AP: The violence in Syria has worsened since a cease-fire deal in April and the bloodshed appears to be taking on dangerous sectarian overtones, the U.N. said Wednesday.
UN: Violence in Syria worse than before ceasefire
Iran VP says Jewish law book to blame for drugs trade
AFP: The teachings of the Jewish book of law, the Talmud, are a driving force behind the international drugs trade, Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi said in comments reported on Wednesday.
Iran threatens to stop imports from South Korea over oil halt
CNN: Iran threatened Wednesday to halt all imports of goods from South Korea in response to Seoul’s announcement a day earlier that it would stop accepting Iranian oil.
A consistent policy on terrorism, please
Dallas Morning News: Last week, tens of thousands of Iranians gathered in Paris to declare their support for the same cause that the MEK is fighting for — the ouster of the Islamic regime in Tehran.
Russia says Iran crucial to success of Syria meeting
Reuters: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday Iran’s participation was crucial to the success of a meeting on the escalating conflict in Syria planned by U.N.-Arab league peace envoy Kofi Annan in Geneva this weekend.
Iran plans to raise steel output after sanctions cut imports 30%
Bloomberg: Iran plans to increase steel output, becoming an exporter of the metal, after U.S.-led sanctions over the country’s nuclear program reduced imports by 30 percent, an executive from the Islamic republic’s Esfahan Steel Co. said.
Iran: Crisis-hit EU must rethink Iran oil embargo
AP: The European Union’s embargo on Iranian oil sales is “on the wrong track” and won’t help end a dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program, Iran’s foreign minister declared Tuesday.
Iran sees oil exports falling 20%-30% as sanctions start
Bloomberg: Iran’s oil exports may “gradually” decline by 20 percent to 30 percent after sanctions start next week amid field maintenance work, according to Deputy Oil Minister Ahmad Ghalebani.
Iran warns EU oil embargo to impact nuclear talks
AP: Iran says the EU embargo on its oil sales will have “a negative impact” on Tehran’s negotiations with world powers over its controversial nuclear program.
South Korea to halt Iran oil imports from July 1
AP: South Korea said Tuesday it will halt oil imports from Iran starting next month due to a European Union ban on insuring shipments of Iranian crude.
