AP: Republicans and Democrats are pressuring congressional negotiators to produce legislation imposing the severest penalties on Iran, targeting its energy sector and financial institutions as the United States seeks to weaken Tehran economically and derail its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Lawmakers press for tough Iran sanctions bill
Syria, Iran sign electricity, water agreements, Sana reports
Bloomberg: A Syrian delegation on a visit to Tehran has signed agreements with Iran in the fields of electricity, health and water, Syria’s state-run Sana news agency said.
No more ‘pressure campaign’ on Iranian refugees in Ashraf
UPI: The author argues that many international officials, foremost U.N. Envoy Martin Kobler, are ignoring the basic needs of Iranian refugees in Iraq.
Treasury Secretary urged to investigate ZTE
Reuters: Seventeen U.S. lawmakers have called on Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to investigate ZTE Corp, the Chinese telecommunications equipment maker, over allegations it sold a surveillance system and banned U.S. computer equipment to Iran.
Iran sports minister in London for Olympics: reports
AFP: Iranian media reported Thursday the country’s sports minister, Mohammad Abbasi, is in London to attend the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.
UN refugee agency calls for patience in Iraqi camp dispute
AFP: The UN refugee agency called Thursday for “cooperation, patience and understanding” in a dispute involving Iranian exiles at a camp in Iraq who refuse to leave for a new transit centre.
American pleads guilty to trying to export missile parts to Iran
Reuters: A California man pleaded guilty in Chicago on Thursday to a felony charge of trying to illegally export missile parts to Iran, which the United States says is working to build nuclear weapons.
Iran offers Syria “experience and capabilities”
AP: A high-ranking Iranian official says his country is ready to share “experience and capabilities” with the Tehran-backed regime of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
Iran says Istanbul nuclear talks with EU were ‘positive’
Bloomberg: Iran’s deputy chief nuclear negotiator said his meeting with a European Union official that aimed to establish common ground for another round of talks on the country’s atomic program was “positive.”
Israel’s Barak calls for swifter action against Iran
Reuters: Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak called on Wednesday for major powers to speed up efforts to stop Iran’s nuclear program, cautioning it would be tougher to confront it once Tehran managed to cross an atomic threshold.
