AP: An Iranian-led shipping venture that predates the 1979 Islamic Revolution is now unraveling as one of the most high-profile blows from international sanctions and U.S.-driven efforts to drive wedges between Tehran and its key trading partners.
Sanctions to shut Indian-Iranian shipping company
Congress pushes to finalize new Iran sanctions package
Reuters: Congressional negotiators are trying to finish work on new sanctions aimed at further restricting Iran’s oil revenues, a package they hope to approve by the end of next week before lawmakers leave Washington for an extended recess.
Iran hosts high-level Syria economic team
AFP: A high-level Syrian economic delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Omar Ghalawanji arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to boost cooperation between the two allies faced with Western economic sanctions.
Iran to cut spending to help sanctions-hit economy
AFP: Top Iranian government officials and lawmakers agreed in a meeting on Wednesday to budget cuts in a bid to shore up an economy struggling with Western sanctions and inflation, media reported.
Iranian nuclear plants hit by virus playing AC/DC, website says
Bloomberg: Iran’s nuclear facilities have suffered a cyber attack that shut down computers and played music from the rock band AC/DC, the F-Secure Security Labs website said.
Iran says coping with Peugeot exit
AFP: Iran’s main automobile company, Iran Khodro, says it is coping with a decision early this year by troubled French car maker Peugeot to halt exports of vehicle kits for assembly, according to reports on Wednesday.
Khamenei tells Iran politicians to show more unity
Reuters: Iran’s supreme leader urged his country’s politicians to show more unity as he warned the West that sanctions imposed over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program would only make the government more determined to pursue it, Iranian media reported.
Romney accuses Obama of weakness abroad, leaks
Reuters: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney accused President Barack Obama on Tuesday of weakness in the face of U.S. adversaries and promised he would be firm against Iran and China as he prepares to head overseas to boost his foreign policy credentials.
U.S. sees no trade sanctions violations by U.N. agency
Reuters: A preliminary U.S. assessment has concluded that the U.N.’s World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) did not violate U.N. sanctions when it sent technical equipment to North Korea and Iran, the State Department said on Tuesday.
Iran media denies athletes to compete alongside Israel at games
Bloomberg: Israeli media misquoted comments from the general secretary of Iran’s Olympic committee, saying Iranian athletes will compete alongside Israelis at the London 2012 Olympics, the state-run Fars news agency reported.
