AFP: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday accused Western countries of devising plans to “cause drought” in the Islamic republic, as he inaugurated a dam in a central province.
West ‘causing drought’ in Iran: Ahmadinejad
Iran lawyer asks to meet US hikers on ‘hunger strike’
AFP: The lawyer of detained US hikers in Iran told AFP Thursday that he has sought judiciary permission to meet his clients after their family raised concerns the two men could be on a hunger strike.
Hard-liners call for arrest of Ahmadinejad aide
AP: A hard-line publication called on security forces Wednesday to arrest President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s closest political aide amid a widening political power struggle over who will shape Iran’s next government.
US imposes sanctions on Assad, six other Syrian officials
AFP: US President Barack Obama imposed sanctions Wednesday on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and six top aides over their deadly crackdown on protests, telling Assad to move to democracy or step down.
Iran could play role in al-Qaida, post-bin Laden
AP: The death of Osama bin Laden has put a new focus on what role Iran might play in al-Qaida’s future, as intelligence officials around the world analyzed reports that Saif al-Adel had taken over as al-Qaida’s interim leader. Al-Adel was last known to be under house arrest outside Tehran.
AP Exclusive: Diplomats: IAEA fears Iran hackers
AP: The U.N. nuclear agency is investigating reports from its experts that their cellphones and laptops may have been hacked into by Iranian officials looking for confidential information while the equipment was left unattended during inspection tours in the Islamic Republic, diplomats have told The Associated Press.
EU set to sharply expand Iran sanctions — diplomats
Reuters: The European Union is expected to significantly expand its sanctions against Iran on Monday, adding about 100 companies to its embargo list, EU diplomats said on Thursday.
Iran to unveil new ballistic missiles next week
Iran Focus: Tehran, 19 May – Iran announced on Wednesday that it will be unveiling a number of new domestically-produced ballistic missiles next week.
Iran rejects U.S. sanctions as “psychological warfare”
Reuters: Iran accused Washington of engaging in “psychological warfare” after the U.S. Treasury added an Iranian state bank to its list of blacklisted companies, semi-official news agency ISNA reported on Wednesday.
Kuwait and Iran to return ambassadors after spy network row
Bloomberg: Iran and Kuwait are to exchange ambassadors again after a dispute over an alleged spy network operating in Kuwait led to both countries expelling diplomats.
