Iran Focus: Tehran, Oct. 12 – From the Grapevine… Despite attempts by Iranian authorities to compel gold sellers to reopen for business after nearly a month of strikes in various cities, at least half of jewellers and gold merchants are still refusing to end their protests.
Government, gold sellers at loggerheads in Iran
Iran’s economy feels sting of sanctions
Wall Street Journal: Shortages, Layoffs and Inflation Fears Are Seen Four Months After U.N. Measures; a ‘Chaotic and Unpredictable’ Market
Ahmadinejad heads to Lebanon amid political crisis
AP: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is wading into Lebanon’s tumultuous political divides this week with a visit that underlines the power of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and has put Western-backed factions in the government on the defensive.
Iran minister warns of ‘volcanic explosion of AIDS’
AFP: Iran’s health minister warned on Tuesday that the Islamic republic could see a “volcanic explosion of AIDS” on the back of rising “immoral behaviour” among its people.
Soldiers killed by blast at Iranian military base
Reuters: An explosion at an Iranian military training base killed and injured several servicemen on Tuesday, the website of Iran’s English-language Press TV reported.
Iran restricts university places in the capital
Iran Focus: Tehran, Oct. 12 – From the Grapevine… Iranian authorities are implementing broad measures to restrict university places to trusted affiliates.
Iran blames EU’s Ashton for nuclear talks deadlock
AFP: Iran on Tuesday blamed European Union Foreign Affairs chief Catherine Ashton for the deadlock over nuclear talks with world powers, urging her to be “more active” in pursuing the dialogue.
Iran’s hardliners target moderate stronghold
AP: Iran’s leader issued a decree Monday paving the way for a state takeover of the country’s largest private university, in a crushing blow to the nation’s moderates.
EU’s Iran sanctions threaten Nabucco pipe, Sueddeutsche reports
Bloomberg: European Union sanctions against Iran threaten the planned Nabucco pipeline to ship natural gas from the Caspian region to Europe, Sueddeutsche Zeitung said, citing an internal EU paper.
Arrested foreigners tied to anti-revolutionaries: Iran
AFP: Iran said Tuesday that two foreigners arrested for posing as journalists and interviewing the son of a woman facing execution by stoning are suspected of having links with anti-revolution groups.
