New York Times: The Obama administration officials engaged in nuclear negotiations with Iran ran into a wall of skepticism at two congressional hearings on Tuesday, with members of both parties insisting on a vote on any final agreement with the Tehran government and administration officials strongly hinting that they have little intention of complying.
Lawmakers voice skepticism on Iran nuclear deal
A rudderless administration in a dangerous world
The Hill: What does the world look like without American leadership in some form, when necessary, or a risk possibly worth taking? The headlines tell the daily story. Our foreign policy must be pragmatic, not of immediate convenience or wishful projection, as the Obama administration has employed for the past five years. President Obama’s precipitous withdrawal in policy approach and militarily has consequences.
Former Iran hostage demands compensation
Marine Corps Times: Paul Lewis arrived as a Marine Corps security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on Nov. 3, 1979. The next day, Iranian protesters took over the embassy and held Lewis and 51 other Americans hostage for 444 days. During that time, he endured beatings, mock executions, forced Russian roulette and other forms of torture. Lewis is advocating that the Iranian government compensate the surviving hostages.
Asian buyers take 25 percent more Iran oil in first half
Reuters: Iran’s biggest clients took in a quarter more oil in the first six months of 2014 than in the same period of last year, with China and India holding to the higher volumes they started after the agreement that relaxed Western sanctions on Tehran. Iran’s exports to its top four oil buyers – China, India, Japan and South Korea – may keep rising even though a deadline for a final deal on its disputed nuclear programme had to be extended.
US negotiator gives no hard deadline for Iran deal
AP: The Obama administration’s chief nuclear negotiator refused Tuesday to provide a hard deadline for a deal with Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. She vowed to consult with Congress before suspending more economic sanctions on Tehran, but said the administration won’t necessarily seek lawmakers’ approval.
Iran rejects State Dept.’s Religious Freedom Report
UPI: Iran has fired back at the U.S. for its characterization of Iran in the State Department’s newly released ‘International Religious Freedom Report for 2013’ as restrictive. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said that “Such reports are instrumental, prepared and broadcast with the mere goal of piling up pressure on other countries.” It seems the State Department would agree.
US concerned by Iranian arrests of journalists
AP: The top U.S. nuclear negotiator says she is concerned by reports Iran has arrested four journalists, including three Americans. Wendy Sherman says Tehran should release them immediately. Iran confirmed last week it detained the journalists. The Washington Post said its correspondent, Jason Rezaian, and his wife were detained in the Iranian capital. The newspaper said Rezaian, 38, holds both American and Iranian citizenship.
Iranian author, poet sentenced to death for human rights work
Clarion Project: Arzhang Davoodi, an Iranian human rights activist has been sentenced to death by the regime after 11 years imprisonment. Neither he, nor his lawyer were permitted to be present at the court when the verdict was handed down. His crime was allegedly being a member of the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI), the main opposition group to the Iranian regime.
As U.S. kicks off crude exports, Iran casts a shadow in Asia
Reuters: The United States faces an awkward rival in its first attempts in 40 years to export crude oil – Iran. Iran, whose economy has been throttled by Western sanctions that have halved its crude shipments, is now selling higher quality and cheaper oil to China that leaves little room for the U.S. crude to enter the world’s top energy consumer.
State Department rejects real refugees
WND.com: The smell of rank hypocrisy and naked cruelty fills the air at the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. 2,400 real refugees from violence in Iran and Iraq are being denied visas out of fear of displeasing the tyrants in Tehran. What can we say about such cowardice and betrayal of American values? This denial of entry to the Iranian refugees deserves exposure and condemnation.
