AFP: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday accused the West of seeking “regime change” in Iran and warned Washington that Russia intended to keep its nuclear weapons to keep US power in check.

Bloomberg: The U.S. government has offered to help India get alternative supplies for Iranian crude, as it looks to squeeze the Persian Gulf producer’s oil revenue, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

UPI: European countries can secure crude oil deliveries from Iran provided they sign 2- to 5-year contracts, an Iranian oil executive said.

AP: A little-known company based in Belgium that facilitates many of the world’s financial transactions has become central to the West’s plan to prevent Iran from selling oil and other goods to raise money to fund its nuclear ambitions.

AFP: Hackers calling themselves the ‘Iranian Cyber Army’ have attacked the website of mainly Muslim neighbour Azerbaijan’s state television station, the communications ministry said on Thursday.

Reuters: Japan may cut Iranian crude oil imports by a more-than-expected 20 percent as it seeks a waiver from U.S. sanctions, a newspaper reported on Thursday, a move which would spare its banks from a major blow but could boost its already rising fuel import bill.

Bloomberg: Iran’s refusal to let United Nations experts investigate allegations of illicit nuclear activities at a military base doesn’t inspire confidence for a return to negotiations with the international community, U.S. officials and nuclear-proliferation specialists said.

AP: The tensions over Iran’s nuclear program have pitted the West against the world’s third-biggest oil exporter.

AP: Oil prices rose Wednesday on the expectation that world supplies could be squeezed further because of ongoing tensions with Iran.