AP: The smuggling of tens of thousands of gallons a day of crude oil and refined fuels from northern Iraq to Iran, in violation of new U.S. sanctions, is stoking tensions between Iraq’s central government and its Kurdish provincial counterparts.
Oil smuggling to Iran embarrassment for Iraq
Russia, Iran to sign energy pact as projects stalled
Reuters: Russia and Iran will sign a “road map” to outline long-term energy cooperation, Russia’s energy ministry said on Tuesday, as Moscow’s investments in Iran are stalled because of international sanctions.
Missing Iranian scientist ‘at Pakistani embassy in US’
BBC: Iran says a nuclear scientist it claims was abducted by the US has taken refuge in its interest section at Pakistan’s embassy in Washington, state media say.
German trade with Iran has life of its own
Los Angeles Times: Germany’s emerging status as a global political power shines a light on its substantial dealings with Iran, putting its aspiration to be a diplomatic heavyweight at odds with its economic interests.
After killing at a bazaar, Iran declares 2 days off
New York Times: The Iranian government declared a sudden, two-day national holiday on Sunday and Monday, after a long-simmering dispute between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Tehran bazaar erupted last week, leaving one prominent merchant dead, according to opposition Web sites.
World powers mull Brazil, Turkey’s presence in Iran talks
AFP: World powers have not formally agreed that Brazil and Turkey can sit in on talks over a nuclear fuel supply deal with Iran, but neither have they explicitly ruled out such an arrangement, diplomats said Monday.
US shares Medvedev worries on Iran
AFP: The United States on Monday saluted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s criticism of Iran and said it shared concerns that the Islamic republic could reach a “tipping point” in its nuclear drive.
Russia warns of Iran’s potential to build nuclear bomb
AFP: Iran is close to having the potential to build a nuclear weapon, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday in the clearest indication of Moscow alarm over Tehran’s atomic drive.
Looming deadline threatens to unhinge fragile Iraq peace
The Scotsman: With the West’s focus now firmly on the continuing carnage in Afghanistan, you could be forgiven for thinking that Iraq these days was a haven of peace and prosperity.
Iran vows to increase enriched uranium stock sixfold by 2011
Bloomberg: Iran said it can produce enough 20 percent-enriched uranium to power its Tehran research reactor, which needs six times the country’s current stockpile, by September next year.
