Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Oct. 09 Irans hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asserted that the Islamic Republic was not afraid of the threat of international sanctions over its refusal to abandon its sensitive nuclear work, the official news agency IRNA reported on Monday.
Ahmadinejad says Iran does not fear sanctions
Gunmen kill brother of Iraq vice president-police
Reuters: Gunmen in police uniforms killed the brother of Iraq’s Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi in northern Baghdad late on Sunday, police and members of the Sunni Islamic Party said on Monday.
Defiant North Korea conducts nuclear test
Reuters: North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test on Monday, flying in the face of a warning from the U.N. Security Council and opening its crippled economy to the risk of fresh sanctions.
Iran arrests outspoken cleric who opposes religious rule
New York Times: A senior cleric who opposes religious rule of Iran and a number of his followers were arrested Sunday after clashes with the riot police over the weekend, news agencies reported.
Iran sanctions and Mr. Santorum
Washington Times – Editorial: With politicians and the media focused on the political fallout from the Foley scandal, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that many members of Congress are dedicated public servants trying to strengthen the nation’s ability to fight Islamofascism.
Iran MPs seek to impeach ‘incompetent’ minister
AFP: A group of Iranian MPs are seeking to impeach Agriculture Minister Mohammad-Reza Eskandari, who has come under fire for alleged incompetence, media reports said Sunday.
Iran could benefit from NKorea’s nuclear test: Jane’s
AFP: Iran could benefit if North Korea goes ahead with plans to test a nuclear weapon without publicly developing and testing one of its own, Jane’s Defence Weekly said Saturday.
Iran backs OPEC moves for production cut
AFP: Iran, OPEC’s second largest producer, on Sunday threw its support behind moves by the cartel for an emergency meeting to cut a longstanding output quota to shore up slumping oil prices.
Iran confirms Japan oil deal stake slashed to 10 percent
AFP: Japanese firm Inpex will take only a 10 percent stake in a project to develop Iran’s largest onshore oil field and the main contract will go to an Iranian company, the oil minister said Sunday.
Critical cleric arrested in Iran – reports
Reuters: A senior Shi’ite Muslim cleric who has challenged Iran’s system of clerical rule was arrested on Sunday after his supporters clashed with police outside his house in the Iranian capital, Iranian news agencies reported.
