Los Angeles Times: As battles rage across Syria, the crisis has provoked a renewed round of saber-rattling in Iran, President Bashar Assad’s staunchest international ally.
In Iran, columnist offers tough talk about Syria
Israel tells U.S. time is running out in Iran nuclear dispute
Reuters: Israel told visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday that time was running out for a peaceful settlement to the nuclear dispute with Iran because sanctions and tough talk over possible military action were failing to sway Tehran.
Iran tops agenda as Pentagon chief visits Israel
AFP: US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was on Wednesday to hold top-level talks in Israel expected to focus on ways of resolving the international standoff over Iran’s disputed nuclear programme.
China hits back at new US sanctions over Iran
AFP: Beijing reacted furiously Wednesday to new US sanctions imposed on a Chinese bank over transactions with Iran, urging Washington to revoke them and saying it would lodge an official protest.
Whose agenda is the U.N. ambassador pushing in Iraq?
UPI: It is a sad day when a U.N. ambassador becomes the stooge of a repressive regime but it’s happening. Martin Kobler, the United Nations’ Iraq envoy, has brought shame on the institution by allowing himself to be duped into doing Baghdad’s dirty work.
Iran central bank starts sanctions cell: report
AFP: Iran’s central bank has established a special cell to fight back against Western economic sanctions that the institution’s chief described as “no less than military war,” the official IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
Egypt’s Presidency sues reporters, foreign agency, over comments
Bloomberg: Egypt’s presidency has initiated legal action against several journalists over alleged insulting and inaccurate reports about President Mohamed Mursi, the state- run Al-Ahram newspaper reported today.
South Africa halts Iran oil imports as U.S. imposes sanctions
Bloomberg: South Africa halted oil imports from Iran last month as the Middle Eastern nation faces sanctions over its nuclear development program.
Seven Iranian aid workers abducted in Libya
Reuters: Seven Iranian aid workers were abducted on Tuesday by an unknown armed group in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, in the biggest operation of its kind against foreigners since the start of a revolt that toppled long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
US imposes new sanctions on Iran oil sector
AFP: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday imposed new economic sanctions on Iran’s oil export sector and on a pair of Chinese and Iraqi banks accused of doing business with Tehran.
