AP: The prospect of conflict with Iran has eclipsed Afghanistan as the key national security issue with head-spinning speed. After years of bad blood and an international impasse over Iran’s disputed nuclear program, why does the threat of war seem so suddenly upon us?
Dwindling time, rising tension make Iran top fear
India says tea exports to Iran facing payment hurdle
Reuters: Indian tea exports to Iran are facing payment hurdles, the trade secretary said on Thursday, the latest sign that Western sanctions are biting the Islamic Republic which is struggling to pay to keep its trade flowing.
India proposes bartering wheat for oil from Iran, Times says
Bloomberg: India’s external affairs ministry has proposed paying for Iranian crude imports with wheat exports to the Persian Gulf nation, the Economic Times reported, citing an unidentified person with knowledge of the development.
Gingrich warns darkly of Iran nuclear possibility
AP: Newt Gingrich kept a stiff upper lip Wednesday after his poor showing in GOP presidential caucuses the night before, but issued dire warnings about Iran’s potential nuclear capabilities.
Bashar al-Assad’s Syria offers Iran a springboard into the Arab Middle East
The Guardian: The prospect of direct western military or “humanitarian” intervention, overt and covert, to speed regime change in Syria appears to be strengthening after last week’s UN debacle and the regime’s ensuing violent efforts to finish off its opponents. But appearances are deceptive.
Vatican says no Iran trip planned
AP: The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI receives many invitations and that a trip to Lebanon is under consideration but that there are no plans for a visit to Iran.
South Africa’s close ties to Iran under scrutiny
AP: The West’s increasing pressure on Iran has meant scrutiny for South African businesses that operate in the Middle Eastern nation accused of having nuclear ambitions.
Malaysian exporters stop supplying Iran with palm oil-sources
Reuters: Malaysian palm oil exporters have stopped supplying most of the 30,000 tonnes of the food staple that Iran buys monthly from the Southeast Asian producer as Western financial sanctions against Tehran stymie payments, said two trading sources.
Iran anxiety no match for Central Banker cash
Bloomberg: Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Syria’s bloody crackdown and Greece’s potential default are leaving markets unfazed as central bankers take unprecedented steps to prevent the global economy from crumbling.
Bolstering the military option on Iran
WSJ: In his recent State of the Union address, President Obama declared, “Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.” Yet Iran is fast approaching the nuclear threshold, despite new, tough international sanctions.
