Bloomberg: Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi has ordered five European companies, including Royal Dutch Shell Plc, to be put on a blacklist for failing to meet their commitments in the nation’s refinery projects, Mehr reported.
Shell, UOP among companies put on blacklist by Iran, Mehr says
Deeper Iran sanctions; US targets its central bank
AP: Targeting Iran’s economy, the U.S. ordered tough new penalties Monday to further pinch the country’s financial system and encourage Israel to give sanctions more time before any military action against Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran boosts nuclear work in bunker-diplomats
Reuters: Iran is believed to be expanding uranium enrichment activity deep inside a mountain, diplomatic sources said on Monday, a move likely to add to tension with Western powers that suspect Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons capability.
Obama signs order blocking all Iranian assets in US
AFP: President Barack Obama on Monday ordered new sanctions into force on Iran, including its central bank, seeking to tighten a choke hold on Tehran’s economy as a nuclear showdown deepens.
Iran deters hypothetical ground invasion
UPI: An Iranian military official said his forces wrapped up a war games exercise in southern Iran meant to deter a hypothetical ground invasion.
Obama tightens Iran sanctions over bank “deception”
Reuters: President Barack Obama tightened sanctions on Iran another notch, the White House said on Monday, targeting its central bank and giving U.S. banks new powers to freeze assets linked to the government.
Iran sanctions plan targets oil companies, tanker fleet to slash business
Bloomberg: A U.S. proposal to sanction Iran’s state-owned oil company and its main tanker fleet may ensnare any person or business in the world involved in purchasing or shipping Iranian oil.
Obama says US, Israel ‘in lockstep’ on Iran
AFP: President Barack Obama on Sunday sought to reassure Americans over the threat posed by Iran, saying the United States was working “in lockstep” with Israel to bring Tehran to heel over its suspect nuclear program.
German reporter says he was beaten in Iran
AP: A German reporter says he was beaten by guards during his nearly five months of imprisonment in Iran and that he heard constant, “horrible cries” of other inmates being tortured.
Arab, Turkish officials urge dialogue with Iran
AP: Arab and Turkish officials slammed talk of a military strike against Iran, saying Sunday it would be a disaster for the region and calling for renewed negotiations, while also urging the international community to keep pressure on Syria to end the bloodshed there.
