BBC: The European Union plans to reject Iran’s invitation for an EU ambassador to tour Iran’s nuclear sites.
EU spurns offer of Iran nuclear sites tour
Iran targets Christians with a wave of arrests
Wall Street Journal: Iranian authorities have arrested dozens of Christians in the two weeks since Christmas, the latest challenge to the Mideast’s small but vibrant Christian communities.
Iran nuclear talks should resume Jan 20
AFP: Talks between world powers and Iran on its controversial nuclear programme should resume January 20 in Istanbul, an aide to European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Friday.
Clinton to head back to Gulf as Iran talks loom
Reuters: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit several key Gulf allies beginning on Saturday, seeking to buttress U.S. ties in an oil-rich region shadowed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Gates, on China trip, to talk N.Korea, Iran
Reuters: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who will visit China starting Sunday, said on Thursday he hoped to use the trip to seek a deeper dialogue with Beijing on areas of mutual interest, including North Korea and Iran.
Swiss festival invites jailed Iranian film maker Panahi
AFP: Jailed Iranian film director Jafar Panahi has been invited to join the jury at an international film festival in Switzerland in March that focuses on human rights, the organisers said on Thursday.
India SBI source:cannot open LCs for crude import from Iran
Reuters: India’s state-run lender State Bank of India cannot open letter of credit for crude imports from Iran, an official at the bank said on Friday.
Afghans protest Iran fuel truck ban
AP: Hundreds of Afghans demonstrated outside the Iranian Embassy in Kabul Friday to protest Iran’s blocking of thousands of fuel trucks at the border with Afghanistan, a step that has sent domestic fuel prices soaring as the country’s harsh winter sets in.
British lawmakers “strongly condemn” assault on Iranian dissidents in Iraq
Iran Focus: London, Jan. 07 – British Parliamentarians strongly condemned an assault Friday on Iranian dissidents in Camp Ashraf in Iraq by Iraqi armed forces and Iranian agents.
Iran arrests ex-president Khatami’s aide: report
AFP: A close aide to former Iranian reformist president Mohammad Khatami has been arrested by security forces, opposition websites reported on Thursday.
