AFP: US prosecutors unveiled plans Thursday to sell an Iran-owned Manhattan skyscraper in the largest terror-related seizure ever, and distribute proceeds to families affected by attacks linked to Tehran.
US settlement reached to sell Iran-owned skyscraper in New York
Iran may keep nuclear program after Ukraine, Cohen says
Bloomberg: Iran may be less likely to halt its nuclear weaponry program after the U.S. and Europe failed to stop Russia from annexing part of Ukraine, which 20 years ago gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees, said former U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen.
US releases $450 mln in frozen Iran funds
AFP: The United States has authorized the release of a $450 million installment in Iranian assets that were frozen as punishment for Tehran’s disputed nuclear program, the State Department said Thursday.
Iran mother spares life of son’s killer after campaign
AFP: In a case that has provoked surprise in Iran and across the world, the killer, known only as Balal, was saved dramatically on Tuesday, as a crowd looked on, awaiting his execution. Samereh Alinejad pardoned the killer of his son, imparting only a slap on his face as punishment.
Camp Liberty: Left at the mercy of a murderous regime
Augusta Free Press: I am lucky for being able to flee the Iranian dictatorship’s evil. Sadly, however, there are thousands of such people stranded and desperate for escape in and around my homeland. They have experienced far worse than I did as a teenager living in Iran.
US must reconsider approach to Iran
The Hill: The Obama administration in particular seems to be thoroughly committed to a soft approach to negotiations, and is far too willing to take the regime’s representatives at their word when they say that they will agree to a compromise. The Iranian government is not trustworthy on these issues.
Moderate earthquake jolts southern Iran
AP: Iran’s state TV says a magnitude 5.3 earthquake has jolted a sparsely populated district in the south of the country. The quake was moderate and no injuries were reported. The TV says the quake struck in Shonbeh on Thursday morning, at 04:01 a.m. local time (Wednesday 23:31 GMT).
Right to reject Abutelabi
The Hill: Much is being made inside the Beltway about the appointment of Hamid Abutalebi as Iran’s next ambassador to the United Nations. He is accused–by several of the former American hostages–of taking an active role in their abduction and brutal captivity.
Iran foreign minister to visit Russia next week
AFP: Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will travel to Russia next week for a meeting of the countries that border the Caspian Sea, the official IRNA news agency reported. “Mr Zarif will arrive in Russia on Tuesday”, Iran’s ambassador to Russia wrote on his Facebook page.
Iran testing U.S. with U.N. nominee
US News and World Report: Iran’s choice to fill a U.N. post with a reported participant in the 1979 U.S. embassy takeover and subsequent hostage crisis in Tehran may have been a test shot designed to see how many allowances the White House would make before imposing hard lines against Iran.
