New Europe: When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon assigned Martin Kobler to be his special ambassador to try to resolve a major impasse in Iraq, there was finally hope that something might be accomplished.
Why isn’t the UN ambassador in Iraq upholding the UN’s values?
Netanyahu picks new security minister as Iran strike debated
Reuters: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chose a former security chief on Tuesday as his new civil defence minister amid heightened public debate over a possible strike on Iran.
Iran confident Israel won’t launch ‘stupid’ attack
AFP: Iran on Tuesday said it is dismissing Israeli threats of an imminent attack against it, explaining that even some Israeli officials realised such a “stupid” act would provoke “very severe consequences.”
Iran says foreign help for quake area now welcome
AP: In an apparent change of heart, Iran says foreign aid is now welcome for those affected by twin earthquakes that struck the country’s northwest last weekend.
Iran government criticized over earthquake response
Reuters: Iran’s government faced criticism on Monday over its response to two earthquakes that killed 306 people, with complaints of a lack of tents and about President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s decision to go ahead with an overseas trip.
US says no sanctions on Iran quake aid
AFP: The United States said Monday that its citizens can donate food and medicine to Iran without fear of prosecution after the heavily sanctioned nation was hit by twin earthquakes.
US insists diplomacy has time amid Iran drumbeat in Israel
AFP: The United States insisted Monday there is still time for a diplomatic way out of the West’s nuclear showdown with Iran despite a growing drumbeat of war in Israel.
Iran doesn’t belong in the U.N. or IMF
Wall Street Journal: The Iranian nuclear crisis has dragged on for some 20 years, despite multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and a phalanx of national sanctions. Many believe that only military force will stop Iran, but even now Tehran doesn’t appear to take such a threat seriously.
Russia slams new US sanctions on Iran
AP: Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Monday harshly criticized new U.S. sanctions on Iran, calling them “undisguised blackmail” and warning that relations between Washington and Moscow would suffer if Russian companies were affected.
Insurance deal lets India resume shipping Iran oil
AP: India has joined Japan in offering government-backed insurance for ships carrying Iranian crude in order to bypass European sanctions that have nearly halved Iranian oil exports to key markets.
