Al Arabiya: Why is the Islamic Republic attempting to project the image that Iran is the only country backing up the Palestinian cause? Why do Iranian media and its officials repeatedly imply that other countries in the region are insensitive to the plight of the Palestinians and claim that solely Iran is courageous enough to support the Palestinians publicly with total consensus? Iran’s aspiration for regional hegemonic supremacy.
Does Iran genuinely support Hamas and the Palestinians?
Iran confirms it is holding 4 journalists
AP: Iran confirmed on Friday that it has detained four journalists, including a reporter for The Washington Post and two freelance photographers, but did not disclose details about why they were being held. The Committee to Project Journalists, a New York-based organization that works to safeguard press freedom, called on Iranian authorities to immediately explain why the journalists were detained and called for their immediate release.
Senator: No arms to Iraq unless Congress gets info
AP: An influential Democratic senator threatened Thursday to block U.S. arms sales to Iraq if Congress doesn’t get an assessment of Iraqi forces and assurances the weapons won’t fall into the hands of extremist militants. In a testy exchange, Sen. Bob Menendez lashed out at senior State Department and Defense Department officials appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he chairs.
Iranian refugees in Iraq must be better protected, say peers
Barnet Today: Human rights lawyers, parliamentary peers and MPs came together last week to show support for Iranian refugees in Iraq and call for an end to the country’s current regime. Hendon MP Matthew Offord and members of the North Finchley-based Anglo Iranian Young Artists’ Group were among the delegates at an emergency conference on the plight of residents of Camp Liberty in Baghdad.
In Congress, an opportunity emerges on Syria
The Hill: Congress is rightly skeptical about President Obama’s request for funds to arm and train Syria’s moderate opposition. It would be a mistake, however, to reject the proposal outright. Members of Congress can instead recognize this standoff as an opportunity to develop a meaningful and effective strategy in Syria — one that offers an alternative to the tyrannies of the regime and jihadist extremists.
Boeing reaches plane parts deal with Iran
Reuters: U.S. planemaker Boeing has disclosed an agreement with Iran to provide airplane parts, relaxing a three-decade freeze in ties as part of a broader package of sanctions relief. The agreement sets out general terms and conditions for the “potential sale of certain goods and services related to the safety of flight,” Boeing said in a regulatory filing.
Iran collides with international community in Mideast conflicts
Roll Call: Civil wars that might have initially only threatened the two dictators are now endangering the entire region and global security. The main culprit for the growing instability is no other party but the repressive theocracy in Iran. This is the view shared by many of our former colleagues in Congress, evident in a series of recent hearings which addressed the destabilizing role of Tehran in the Middle East.
Christian sentenced by Iranian judge to have his lips burnt with a cigarette
Daily Mail: An Iranian judge sentenced a Christian man to have his lips burnt with a cigarette for eating during the day in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. A spokesperson from The National Council of Resistance of Iran, a political coalition which opposes the government, denounced the treatment as ‘savage’ and called on western countries to take action.
U.S. Republican lawmakers seek greater say on Iran nuclear deal
Reuters: U.S. Republican lawmakers introduced legislation on Wednesday that would force President Barack Obama to submit quickly to Congress any comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran and give lawmakers the chance to reject the deal and reimpose sanctions. The five senators introduced their bill just five days after Iran and six world powers announced they had failed to meet a deadline to end the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Maliki rejects Iran’s urging to step down
AP: The recent meeting between al-Maliki and Iran’s pointman in Iraq, senior general Ghasem Soleimani, was the first sign that Iran also believed he should go. Iran was crucial for al-Maliki in winning a second term four years ago, when Tehran used leverage over Shiite parties to ensure their backing for him during grueling negotiations over a government at the time.
