AFP: The United States said Tuesday it was exempting European Union members and Japan from tough new sanctions on Iran, praising them for reducing dependency on oil from the Islamic republic.
US to exempt EU, Japan on Iran sanctions
US looking for more ways to pressure Iran-Geithner
Reuters: U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said o n T uesday Washington will keep looking for ways to effectively put pressure on Iran and is getting help from Europe, Japan, China and South Korea.
Kuwait says Iran vows not to shut Strait of Hormuz
AP: Kuwait’s ruler says Iran has assured its Gulf neighbors that it will not block the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Iran will attack to defend itself – Ayatollah Khamenei
Reuters: In the face of aggression from the United States or Israel, Iran will attack to defend itself, Iran’s most powerful figure, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday.
Obama slams Iran’s ‘electronic curtain’ of censorship
AFP: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday accused Iran’s leaders of imposing an “electronic curtain” of censorship, announcing steps to use software and social media to help Iranians gain freer access to the Internet.
Iran greets New Year with cannon fire, economy vows
AFP: Iran ushered in its Persian New Year on Tuesday with a symbolic cannon blast from its flagship destroyer, and speeches from leaders vowing to fix an economy suffering under Western sanctions.
Does America and Iran’s mutual mistrust mean war is inevitable?
BBC: In late 2004, in an atmosphere of frenzied speculation about war with Iran, Jack Straw – then Britain’s Foreign Secretary – told the BBC that military action was “inconceivable.”
Russia’s Stake in Syria and Iran
Wall Street Journal: Now that Vladimir Putin has allowed the Russian electorate to rubber-stamp him back into power, he can return with redoubled purpose to his consistently regressive interference in world affairs.
EU goes further on Iran sanctions
Wall Street Journal: Faced with U.S. pressure to move faster in isolating Iran’s financial sector to choke off funds for Tehran’s nuclear program, the European Union took an action last week that officials in Brussels admit goes well beyond the carefully-calibrated sanctions they originally intended.
Two British journalists held in Libya freed: ministry
AFP: Two British journalists working for an Iranian broadcaster who were detained by a Libyan militia last month have been freed, the interior ministry said on Sunday.
