Reuters: Saudi Arabia fears the Iraq conflict has sapped America’s ability to guarantee Gulf Arab security and breathed new life into the threat from Iran, according to analysts.
ANALYSIS-Saudi fears Iraq chaos is strengthening Iran
UN atom agency’s Iran section head must go – Tehran
Reuters: Iran has demanded the removal of the U.N. official overseeing nuclear inspections in the country, accusing him of breach of trust, and barred all inspectors from nations behind sanctions, diplomats said on Friday.
Troops authorized to kill Iranian operatives in Iraq
Washington Post: The Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq as part of an aggressive new strategy to weaken Tehran’s influence across the Middle East and compel it to give up its nuclear program, according to government and counterterrorism officials with direct knowledge of the effort.
Saudi denies working with Iran on Lebanon plan
Reuters: Saudi Arabia is not negotiating with Iran to try to broker an end to the political crisis in Lebanon, but the two countries have exchanged messages about Muslim cooperation, the Saudi foreign minister said on Thursday.
US says its has proof Iran is interfering in Iraq
AFP: The United States Wednesday said it had proof of Iran’s interference in Iraq, promising soon to publish details of Iranian networks in its strife-torn neighboring country.
Iran a source of tension in Afghanistan’s western Herat
AFP: The influence of Iran is a source of tension between Shiites and Sunnis that recently exploded into deadly violence in Afghanistan’s western city of Herat, residents say.
Dubious ‘successes’ in Iran
The Washington Times – Editorial: As Iran tests missiles capable of targeting U.S. soldiers in Iraq, sends its Hezbollah clients into the streets to bring down the government of Lebanon and kicks out International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors, a bizarre consensus appears to have formed between the State Department and some of the Bush administration’s most vociferous critics on the political left. They coalesce around the theory that Western “resolve” is actually forcing Tehran to change its behavior.
Details on Iran’s activity pledged
Los Angeles Times: The top U.S. envoy to Iraq said Wednesday that he would soon reveal details he asserted would show Iranian interference in the country, in the latest round of diplomatic jousting between Washington and Tehran.
Bolton: U.S. following flawed Iran plan
AP: Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton says the United States may not be able to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons because the Bush administration is following a flawed diplomatic strategy.
U.S. envoy: Iran Revolutionary Guards Quds Force director detained
AP: The U.S. ambassador said Wednesday that one of the Iranians detained by U.S. forces in Iraq during two raids over the past month was the director of operations for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Quds faction, the organization responsible for funding and arming Iraqi militants.
