Reuters: Some 50 countries are poised to censure Iran at the U.N. Human Rights Council for its violent crackdown on dissidents and political opponents after elections a year ago, diplomats and activists said on Monday.
U.S. and Norway lead bid to rebuke Iran at U.N. rights forum
Iran cleric wants ‘special weapons’ to deter enemy
AP: The hardline spiritual mentor of Iran’s president has made a rare public call for producing the “special weapons” that are a monopoly of a few nations — a veiled reference to nuclear arms.
EU considers going further than UN sanctions against Iran
AFP: EU foreign ministers examined on Monday how they can go further than new UN sanctions in putting pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear programme, while holding a hand out for talks.
Iran Guards unworried by new sanctions: report
AFP: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are unworried by the new UN sanctions that especially target the elite force, the state-run news agency reported on Monday.
EU invites Iran for nuclear talks
AFP: EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton has written to Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili inviting him to talks as Europe plans new sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme.
Iranian aid ships head for Gaza
Reuters: Iran is sending aid ships to blockaded Gaza, state radio said on Monday — a move likely to be considered provocative by Israel which accuses Tehran of arming the Palestinian enclave’s Islamist rulers, Hamas.
Iran police ‘free Karroubi from hardliners’ siege’
AFP: Iranian police on Monday helped opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi escape a day after rival hardline loyalists surrounded him in a cleric’s house, a website close to the government said.
Iraq’s new parliament convenes 3 months after vote
AP: Iraq’s new parliament has convened, more than three months after inconclusive national elections left the country in political limbo.
71 women passengers denied boarding flights
Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 14 – Some 210 men and 112 women have been arrested for promiscuous conduct in airports in Iran over the past 82 days, according to the head of security of Iran’s airports, Revolutionary Guards Brig. Gen. Nabiollah Heidari.
Iran seals office of late dissident cleric
Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 14 – The Office of the late Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri was locked and sealed on Monday by authorities in the holy city of Qom, according to his son, Ahmad.
