Reuters: French oil major Total will not invest in Iran because the financial terms are poor, not because of increasingly tough sanctions, Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie said on Friday.
Total says terms, not sanctions, block Iran deals
Canada first lady ‘saddened’ Iranian woman still held
AFP: Canada’s First Lady Maureen Harper said Friday she was “deeply saddened” that an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning has not been released as reported earlier.
Security Council told of two reported arms embargo violations by Iran
CNN: Iran continues to evade and violate a U.N.-imposed arms embargo, according to a sanctions committee report released Friday to the Security Council.
Iran raises Jan Light crude prices to Asia
Reuters: Iran has raised its official selling prices for January-loading crude to Asia, trading sources said on Friday.
Iran TV denies report stoning woman was released
Reuters: An Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning has not been released, state-run Press TV said on Friday, denying a report by a European human rights group which quoted “sources in Iran” as saying she had been freed.
US must toughen Iran sanctions: Top lawmaker
AFP: A top US lawmaker vowed Thursday to toughen US sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear program and place renewed scrutiny on Russia and China’s economic ties with Tehran.
US defense secretary sees support for Iran sanctions
Reuters: Iran’s neighbors are clearly concerned about Tehran’s “aggressive behavior” and support international sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear ambitions, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday after a week of travel that included stops in two Gulf states.
West eyes tighter Iran sanctions for arms smuggling
AFP: Western nations on Friday accused Iran of stepping up illegal arms trading and made calls for tougher UN sanctions.
US defence chief in Gulf to discuss Iran, Yemen
AFP: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is meeting on Thursday with Emirati leaders on Iran’s nuclear programme and Al-Qaeda threat in Yemen, as WikiLeaks exposed Gulf Arab fears of the Islamic republic.
Iran security officials arrest four at newspaper
New York Times: Security officials have raided one of Iran’s few remaining independent newspapers, arresting three journalists and a managing director, web sites associated with the political opposition reported Wednesday.
