AP: A sharp rise in inflation has provoked fierce criticism of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad not only from his reformist opponents, but also from senior conservatives who helped bring him to power but now say he is mismanaging the economy.
Inflation fuels anger toward Ahmadinejad
Official: Russia helping Iran defend air
UPI: The Russian deputy foreign minister said Thursday his country is helping Iran strengthen its air defenses.
Iraq says it does not repudiate Iran border treaty
Reuters: Iraq said on Thursday it had not repudiated a 32-year-old border treaty with Iran, despite a declaration by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani that the accord over which the countries waged a decade of war was now void.
Russia will supply new anti-aircraft missiles for Iran
The Guardian: Russia is to supply Iran with a new and lethal anti-aircraft system capable of shooting down American or Israeli fighter jets in the event of any strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Iran’s Larijani urges Egypt not to rush renewal of ties: report
AFP: Iran’s former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, an adviser to his country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged Egypt on Wednesday not to rush renewing relations between Cairo and Tehran, the official MENA news agency said.
4 Sunni allies of U.S. killed in Iraq
New York Times: Four members of an American-backed neighborhood watch group in Diyala Province were killed Wednesday when a house they were raiding exploded, the police said.
US concerned by Russian sale of air defense systems to Iran
AFP: The White House expressed concern Wednesday over Iran’s announcement that Russia would supply S-300 air missile defense systems to the Islamic republic.
Human rights activist, jailed in Iran, is transferred to hospital
New York Times: A prominent human rights activist who has been jailed since October was transferred to a hospital Wednesday, according to his wife and the news agency ISNA.
Tremor hits Iran town on anniversary of deadly quake
AFP: The ancient Iranian city of Bam was hit by a mild earthquake almost four years to the day after a catastrophic quake there killed tens of thousands of people, state media reported on Wednesday.
Iran to get missile system from Russia: report
Reuters: Russia has agreed to sell an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Iran, Iran’s defense minister was quoted as saying on Wednesday, a report likely to irritate the United States.
