AFP: Top US lawmakers crafting Iran sanctions legislation announced Monday they had reached a deal on a series of punitive measures aimed at piling pressure on Tehran over its suspect nuclear program.
US lawmakers ready Iran sanctions bill
Iraqi FM says political ‘bickering’ risks street riots
AFP: Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari warned on Monday that prolonged “bickering” over who should be the war-torn country’s prime minister is angering the public and risks stoking deadly street riots.
An update from Tehran
Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 21 – From the Grapevine… Opposition supporters on Sunday chanted “Down with the principle of the velayat-e faqih” (absolute clerical rule) during a protest in the Tehran-Karaj train, and there were clashes with a number of Bassij militiamen and intelligence agents inside the station.
UN-sanctioned Iran Guards wing offers to end US oil spill
AFP: The UN-sanctioned industrial wing of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards offered on Monday to help end the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, saying the disaster had become a “shame” for the United States.
Iran plans 2 bln euros bonds to develop petrochemicals
Reuters: Iran will issue bonds worth 2 billion euros ($2.48 billion) to help finance development of its petrochemical industry, the Oil Ministry website SHANA reported on Monday.
Pakistan to abide by US sanctions on Iran: PM
AFP: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday said that his country would abide by US sanctions on Iran which could hit a 7.6-billion-dollar gas pipeline project.
IAEA has “full confidence” in barred Iran inspectors
Reuters: The U.N. atomic watchdog on Monday rejected Iranian claims that its inspectors had falsely reported information about Tehran’s nuclear work, after the Islamic Republic barred two of its officials from the country.
UAE closes firms violating Iran sanctions: report
AFP: The United Arab Emirates has closed down 40 international and local firms as part of a crackdown on companies that violate UN sanctions on Iran, a newspaper reported on Monday.
Iran bars UN nuclear inspectors
AFP: Iran has barred two UN inspectors from entering the country after they filed a “false” report about Tehran’s nuclear programme, atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi was Monday quoted as saying.
Iraq’s Allawi fears plots to assasinate him
AFP: Former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi, who is locked in a struggle to form a new government after inconclusive polls, said in an interview Monday he had been warned of plots to assassinate him.
