AFP: Gambia rejected Thursday claims that it was the intended recipient of a cargo of weapons from Iran that was intercepted in Nigeria, and accused neighbour Senegal of a campaign of “hatred” over the case.
Gambia denies it was intended recipient of Iran arms
American accused of trying to sell F-5 to Iran
Philadelphia Inquirer: When a certain F-5 Tiger fighter jet outlived its military use years ago, it was sold for surplus, and the plane became the toy of a rich Californian. He leased it as a big prop for Hollywood movies. This year, the fighter jet became the star of a real-life sting – against an American accused of trying to sell it to Iran.
WikiLeaks: Chevron eyed oil deal involving Iran
AP: Chevron Corp. expressed interest in developing oil reserves straddling the Iran-Iraq border, potentially putting the American energy giant at risk of violating U.S. sanctions against Tehran, according to comments made public in a leaked diplomatic cable.
Iran approached Bedouin for Gaza gun running: cable
Reuters: Egypt’s spy chief told U.S. officials last year Iran was trying to recruit Bedouin in the Sinai Peninsula to help smuggle arms into the blockaded Gaza Strip, a leaked U.S. diplomatic cable said.
New Iran FM to make first foreign foray to Turkey
AFP: Iran’s new acting foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi is to accompany President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a regional summit in Turkey next week, his first foray abroad since taking up the job, the Mehr news agency reported on Wednesday.
Rebel group Jundollah claims Iran attack-TV
Reuters: Sunni Muslim rebel group Jundollah said it was behind an attack which killed dozens in southeastern Iran on Wednesday, Al Arabiya television said.
Explosion outside mosque in southeast Iran – report
Reuters: An explosion outside a mosque in Iran’s southeastern city of Chabahr killed dozens of people on Wednesday, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Quality of Iran petrol below global standards-report
Reuters: The quality of gasoline produced in Iran in an attempt to achieve self-sufficiency is well below global standards, a website quoted an official as saying, but his comments were rejected by the Islamic state’s oil ministry. The poor quality of Iranian gasoline was the main cause of pollution in the capital Tehran in recent weeks that forced the government to shut down offices, schools, and other organisations for days, say experts and some lawmakers.
Senegal recalls envoy to Iran over arms seizure
Reuters: Senegal recalled its ambassador to Iran on Tuesday, saying it was unhappy with explanations given by Tehran over an arms seizure in Nigeria that has dented Iran’s quest for allies and trade partners in Africa.
Iran maintains nuclear policy after FM sacked
AFP: Iran said Tuesday its nuclear and foreign policies will not change after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad abruptly fired Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and replaced him with the atomic chief.
