AP: The Navy said Wednesday it will temporarily shrink its aircraft carrier presence in the Persian Gulf area from two to one because of a mechanical problem with the USS Nimitz, a carrier based in Everett, Wash.
Navy to briefly reduce carriers in Persian Gulf
China’s Iran oil imports drop further
Wall Street Journal: China’s imports of Iranian crude oil are down by about one-fifth so far this year, a drop that puts the country in good position to avoid U.S. sanctions and head off a diplomatic row with Washington.
Iranian missiles in Gaza fight give Tehran government a lift
New York Times: Above the bustling Niayesh highway in the western part of the Iranian capital, a huge billboard hangs on an overpass to remind drivers of Iran’s missile abilities. Cars zip underneath the image of a green missile on a launcher and text in Persian saying “Destination Tel Aviv.”
Iranian blogger’s mother accuses authorities of killing him
Guardian: The mother of an Iranian blogger who died in custody has accused the authorities of killing her son and launching an intimidation campaign against her family.
Hamas says ‘Israel failed in its goals’
AFP: Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal said on Wednesday that Israel had “failed in all its goals” after a Gaza truce deal came into effect, while thanking Egypt’s President Morsi for his support.
Four more years to solve Iran crisis – if we’re lucky
The Hill: As the celebrations continued long into the night, Iran analysts were wondering what impact four more years would bring to relations between Tehran and Washington.
Israel, US to jointly fight Iran arms smuggling: Netanyahu
AFP: Israel and the United States have agreed to work together to prevent the smuggling of weapons from Iran to militant groups in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Khamenei halts Iran president’s grilling by parliament
AFP: Parliament has scrapped plans to summon President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over Iran’s economic woes following an intervention by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the ISNA news agency said on Wednesday.
Fill brought to Iran site IAEA wants to inspect: diplomats
Reuters: Iran has been hauling dirt to a military site U.N. nuclear inspectors want to visit, Western diplomats said on Wednesday, saying the findings were based on satellite images and they reinforced suspicions of a clean-up.
Commander: Iran missile technology sent to Gaza
AP: Iran has supplied Hamas in Gaza with the technology to “quickly” produce longer-range missiles on their own without needing direct shipments, said a report Wednesday that quoted the head of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard.
