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.
Syria opposition chief to press Russia on Assad
French trade delegation in Iran to boost business ties
AFP: A French trade delegation arrived in Tehran Monday to try to restore business ties with Iran, ahead of a possible comprehensive nuclear deal between the Islamic republic and world powers.
House Dems say give diplomacy a chance with Iran
AP: More than 70 House Democrats have signed a letter to President Barack Obama backing diplomatic efforts with Iran over its nuclear development. Two Democrats are circulating the letter that warns against new sanctions.
Iran foreign minister: nuclear deal possible in six months
Reuters: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Mohammad Zarif said on Monday a final deal with world powers on Tehran’s nuclear program is possible within six months if there is good will and he was not worried about the U.S. Congress trying to impose new sanctions.
Eyeing sanctions thaw, Western delegates race to Iran
AFP: Six months after the inauguration of Iran’s moderate President Hassan Rouhani, Western diplomats and businessmen are racing to Tehran hoping that a diplomatic thaw will reopen lucrative markets.
Report: Moderate earthquake hits southern Iran
AP: Iranian state TV says a magnitude 5.5 earthquake has jolted a sparsely populated area in the country’s south. The report said the quake hit Sunday evening in the district of Goharan.
Iran says nuclear talks failure would be ‘disaster’
Reuters: Iran’s foreign minister held rare private talks with his U.S. counterpart on Sunday and said it would be a “disaster” if Tehran did not turn a provisional agreement to defuse a decade-old dispute over its nuclear program into a permanent deal.
EU negotiator has doubts about Iran nuclear deal deadline
UPI: Catherine Ashton, foreign policy chief for the EU, said it would be “extremely difficult” to conclude an accord before the six-month deadline is reached, but it was more important to create an acceptable agreement.
Clinton backs Obama on Iran sanctions
The Hill: Hillary Clinton is backing President Obama’s diplomacy with Iran in a move that could hurt her with major Jewish donors as she ponders a 2016 run. Clinton weighed in against a bipartisan sanctions push that’s stuck in the Senate.
U.S. warns over limits of Iran sanctions easing
Wall Street Journal: U.S. officials are fanning out across the globe, privately warning international executives not to commit too much as they re-engage with Iran during a temporary easing of sanctions.
