Bloomberg: Troops from Persian Gulf nations will remain in Bahrain to protect the Sunni-monarchy against an Iranian threat and “saboteurs and thugs,” the Bahrain News Agency said, citing the commander of the Bahrain Defense Force.
Gulf troops to stay in Bahrain to protect against ‘Iran threat’
Trial of American hikers charged with espionage in Iran is unexpectedly delayed
New York Times: The trial of three Americans charged with espionage and illegal entry in Iran after their arrest almost two years ago near the border with Iraqi Kurdistan failed to resume in Tehran on Wednesday, and their Iranian lawyer said he had formally protested the delay.
AP Exclusive: Big powers, Iran spar over nukes
AP: Iran wants a new round of talks with six world powers to focus on a host of issues including its rights as a nation, and even high-seas piracy, instead of international fears that it’s building a nuclear bomb, according to confidential letters obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
Syria expels US journalist to Iran: Syrian embassy
AFP: Damascus expelled an American journalist working for Al-Jazeera to Iran after she tried to enter Syria illegally on an expired Iranian passport, the Syrian embassy said in a statement Wednesday.
Ahmadinejad in bitter row over Iran’s ministries
AFP: A blazing row has erupted between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and parliament speaker Ali Larijani over the restructuring of ministries, media reports said on Thursday, in a fresh sign of tension in Iran’s ruling conservative camp.
New signs of power struggle at top levels in Iran
AP: Iran’s constitutional watchdog rebuked the president Wednesday for trying to merge Cabinet ministries without parliamentary approval — the latest sign of discord at the highest levels of the ruling Islamic system in Tehran.
U.N. says Iran violated arms ban
Wall Street Journal: Tehran has shipped conventional weapons to Syria in violation of a U.N. arms-export ban, according to a new U.N. report, which also concludes that U.N. sanctions are constraining Iran’s pursuit of materiel for nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Netherlands concerned over rights activist in Iran
AFP: The Netherlands on Wednesday said it was concerned over the health of a Dutch-Iranian human rights activist, sentenced and jailed in Iran five years ago.
Iran’s nuclear program still trying to overcome international sanctions
Washington Post: International sanctions are “constraining” Iran’s capacity to purchase supplies and equipment to develop nuclear and ballistic missile technology, but Tehran continues to actively seek way to overcome the measures, according to a new United Nations report.
Iran to fight ‘Arab Spring’ forces: US officials
AFP: Iran is “fighting a losing battle” against pro-democracy forces sweeping the Middle East but will resist reforms more strongly than did countries like Egypt or Tunisia, US officials said Wednesday.
