AP: The United States has arrested and charged an Iranian semiconductor scientist with violating U.S. export laws by buying high-tech U.S. lab equipment, a development likely to further worsen Iranian-U.S. tensions.
US has arrested Iranian scientist
Don’t let Iran benefit from EU financial crisis: John R. Bolton
Bloomberg: The European financial crisis and the ineffective effort to stop Iran’s nuclear-weapons program are crashing into each other. As the European Union adopts new restrictions on importing Iranian oil, the most-troubled EU economies will continue to seek delays and exceptions.
Sasol to avoid Iran’s oil
Wall Street Journal: South Africa’s Sasol Ltd. said it is trying to diversify away from Iranian oil as sanctions from the U.S. and Europe increase pressure on those doing business with Tehran, The Wall Street Journal reported.
BP says Shah Deniz gas field to stay exempt from Iran sanctions
Bloomberg: BP Plc (BP/) believes its Shah Deniz natural-gas field off the coast of Azerbaijan will remain exempted from U.S. and European Union sanctions on Iran.
Iran considers preemptive ban of oil sales to Europe, Mehr says
Bloomberg: Iranian lawmakers are drafting a bill that would call for a halt of Iran’s oil exports to Europe even before July when a European Union ban on Iranian crude is to start, the state-run Mehr news agency said.
Pattern of intimidation is seen in arrests of Iranian journalists and bloggers
New York Times: The judicial authorities in Iran have arrested at least half a dozen journalists and bloggers over the past few weeks, according to their acquaintances, opposition Web sites and rights groups. The moves appear to be part of a pre-emptive campaign of intimidation to thwart protests surrounding the parliamentary elections that are scheduled to be held in early March.
Iran says sanctions to fail, repeats Hormuz threat
Reuters: Iranian politicians said on Tuesday they expected the European Union to backtrack on its oil embargo and repeated a threat to close the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane if the West succeeds in preventing Tehran from exporting crude.
UN chief Ban: Tone down rhetoric in Iran dispute
Reuters: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday appealed to all sides in the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program to reduce tensions and urged Tehran not to follow through on threats to close a key shipping lane.
Obama: No options off table on Iran nuclear program
Reuters: President Barack Obama warned Iran on Tuesday the United States would keep up pressure on its disputed nuclear program with “no options off the table” but said the door remained open to talks for a peaceful resolution.
Britain not seeking military conflict with Iran: Hague
AFP: Britain is neither planning nor advocating military action against Iran over its nuclear programme or its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Secretary William Hague insisted Tuesday.
