Reuters: The European Union is expected to bring forward a meeting of foreign ministers due to decide on an oil embargo on Iran by one week to Jan. 23, EU diplomats said on Monday.
EU to meet on Iran oil embargo on Jan. 23-diplomats
Iran stokes nuclear fears with bunker facility
AFP: The UN atomic agency said Monday that Iran is now enriching uranium at a new site in a hard-to-bomb mountain bunker, in a move set to stoke Western suspicions further that Tehran wants nuclear weapons.
Iran rial slides, ‘dollar’ text messages appear blocked
Reuters: Iran’s currency has slid 20 percent against the dollar in the last week despite central bank intervention, and Iranians concerned about the economy said on Tuesday attempts to send text messages using the word “dollar” appeared to be blocked.
Indian refiners, govt meet on Iran oil payments
Reuters: Indian refiners and oil ministry officials are meeting on Monday to discuss alternative methods to pay for Iranian oil imports should an existing mechanism via Turkey’s Halkbank be halted under U.S. sanctions against Tehran.
Iran judge sentences American to death for spying
AFP: A former US Marine, who also holds Iranian citizenship, has been sentenced to death by an Iranian judge for spying for the CIA, the Fars news agency reported on Monday.
Iran confirms has $2 bln oil debt with Italy’s Eni
Reuters: An Iranian oil official has confirmed that Iran owes Italian energy major Eni some $2 billion worth of oil that Rome is concerned could be put at risk by a European Union embargo on crude imports from the Islamic Republic.
Iran bans unofficial money trades after rial slip
Reuters: Iran’s parliament cracked down on unofficial money traders on Sunday after new U.S. sanctions helped trigger a currency crash as Iranians rushed to buy dollars.
US will respond if Iran blocks Strait: Panetta
AFP: The United States will respond if Iran tries to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Sunday, saying such a move would cross a “red line.”
Geithner’s Asia trip to focus on Iran
Wall Street Journal: U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner headed to Asia Sunday to seek support from China and Japan for boosting financial pressure on Iran in an effort to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.
UK sends new warship to Gulf amid Iran tensions
AFP: Britain’s newest warship is heading to the Gulf for its first mission at a time of tensions over Iran’s threat to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key transport route for oil.
