Reuters: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told his French counterpart a trip to Iran by French executives was “not helpful” and that it gave the wrong impression that the West could do business with Tehran as usual, a U.S. official said.
Business trip to Iran ‘not helpful’, Kerry tells France
Iraqi PM under fire amid ‘insanity’ of suicide bombings
AFP: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki came under fire from US lawmakers Wednesday for the slow pace of political reconciliation and links to Iran, said to fuel a wave of suicide bombings.
State TV delays scheduled address by Iran’s Rouhani
AFP: A scheduled television address by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was aired nearly an hour late on Wednesday after what the official IRNA news agency said was a block by the state broadcasting chief.
Iranian executions spiking despite thaw with West, ‘moderate president’
Washington Times: The number of executions carried out by Iranian authorities — often hanging dubiously convicted citizens from construction cranes in public — has risen sharply since President Hassan Rouhani took office in August.
US: Iran ‘not open for business’
AFP: US officials declared Tuesday that Iran is “not open for business” and vowed to scrutinize companies heading to the Islamic republic since it entered a temporary nuclear agreement.
Iran FM ‘no authority’ to talk to Kerry about Syria: US
AFP: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has revealed he has “no authority” to discuss the war in Syria with US Secretary of State John Kerry, tacitly acknowledging the regime’s tight grip despite overtures to the West.
Iran nuclear deal ‘not perfect’ but buys time: U.S. official
Reuters: An initial agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program was “not perfect” but bought time to try to secure a comprehensive deal, U.S. officials said on Tuesday in response to sharp criticism from Congress.
Lord Carlile: Iran and the Straw agenda
Politics Home: Lord Carlile of Berriew, a leading member of the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom (BPCIF) was opposed to Jack Straw’s recent trip to Iran and favours economic sanctions instead.
U.N. nuclear agency may press Iran on rare isotope in probe
Reuters: The U.N. nuclear watchdog says it wants Iran to clarify past production of small amounts of a rare radioactive material that can help trigger an atomic bomb explosion, but which also has non-military uses.
Syria opposition chief to press Russia on Assad
AFP: Syria’s opposition leader met Russia’s top diplomat on Tuesday in a bid to persuade Moscow to pressure Damascus to agree to a transitional government for the war-scarred nation.
