AP: Iran’s president wants to shed the nation’s secrecy and forge ahead openly with developing nuclear weapons but is opposed by the clerical leadership, which is worried about international reaction to such a move, says an intelligence assessment shared with The Associated Press.
AP Exclusive: Iran prez said pushing for nukes
Iran denies shooting down US spy plane
AP: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard denied Friday that it shot down an unmanned U.S. spy plane over a uranium enrichment site, saying that its air defenses had only hit a test target.
Iran, India oil rumpus has wider implications: Clyde Russell
Reuters: The market appears quite relaxed about the escalating dispute between India and Iran over payment for oil supplies, but it has wider implications and may yet disrupt Asian crude markets.
Sanctions aren’t slowing Iran’s nuclear progress
Washington Post – Editorial: According to a recent story in The Post, the Obama administration is “quietly toasting” the success of international sanctions against Iran.
Opposition: Iran consolidates nuclear bomb effort
AP: An Iranian opposition group said Friday that Tehran’s leaders have consolidated several scattered nuclear research efforts in a single new defense agency geared to streamline weapons development.
America’s intelligence denial on Iran
Wall Street Journal: Mounting evidence over the last few years has convinced most experts that Iran has an active program to develop and construct nuclear weapons. Amazingly, however, these experts do not include the leaders of the U.S. intelligence community.
Two Indian refiners will not get Iran oil in Aug-sources
Reuters: Two Indian refiners will not get crude from Iran in August, sources at the two companies said on Thursday, as Tehran carried out a threat to stop supplies after debts in a long-running payments dispute reached more than $5 billion.
Iran Guards kill Kurdish rebels
AFP: Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards continued their offensives against rebels from the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) on Wednesday, killing and wounding a number of them, media reported.
Indian refiners seek more Saudi oil for August -sources
Reuters: Indian refiners have asked top exporter Saudi Arabia for more oil for August, sources said, as they fear Iran will halt supply of 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) as Tehran escalates a seven-month long payment suspension triggered by U.S. pressure.
Iran converts heavy oil into light crude, Fars News Agency says
Bloomberg: Iran has developed technology to transform its “considerable resources” of ultra-heavy crude into lighter oil, Fars News Agency reported, citing Deputy Oil Minister Mohammed Reza Moqaddam.
