Reuters: An Iranian cleric accused Saudi Arabia on Friday of giving refuge to terrorists and committing crimes in Arab states including Bahrain and Syria, the Iranian Students’ News Agency ISNA reported.
Iranian cleric says Saudi is “centre of sedition”
Analysts warn of cost of Iranian sanctions
UPI: Sanctions on the Iranian energy sector are affecting gasoline prices and a sanctions opponent said it’s unfair for U.S. leaders not to inform the public.
Pirates seize Chinese cargo ship off Iranian coast
BBC: A Chinese cargo ship was seized by pirates in the Gulf of Oman off Iran’s coast, Chinese state media reported, citing China’s embassy in Tehran.
A reason to pause this Easter Sunday
Mail online: Eight women were either shot at close range or crushed to death under the wheels of armoured vehicles when Iraqi forces stormed Camp Ashraf, near Baghdad, on April 8 last year, a reason to pause this Easter Sunday in their remembrance.
Showa Shell still in talks with Iran to reduce oil purchases
Bloomberg: Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. (5002), Japan’s largest buyer of oil from Iran, is in the final stages of talks on reducing its crude-oil purchasing contract with the country for the fiscal year started April 1, company spokesman Satoshi Yoshida said today in Tokyo.
U.S. not backing off as Iran sanctions bite
Reuters: The Obama administration’s man in charge of squeezing Tehran over its nuclear program is unapologetic for the difficulties faced by banks in their dealings with Iran since the U.S. tightened sanctions against the country.
Obama’s signal to Iran
Washington Post: President Obama has signaled Iran that the United States would accept an Iranian civilian nuclear program if Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei can back up his recent public claim that his nation “will never pursue nuclear weapons.”
Iran eyes spiritual leadership of Iraq’s Shiites
OfficialWire: Iran is promoting a conservative cleric close to its supreme leader as a possible successor for the aging spiritual leader of Iraq’s Shiites, a move that would give Tehran a powerful platform to influence its neighbor, according to figures close to Iraq’s religious leadership.
Former US military commanders concerned over BBC’s programme about PMOI
USNewswire: Former senior US military commanders in Iraq have expressed their concerns about a report BBC radio is planning to broadcast this weekend about residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq and the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Turkey PM tells Iran to act ‘honestly’
AFP: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday called on neighbouring Iran to act honestly after Tehran’s about-face on Istanbul as the venue for nuclear negotiations.
