The Hill: The Justice Department is reportedly seeking more than $10 billion from the French bank BNP Paribas to settle charges it helped nations like Iran evade U.S. sanctions, although the bank is pushing to keep the penalty below $8 billion.
Report: Justice eyeing $10 billion bank penalty
Satellite images show Iran continues construction at Parchin: IAEA
MFS: The UN nuclear watchdog appears no closer to finding out what happened at a military site at the centre of its investigation into suspected atom bomb research by Iran, despite signs Tehran is becoming more cooperative.
Iranian hackers stalked U.S. Officials, report says
Bloomberg: An Iranian hacking network is behind an elaborate three-year campaign to use social networks to strike up friendships with U.S. lawmakers, defense contractors and at least one four-star general, and then extract data from them, according to a new report.
Iran’s nuclear weaponization researchers are still at work
Wall Street Journal: Iran has thus far dismissed as “fabrications” evidence of its weaponization work compiled by the IAEA. We’ve obtained a plausible new report from an Iranian opposition group suggesting that Tehran has kept active and intact its core team of weaponization researchers.
Iran summons Facebook CEO to court
AP: A judge in southern Iran has ordered Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear in court to answer complaints by individuals who say Facebook-owned applications Instagram and Whatsapp violate their privacy, semiofficial news agency ISNA reported Tuesday.
Iran readies plant needed to fulfil nuclear pact with powers
Reuters: After months of delays, Iran appears to be finalising a plant to convert a large amount of low-enriched uranium gas into an oxide form that would be less suitable for processing into nuclear bomb material, a U.N. watchdog report shows.
Iran’s population drive worries women’s rights, health advocates
Reuters: Iran’s supreme leader has called for a population increase, in an edict likely to restrict access to contraception that critics fear could damage women’s rights and public health. In his 14-point decree, Khamenei said increasing population would counter “undesirable aspects of Western lifestyles”.
Next Iran nuke talks set for June 16-20 in Vienna
AP: Iran and six world powers have agreed to meet in Vienna starting June 16 for their next round of nuclear talks. The date and venue were announced Tuesday by the office of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who is coordinating the talks.
The future presidents of Iran and Syria
Al Arabiya: In an unprecedented move, the head of the Syrian coalition Ahmad al-Jarba dared to meet with head of the Iranian opposition Mariam Rajavi. The Iranian regime considers Rajavi to be a red line and considers dealing with her as unacceptable behavior.
Kerry calls for American held in Iran to be freed
AFP: Secretary of State John Kerry called on Iran on Monday to release a former US Marine “unjustly” held for nearly three years. Amir Hekmati was arrested in August 2011, put on trial and found guilty of spying for the CIA. He was subsequently sentenced to death.
