The Times – Leading Article: For an American secretary of state and secretary of defence to visit the Middle East jointly is rare, and an indication of the strategic and political importance of this turbulent region. More unusual still is an announcement by Washington of huge arms deals to Israel and key Arab states without immediate uproar and accusations, by both sides, of bias.
Confronting Iran
US admiral warns of Iran’s ‘increasingly hostile role’
VOA: President Bush’s choice to be the top U.S. military officer says he is “especially concerned” by what he calls the “increasingly hostile role” of Iran in the Middle East.
US House backs Iran energy, Sudan divestment bills
Reuters: Calling for an end to Iranian nuclear ambitions and years of bloodshed in Sudan, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bills on Tuesday to give legal protections to investment managers who pull money out of key sectors of either nation’s economy.
Tehran the target of huge arms deal, says Rice
The Guardian: The US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, increased pressure on Iran yesterday when she identified it as the biggest strategic challenge to America and the target of a proposed $63bn (£31bn) arms package.
Iran sentences 2 journalists to death
AP: The Iranian judiciary confirmed that two journalists from the country’s Kurdish minority have been sentenced to death, state media reported Tuesday.
Iran is critical as U.S. unveils arms sales in the Middle East
Washington Post: The United States and Iran exchanged tough accusations on Monday as the Bush administration unveiled a huge package of arms sales to Saudi Arabia and five other Gulf countries expected to total at least $20 billion, as well as separate 10-year agreements for $43 billion in military aid to Israel and Egypt.
Big German banks to sever most Iran ties
Wall Street Journal: Deutsche Bank AG and Commerzbank AG, the two largest European banks to continue doing business with Iran despite recent U.S. pressure, say they will end most of their ties to Iranian companies.
Brown says next step on Iran is tougher sanctions
Reuters: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Monday that he and President George W. Bush agreed on the need to pursue tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
Iran angered by French foreign minister’s comments
AFP: Iran on Monday expressed bewilderment at comments made by the French foreign minister over Tehran’s role in Lebanon, saying it feared the remarks showed a lack of understanding.
UN inspectors check key Iran nuclear site
AFP: A group of UN atomic inspectors on Monday visited a heavy water reactor in Iran that is one of the key Western concerns over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme, officials said.
