AFP: The secular coalition that narrowly won Iraq’s general election is edging closer to power after a bitter row over who becomes prime minister left a rival Shiite alliance on the brink of collapse.
Iraq election victor boosted as Shiite parties bicker
Militants claim suicide bomb attack on Japan tanker
AFP: Militant jihadists claimed Tuesday that a suicide bomber blew himself up on a Japanese oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz last week, the US monitoring group SITE said.
U.S. blacklists Iran military leaders, 21 firms
Wall Street Journal: The U.S. Treasury blacklisted 21 state-owned Iranian companies as part of a growing and coordinated international effort to undercut Tehran’s ability to use units in Europe and Asia to facilitate financial transactions and weapons development.
Hundreds denounce crackdown on Azeri culture in north-west Iran
Iran Focus: Tabriz, Aug. 03 – Hundreds of people in the north-western Iranian city of Tabriz, provincial capital of East Azerbaijan, staged a public demonstration against the denial of the right to learn the Azeri language in schools and promote Azeri culture.
Japan imposes sanctions on Iran over nuke program
AFP: Japan imposed sanctions on Iran over its contentious nuclear program on Tuesday in line with a United Nations (UN) resolution and said it plans to announce additional punitive measures later this month.
U.S. Treasury says it will freeze assets of Iranians with terrorist ties
Bloomberg: The U.S. Treasury Department today said it would freeze the assets of people and groups Iran uses to support terrorist groups under the guise of economic aid and social services.
Iran to hang man in public for killing officer
Iran Focus: Tehran, Aug. 03 – A prisoner by the name of Hamid Moghaddas has been transferred from Ward One of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj (west of Tehran) to a solitary cell in Varamin Prison (east of the capital).
Prisoner hanged in Iran
Iran Focus: Tehran, Aug. 03 – Reza Mohajer, a prisoner in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj (west of Tehran), was hanged at dawn on Monday, after serving 11 years in prison, opposition websites reported.
White House rebuffs Iran leader’s call for direct talks
AFP: The White House on Tuesday rebuffed a call from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for face-to-face talks with his US counterpart Barack Obama, saying Tehran has not been serious about discussing its nuclear program.
Lloyd’s ship underwriters create sanctions clause
Reuters: London’s marine insurance market has created a clause ensuring underwriters do not breach sanctions due in part to western measures against Iran, a senior Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) official said on Monday.
