AFP: Iran hardened its tone against a plan to unite Bahrain with Saudi Arabia, calling on its people to protest Friday against what it described as a US plot to annex the tiny Gulf archipelago.
Iran urges rally against Saudi-Bahrain union
Taiwan’s oil imports from Iran surge following halt in February
Bloomberg: Taiwan resumed oil imports from Iran in March after ceasing purchases a month earlier, according to data from Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Iran nuclear concession would test big power unity
Reuters: Facing an imminent toughening of sanctions, Iran is hinting at a readiness to give some ground in its long nuclear stand-off with world powers, but any flexibility could split their ranks and lead to protracted uncertainty about how to respond.
Iran’s tough nuclear stance masks struggles at top
AP: The negotiating stance from Iranian officials never varies: The Islamic Republic will not give up its capabilities to make nuclear fuel. But embedded in the messages are meanings that reach beyond Tehran’s talks with world powers.
Iran says Saudi-Bahrain union plan deepens crisis
AFP: Iran warned on Tuesday that Riyadh’s plans to form a union with Manama would deepen the crisis in Bahrain, a day after Saudi Arabia told Tehran to keep out of its relations with the tiny Gulf kingdom.
Iran eyes new phase for Iraqi pipeline
UPI: Negotiations are under way to choose contractors for the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Iran to Iraq, Iranian officials said.
U.N. and Iran agree to keep talking on nuclear
Reuters: Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog ended two days of talks on Tuesday by agreeing to meet again next week, just two days before Tehran resumes negotiations with world powers concerned it may be seeking to develop atomic bomb capability.
EU studying impact of Iran ship insurance ban: UK
Reuters: Britain and France are studying a proposed European Union ban on insuring tankers carrying Iranian oil to see how severe an impact it would have on trade with non-EU countries, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Tuesday.
Iranian rapper faces death threats, bounty over song
CNN: An Iranian rapper is facing death threats and has a $100,000 bounty on his head for a song that some say insults an Islamic Shiite imam.
Iran Khodro plans to manufacture 30,000 cars in Iraq this year
Bloomberg: Iran Khodro Co., the country’s largest carmaker, said it plans to manufacture 30,000 cars, mostly the Samand sedan, at a production site in neighboring Iraq this year.
