AFP: Iran has dismissed as “unacceptable” the continued deployment of American troops in Iraq as US President Barack Obama was to announce on Tuesday the end of combat operations in the country.
Iran slams remaining US deployment in Iraq
Interview: Iraq warns others away as U.S. ends combat
Reuters: The Iraqi government has warned neighboring countries thinking they can fill the vacuum once U.S. troops withdraw not to interfere in its affairs, Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said Tuesday.
Iranian insults against Carla Bruni ‘unacceptable’: France
AFP: France said Tuesday that insults in the Iranian media against first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who has been branded an “Italian prostitute” who “deserves death”, are unacceptable.
Iran opposition figure’s house under siege: website
Reuters: Iranian paramilitaries surrounded the house of leading opposition figure Mehdi Karoubi Tuesday to prevent the cleric from participating in a religious ceremony, his website said.
Khamenei backs Iran plan to scrap subsidies
AFP: Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has backed the Iranian government’s plan to scrap subsidies in the coming weeks, despite concerns from some conservatives of its inflationary impact.
Iran paper says Bruni should die after stoning comments
Reuters: An Iranian newspaper said on Tuesday that Carla Bruni, the wife of France’s president, deserved to die after she expressed solidarity with a woman sentenced to be stoned for adultery.
Iraqis need promises of post-war commitments from the U.S.
Washington Post – Editorial: The official end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq that President Obama will mark with a speech Tuesday night is a milestone but, as we hope Mr. Obama will make clear, hardly an end to America’s involvement or strategic interests in the Middle Eastern country.
Iraqis approach end of US combat role with worry
AP: As Vice President Joe Biden presides over the formal end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq, few Iraqis are cheering the American exit.
Iraq needs U.S. engagement, and a slower clock
Washington Post – By Ryan C. Crocker: Much has been written in recent days about Iraq and anniversaries. August 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait. August 2010: The last U.S. combat brigade withdraws from Iraq. Are these the bookends of a 20-year war? Did we win? What does winning mean?
Weeks still needed to fuel Iran’s nuclear plant
AFP: Iran will still need two more weeks to fully load the fuel in its Russian-built first nuclear power plant, a process which began 10 days ago, atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi has said.
