Reuters: Switzerland’s neutrality is being tested as Brussels and Washington raise pressure over gaps in sanctions against Iran, in particular measures against its oil industry.
West raises pressure on neutral Switzerland over Iran
HSBC prepares to face U.S. money laundering charges
Bloomberg: HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA), Europe’s largest bank by value, said it’s likely to face criminal charges over allegations it broke U.S. anti-money laundering rules and set aside a further $800 million to cover the costs of the probe.
Israel’s Netanyahu ordered Iran strike in 2010: TV
AFP: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak in 2010 ordered the army to prepare an attack against Iranian nuclear installations, though the order was later rescinded, Israeli television said Sunday.
Ahmadinejad summoned by MPs over Iran monetary woes
AFP: Iran’s parliament on Sunday summoned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a grilling over his handling of last month’s currency crisis which saw the rial plunge 40 percent against the dollar, state media said.
Iran’s sales of fuel oil to vessels in Gulf tops 800,000 tons
Bloomberg: Iran sold more than 800,000 tons of fuel oil and 50,000 tons of gasoil to vessels navigating in the Persian Gulf in the first half of the Iranian year started March 20, Fars reported, citing an energy official.
Iran sets up new base near disputed islands
AP: Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards inaugurated a new naval base on Sunday to reinforce Tehran’s authority over three Persian Gulf islands also claimed by the neighboring United Arab Emirates, Iranian state TV reported.
Leftover land mine explodes, kills 6 in Iran
AP: An Iranian semi-official news agency reports an explosion from a land mine left over from the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s has killed six people and injured one.
Iran denies suspending uranium enrichment
The Guardian: Iran’s state media has denied reports that Tehran had suspended the enrichment of uranium at 20% in a goodwill gesture ahead of talks with the world’s major powers.
Iran claims production of new advanced drone
AP: Iran’s media is reporting the country has produced a domestically-made drone capable of hovering in midair. The Sunday report by several newspapers including the conservative Resalat says an advanced vertical take-off and landing or VTOL drone will be displayed in February.
‘Persian Spring’ to herald a ‘Peace Harvest’?
UPI: As the U.S. presidential election approaches in the United States, the potential threat from Iran still has to be the most important foreign affairs issue for both candidates.
