New York Times: The Kurdish regional government responded Thursday to harsh criticism from Iraq’s prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, announcing that its ministers would boycott cabinet meetings, demanding an apology to the Iraqi people and calling on Mr. Maliki to step down. The political fissure was exacerbated after Mr. Maliki on Wednesday accused the Kurds of turning their regional capital into the headquarters of ISIS.
Kurdish government calls on Maliki to quit as Iraqi premier
House majority demands Obama consult Congress on Iran nuclear deal
The Hill: More than three-quarters of the House are demanding President Obama consult with Congress on any final nuclear agreement with Iran as the deadline for negotiations nears. “Any permanent sanctions relief demands congressional approval,” 344 lawmakers from both sides of the aisle wrote in a letter sent to Obama on Thursday.
Commerzbank may pay $600-$800 million to settle U.S. probe – sources
Reuters: Germany’s second-biggest bank Commerzbank AG is expected to pay $600 million to $800 million (350 million pounds to 467 million pounds) to resolve investigations into its dealings with Iran and other countries under U.S. sanctions, sources familiar with the matter said. Commerzbank had fired staff in Hamburg “some time ago” for having concealed dealings with customers in countries such as Iran and Sudan.
How to protect against a bad deal with Iran
The Hill: When a leader is in trouble, his instinct is to look elsewhere for a potential success. This suggests to many policy analysts that the president may be sorely tempted to go all-out for a deal with Iran — any deal he can portray as a success, even if it isn’t. What would a serious post-nuclear strategy look like? I have long advocated supporting the internal Iranian opposition.
Iran nuclear talks sides far apart: Hague tells paper
Reuters: Significant differences remain between the six world powers and Iran in negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program, British Foreign Minister William Hague told an Austrian newspaper. In an interview conducted by the Wiener Zeitung via email on Wednesday and published on Thursday, Hague said a deal was far from certain but that all possibilities should be exhausted in a final round of talks now taking place in Vienna.
NY court OKs $1.75B award in Iran terror cases
AP: A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled that $1.75 billion for terrorism-related judgments against Iran can be distributed to victims of attacks, including a 1983 bombing that killed 241 Marines in Lebanon. Washington lawyer Thomas Fortune Fay said the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruling affects 1,300 individual cases that were combined in New York.
Iran Sends 3 Attack Planes to Iraqi Government
New York Times: Deepening its involvement in the crisis in Iraq, Iran has sent three Russian-made attack planes to the Maliki government that could be deployed against the Sunni militants who have wreaked havoc on Iraqi military forces. Delivery of the Su-25 aircraft, which American officials said had already conducted missions in western and northern Iraq, is the latest step Iran has taken to help Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
Iran wants to greatly expand uranium enrichment
AP: Iran said Wednesday it wants to greatly expand its uranium enrichment program despite Western fears that it could be used to make atomic arms. The position outlined by Iranian nuclear agency head Ali Akbar Salehi appeared to be the most detailed yet of what Tehran wants at its closed-door negotiations with six world powers. It also highlighted the huge obstacles in the way of an agreement by a July 20 target date.
Iran reviews gas relationship with Russia
UPI: Iran’s deputy minister for gas affairs said Wednesday he was expecting Russia to start investing in the Iranian natural gas industry. Deputy Minister for Gas Affairs Hamid-Reza Araqi said Russian companies may be interested in building natural gas pipelines in Iran. Both sides, he said, “are determined to boost their cooperation” in the gas industry.
Joe Lieberman: U.S. broke its word
Politico: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman on Tuesday accused the United States of breaking its word in Iraq and said America is now responsible for the humanitarian crisis facing the country.“No matter what you think about what’s happening in Iraq, what’s happening in Iran, America broke its word here and we can’t let that happen,” Lieberman said on Fox News.
