Reuters: Iran's annual inflation rate jumped by 1.7 percentage points to 24.2 percent in the year to April compared with the previous month, the central bank said.
Iran’s annual inflation rises to 24.2 percent
In Lebanon, Hezbollah arms stockpile bigger, deadlier
Los Angeles Times: Almost two years after its war with Israel, Hezbollah has rearmed and is stronger than before the conflict, according to Israeli and Western officials and the Lebanon-based Shiite Muslim group itself.
Iran official unaware of Shell, Repsol plan to quit
Reuters: A senior Iranian oil official said on Sunday he was not aware of any plan by Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Spain's Repsol to withdraw from a $10 billion natural gas project in the Middle East country.
Cloak and stagger
Los Angeles Times – By Leonard S. Spector and Avner Cohen: After overestimating the Iraq threat, U.S. intelligence agencies are now dangerously underestimating Syria and Iran.
Khamenei rules out halt to Iran’s nuclear drive
AFP: Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday vowed that Iran would press ahead with its controversial nuclear programme, two days after world powers said they had prepared a new package to end the crisis.
United States is drawing up plans to strike on Iranian insurgency camp
Sunday Times: The US military is drawing up plans for a “surgical strike” against an insurgent training camp inside Iran if Republican Guards continue with attempts to destabilise Iraq, western intelligence sources said last week.
MI6 chief visits Mossad for talks on Iran’s nuclear threat
Sunday Times: The head of MI6, Sir John Scarlett, is to visit Israel later this month as Britain forges closer links with Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service.
Iran’s nuclear lure waning?
Washington Times – By Lord Fraser: Even as the U.N. Security Council was implementing its third round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear weapons activities, the council's five veto-wielding permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — and Germany met in London Friday to expand a 2006 offer of economic incentives to Iran in return for a freeze on uranium enrichment.
Lebanese politician calls for the Iranian ambassador’s expulsion
AP: A pro-government Lebanese politician called Saturday for the expulsion of Iran's ambassador and the ending of Iranian flights to Beirut because they might be carrying weapons and money to the militant Hezbollah group.
Lebanon’s Jumblatt wants ban on flights from Iran
AFP: A leading member of Lebanon's Western-backed ruling coalition called on Saturday for a ban on flights from Iran to Beirut airport, saying the militant group Hezbollah could be flying in arms from Iran.
