Reuters: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns is expected to attend talks between Iran and major powers in Vienna this week that aim to strike a nuclear deal by July 20, diplomats said. The presence of Burns, who led secret negotiations between Iran and the United States that helped yield a November interim nuclear agreement with Tehran, would open up the possibility of bilateral talks between the two long-time antagonists.
U.S. No. 2 diplomat expected to attend Iran nuclear talks in Vienna
Iran wrestles with tough choices in Iraq
Reuters: Iran is wrestling with a complex array of historic alliances and enmities as it tries to develop a coherent response to the swift advance of hostile Sunni Muslim militants in neighbouring Iraq. Despairing of its protege Nuri al-Maliki, Tehran’s Shi’ite clerical establishment has sent mixed messages on working with the Iraqi prime minister’s other sponsor, the United States, with which it shares a goal of averting the country’s break-up.
Kerry: Time running short for Iran nuke agreement
AP: Secretary of State John Kerry says time is running out for Iran to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on its nuclear program. In a Washington Post opinion piece late Monday, Kerry says the July 20 deadline is fast approaching and that Tehran’s leaders face a choice: “They can agree to the steps necessary to assure the world that their country’s nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful … or they can squander a historic opportunity”.
BNP Paribas dollar-clearing ban said to start in 2015
Bloomberg: BNP Paribas SA won a reprieve during final talks to settle a criminal probe into U.S. sanctions violations, giving the bank six months to prepare for a ban on handling certain dollar transactions, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. It involves alleged violations of sanctions against Sudan, Iran and Cuba.
Israel cranks up media campaign ahead of Iran nuclear deal deadline
Reuters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged international negotiators on Sunday not to “surrender” to Tehran, as he launched a media blitz three weeks ahead of a deadline for an Iranian nuclear deal. In interviews to broadcasters from the six world powers involved in the talks, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s long-held demand Iran be stripped of its uranium enrichment and other nuclear technologies.
Iran resistance leader predicts regime change
Fox News: It is a blunt call for regime change in Tehran. The largest gathering of the Iranian resistance starts Friday with the annual convention of the Council of Resistance of Iran. The sponsors expect 100,000 people to assemble in a massive hall outside Paris for hours of speeches, demonstrations and protests aimed at toppling the Iranian government.
U.N. experts trace recent seized arms to Iran, violating embargo
Reuters: A U.N. expert panel has concluded that a shipment of rockets and other weapons that was seized by Israel came from Iran and represents a violation of the U.N. arms embargo on Tehran, according to a confidential report obtained by Reuters on Friday. The finding comes just days ahead of the next round of negotiations in Vienna between Iran and six world powers.
Wishful thinking on Iran
Chicago Sun-Times: This annual gathering of MeK was already scheduled. But it might have been called just to rebut Secretary of State John Kerry’s comments about possible cooperation between the U.S. and Iran in Iraq. “I think we need to go step by step,” Kerry mused, “and see what, in fact, might be a reality, but I wouldn’t rule out anything that would be constructive to providing real stability.
Don’t expect the arsonist to put out the fire in Iraq– reject Iranian meddling
The Hill: The rise of Islamic extremists in Iraq is extremely problematic for US policy. But it is every bit as problematic to equate the Iraqi uprising’s character and inspiration to those of the minority extremists that are trying to hijack it. The marginalization of moderate groups and other political and ethnic identities in the western press is ironic.
Iran secretly sending drones and supplies into Iraq, U.S. officials say
New York Times: Iran is directing surveillance drones over Iraq from an airfield in Baghdad and is supplying Iraqi forces with tons of military equipment and other supplies, according to American officials.The secret Iranian programs are a rare instance in which Iran and the United States share a near-term goal.
