AFP: The White House Thursday named veteran Middle East negotiator Dennis Ross to a key policymaking job overseeing a region encompassing the Middle East, the Gulf, Afghanistan, Pakistan and South Asia.
Dennis Ross gets key White House job
‘Wailing of wolves’ in Iran as cries of Allahu akbar ring from roofs
The Times: At about 9pm each day Nushin, a young housewife, performs the same curious ritual. She climbs up the stairs to the roof of her Tehran home and begins shouting into the night. Allahu akbar,” she cries, and sometimes “Death to the dictator”.
Iran’s Ahmadinejad compares Obama to Bush
Reuters: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Barack Obama on Thursday of behaving like his predecessor toward Iran and said there was not much point in talking to Washington unless the U.S. president apologized.
Ahmadinejad reaps benefits of stacking key Iran agencies with his allies
New York Times: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has maintained a markedly low profile since Iran’s disputed presidential election erupted into bloody street protests.
Iran envoys disinvited from July 4 festivities
Washington Post: So much for "hot dog diplomacy." The White House announced yesterday that it had withdrawn invitations to Iranian diplomats to attend Fourth of July festivities at U.S. embassies around the world.
Bit by careful bit, Obama toughens stance on Iran
New York Times: In his first public comments in the aftermath of Iran’s elections, President Obama pledged early last week to “continue to pursue a tough, direct dialogue” between the United States and the Iranian government.
Saeed Mortazavi: butcher of the press – and torturer of Tehran?
The Times: The Iranian regime has appointed one of its most feared prosecutors to interrogate reformists arrested during demonstrations, prompting fears of a brutal crackdown against dissent.
Arab states aligned with U.S. savor turmoil in Iran
New York Times: The rancorous dispute over Iran’s presidential election could turn into a win-win for Arab leaders aligned with Washington who in the past have complained bitterly that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was destabilizing the region and meddling in Arab affairs, political analysts and former officials around the region said.
Iran unrest to dominate G8 summit
BBC: Unrest in Iran is expected to dominate discussions between foreign ministers as they prepare to meet for a G8 summit in Italy.
Mousavi Web site: 70 professors detained in Iran
AP: Seventy university professors were detained in Iran in a widening government crackdown on protesters, according to a Web site affiliated with Iran's key opposition figure.
