AP: Iraq freed a jailed Hezbollah commander wanted by the United States on Friday. U.S. forces held Daqduq for four years, handing him over to Iraqi authorities when American troops left Iraq. Meanwhile, Iran has seen its influence in the country grow.
Hezbollah man wanted by US freed from Iraq custody
Is Iran resorting to an insurance scam to keep oil exports flowing?
Forbes: Iran has lost all its European clients, and many habitual buyers have scaled down their dependence on its oil. This is due largely to European and U.S. sanctions on insurance and reinsurance for oil cargoes — which depend on Protection and Indemnity Coverage.
Signs mount of possible Israeli invasion of Gaza
AP: The onslaught has not deterred the militants from striking back with more than 400 rockets aimed at southern Israel. For the first time, they also unleashed the most powerful weapons in their arsenal — Iranian-made Fajr-5 rockets capable of reaching Tel Aviv.
Iranian man charged in military aircraft part scam
AP: An Iranian man has been indicted in New York on charges that he plotted to illegally export military and civilian aircraft parts from the United States to Iran.
Turkmen gas company says flows to Iran restored
Reuters: Turkmenistan has resumed gas supplies to Iran after a brief stoppage for repairs along a stretch of pipeline linking the two countries, the head of Turkmenistan’s state gas company told Reuters on Friday.
Powers to map Iran strategy, Tehran wants to meet soon
Reuters: Major powers will discuss negotiating strategy towards Iran next Wednesday amid signs of a renewed push to resolve the nuclear dispute peacefully after U.S. President Barack Obama’s re-election last week.
Iran ready to ramp up nuke program
AP: Iran is on the threshold of being able to create weapons-grade uranium at a plant it has heavily fortified against Israeli attack, diplomats told The Associated Press on Thursday, calling into question an Israeli claim that Iran had slowed its nuclear time table.
U.N. experts ask Iran to explain blogger’s death in jail
Reuters: U.N. human rights experts called on Iran on Thursday to say how Iranian blogger Sattar Beheshti died in police custody. Beheshti who wrote a blog critical of the government, was arrested on October 30 and died some days later after saying he had received death threats and was being tortured in jail.
Iran condemns Israeli attack on Gaza Strip
AP: Iran has condemned Israel’s military assault on the Gaza Strip. Iranian state TV on Thursday quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast as calling the Israeli bombardment of Gaza “organized terrorism.”
Russia nuclear envoy makes snap visit to Iran
AFP: Russia’s representative in international talks with Iran over its disputed nuclear programme, Sergei Ryabkov, met Tehran’s top negotiator on a surprise visit on Wednesday, news agencies reported.
