saying the American ally shares the objective of keeping pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program through sanctions.
Iran arrests 11 reporters over ‘foreign contacts’
AP: Iran has arrested 11 journalists accused of cooperation with foreign-based, Persian-language media organizations, several chief editors of Iranian outlets said Monday.
Israel ‘surprised’ by Argentina-Iran deal
AFP: Israel’s foreign ministry said it was “surprised” by Argentina’s agreement with Iran to create an independent commission to investigate the 1994 attack on a Buenos Aires Jewish centre.
Iran denies explosion at underground uranium facility
Reuters: Iran has denied media reports of a major explosion at one of its uranium enrichment sites, describing them as “Western propaganda” designed to influence upcoming nuclear negotiations.
Israeli troops swap guns for computers as cyber attacks increase
Bloomberg: The Israeli leader has repeatedly pointed to Iran and its allies, warning of the threat of cyber-attacks last month. Iran in turn accused Israel and the U.S. of trying to sabotage its nuclear program in 2011, while last year a virus wreaked havoc with Iranian computer systems.
