AFP: The United States on Wednesday voiced "concern" at Iran's latest missile test, calling it a "provocative" act that cast serious doubt over Tehran's claim of peaceful intentions.
Gates ‘concerned’ over Iran missile test: Pentagon
Iran test-fires Sejil missile: state TV
AFP: A defiant Iran on Wednesday test-fired an improved version of its Sejil 2 medium-range missile which it says can reach targets inside Israel, prompting a sharp rebuke from Britain.
Iranian dissident group defies order to leave Iraq
McClatchy Newspapers: An Iranian dissident group vowed Tuesday not to abandon its besieged camp north of Baghdad despite an Iraqi military ultimatum to pull up stakes or face an eviction that could turn bloody.
Credit Suisse to pay U.S. $536 million in Iran probe
Wall Street Journal: Credit Suisse Group, one of Switzerland's biggest banks, said Tuesday that it expects to pay a $536 million penalty as part of a continuing U.S. investigation into how major Western banks illegally handled funds for Iran.
Lloyds sees no further payment to U.S. on Iran
Reuters: UK bank Lloyds said it does not expect to make any further payment to U.S. authorities in regard to charges that it faked records so clients from restricted countries including Iran could do business with it, after agreeing to forfeit $350 million to the U.S. authorities in January.
Seized N.Korean weapons likely destined for Iran – source
Reuters: Weapons seized in Thailand from an impounded plane traveling from North Korea were likely destined for Iran, said a high-ranking Thai government security official on a team investigating the arms.
Iranian arms smuggler Ardebili sentenced in US to five years in prison
The Times: When Amir Hossein Ardebili first appeared in a US court, the proceedings were secret and the windows were blacked out.
PRESS DIGEST – Iran – Dec 16
Reuters: These are some of the leading stories in Iranian newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
Iranian elections top Twitter topic for 2009
AFP: Iran's controversial presidential election was the top Twitter topic in 2009, according to the wildly popular microblogging service.
Iran says has evidence against opposition leaders
Reuters: Iran's judiciary said on Wednesday it had evidence that opposition leaders had fomented tension in the country after a disputed presidential election in June, the official IRNA news agency reported.


