New York Times: The Obama administration is accelerating the deployment of new defenses against possible Iranian missile attacks in the Persian Gulf, placing special ships off the Iranian coast and antimissile systems in at least four Arab countries, according to administration and military officials.
U.S. speeding up missile defenses in Persian Gulf
Seized North Korea arms were bound for Iran: Thailand
Reuters: A shipment of weapons from North Korea seized by Thai authorities last month were headed for Iran, according to a confidential report the Thai government sent to a U.N. Security Council committee.
German embassy police ‘recalled from Iran’
AFP: Two German policemen working at their country's embassy in Tehran have been brought home after being targeted by Iranian intelligence, according to the weekly Der Spiegel.
3 Americans now held in Iran for half of a year
AP: It's been six months since three young Americans were taken into captivity in Iran, and the mother of one said even hiring an attorney in Iran has brought no new information on how they are doing.
The key to dealing with Iran: Press ties with opposition
Washington Post – Editorial: President Obama promised last year that if Iran did not respond to offers of high-level "engagement" with the United States and negotiations on its nuclear program, he would seek international support for "crippling" sanctions against the regime.
Report: Iran puts 16 protesters on trial
AP: Iran's state media reports that a group of opposition activists are standing trial in Tehran on charges of rioting in connection with protests in late December.
Blair warns that world faces decision to halt Irans nuclear programme
The Times: World leaders might have to go to war to stop Iran developing its weapons programme, Tony Blair suggested yesterday.
US pressures China on Iran sanctions
AFP: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday upped the pressure on China to recognise the threat from Iran's nuclear programme and join international calls for sanctions.
Iranian cleric: More opposition should be executed
AP: A senior hard-line Iranian cleric has called for more activists to be executed to silence anti-government protests, a day after two men were hanged.
Dialogue on stalled Iran atom deal goes on-IAEA head
Reuters: The U.N. nuclear agency chief said on Friday dialogue was continuing on a draft deal on enriched uranium between Iran and world powers despite Tehran's rejection of terms meant to prevent the material being used for atomic bombs.
