AFP: King Abdullah meets President Barack Obama Friday as mistrust fuelled by differences over Iran and Syria overshadows a decades-long Saudi-US alliance.
Mistrust overshadows Obama’s Saudi trip
As Iran sanctions ease, western firms seek a way in
Wall Street Journal: Temporary sanctions relief hasn’t yet translated into an economic turnaround in Iran. But at the Melal Hotel, business hasn’t been this good in years.
Public rifts at Arab summit likely to satisfy Iran and Syria
Reuters: Arab leaders at odds over supporting Islamists in upheavals across the Middle East have proved in no mood to reconcile at a summit this week, an outcome likely to satisfy Syria and Iran.
Iran fuel price hikes will be big test for Rouhani
Reuters: Looming fuel price rises in Iran will be the first major test of President Hassan Rouhani’s ability to retain public support in the face of attacks from his hardline rivals.
Iran plans new oil terminal to bypass Hormuz
AP: Akbar Torkan, a senior trade official, is quoted by the semiofficial ISNA news agency as saying that the new terminal will be at Bandar Jask port on the Oman Sea. Iran’s sole major crude export terminal is at Khark Island in the Persian Gulf.
Lessons of history: Americans fear ‘second Holocaust’ if Iran gets the bomb
CNN: Such history is worth noting in today’s showdown with Iran. Many in the West seem beguiled by the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani. But are they truly interested in peace, or buying time to build the Bomb?
South Korea takes on more Iranian crude
UPI: The South Korean government said Tuesday its February imports of Iranian oil more than doubled year-on-year to 8.1 million barrels. Iran secured relief from some international sanctions in exchange for agreeing in November to curb some of its nuclear research activity.
Russia’s aggression challenges Obama’s foreign policy
Bloomberg: Europe’s interest in diplomacy with the U.S. on curbing nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea, ending the Syrian civil war, resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and keeping Asia stable to protect the global economy will continue, Pavel said.
Iran’s ties to al-Qaida pose nagging questions
Voice of America: As the U.S. and the West continue negotiations with Iran over its controversial nuclear program, the specter of Iran’s ties to terrorism – and specifically al-Qaida – lingers in the background, analysts and U.S. officials say.
Hedge fund’s $100 million bet: Iran will pay for terror attack
Wall Street Journal: A U.S. hedge fund plans to bet as much as $100 million that it can collect on a court judgment against Iran for one of the deadliest terrorist attacks ever aimed at Americans, according to marketing documents and people familiar with the matter.
