AP: North Korea says its nominal head of state will visit Iran to attend an international summit next week.
North Korea’s nominal state head to visit Iran
US cites Iran, Syria in carrier deployment
AFP: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday that the United States was preparing for “threats” from Iran and Syria’s turmoil as an aircraft carrier headed to the region ahead of schedule.
Former UN human rights chief in Baghdad Tahar Boumedra: Why I Quit the UN in Iraq
The Hill: This is a shameful story of hiding the truth and looking the other way when we knew there were violations: of complicity with wrongdoers, and neglect of human rights and humanitarian responsibilities.
UN says Iran arms to Syria violate UN sanctions
AP: The U.N. political chief says Iran’s delivery of weapons to the Syrian government is an apparent violation of U.N. sanctions banning arms exports by Tehran.
Report: RBS probed by US on Iran sanctions
AP: U.S. officials are investigating possible violations of sanctions against Iran by Royal Bank of Scotland, Britain’s Financial Times reported Wednesday.
Iran calls Israeli military threats propaganda
Reuters: Iran considers threats by Israel to bomb its nuclear installations more a propaganda drive than a genuine signal of imminent attack, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday.
Iran to host 30 leaders at ‘historic’ NAM summit
AFP: Iran is to host some 30 leaders, including those of India, Egypt and Cuba, at an August 30-31 summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that officials are billing as proof the Islamic republic is not as isolated as the West would like.
U.N. chief defies U.S., Israel; plans trip to Tehran
Reuters: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to attend a summit meeting of leaders of non-aligned developing nations in Tehran next week, defying calls from the United States and Israel to boycott the event, U.N. diplomats said on Wednesday.
Time for U.S. to remove the chains on Iranian dissidents
UPI: Ever since the United Nations brokered a deal with the Iraqi government regarding the 3,400 Iranian dissidents at Camp Ashraf north of Baghdad, the situation has been one of give and take — the dissidents giving and the Iraqis taking.
Rights groups call for end to anti-drugs aid for Iran
AFP: Two leading rights groups on Tuesday called for an end to international cash and technical assistance to Iran’s anti-drug campaign, which they said was bolstering a rise in executions.
