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.
Pattern of intimidation is seen in arrests of Iranian journalists and bloggers
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.
Sanctions against Iran grow tighter, but what’s the next step?
New York Times: As the Obama administration and its European allies toughened economic sanctions against Iran on Monday — blocking its access to the world financial system and undermining its critical oil and gas industry — officials on both sides of the Atlantic acknowledge that their last-ditch effort has only a limited chance of persuading Tehran to abandon what the West fears is its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Iranian adviser accuses Brazil of ruining relations
New York Times: Iran’s efforts to cultivate political support in Latin America at a time of rising international tension over its nuclear program appear to have encountered a significant obstacle: Brazil, the region’s economic powerhouse.
Obama lauds Iran oil embargo as US turns the screw
AFP: US President Barack Obama tightened the noose on Iran’s battered banking system Tuesday and lauded an EU move to choke Tehran’s oil exports, amid evidence that sanctions are beginning to bite.
Iran slams EU oil embargo, warns could hit U.S.
Reuters: Iran accused Europeans on Monday of waging “psychological warfare” after the EU banned imports of Iranian oil, and U.S. President Barack Obama said Washington would impose more sanctions to address the “serious threat presented by Iran’s nuclear program.”
EU adds Iran’s Bank Tejarat to sanctions list
Reuters: The European Union has included Iran’s state-owned Bank Tejarat among entities it is blacklisting to raise pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme, according to an EU document published on Tuesday.
