AP: A moderate earthquake has struck southeastern Iran. The official IRNA news agency reported no damage or injuries. However, even moderate quakes have killed thousands of people in the past in Iran’s countryside.
Earthquake strikes southeast Iran; no injuries
Syria talks yield narrow deal, Assad ‘red line’
AP: Two days of face-to-face peace talks yielded a narrow and tentative agreement Sunday for women and children trapped in a besieged Syrian city, and the government said President Bashar Assad had no intention of giving up “the keys to Damascus.”
Annan launches Elders mission to Iran
AFP: Former UN chief Kofi Annan, head of a group of ex-global leaders known as the Elders, Sunday started a visit aimed at boosting dialogue between Iran and the international community, media reported.
Iran says no need for UN watchdog office in Tehran
AFP: A senior Iranian official Saturday dismissed the need for a Tehran office for UN inspectors tasked with monitoring Iran’s partial nuclear freeze, Mehr news agency said.
Jack Straw under fire for his appeasement of ayatollahs in Iran
NewsBlaze: The Foreign Office and Parliament should not accept Mr Straw’s apparently limited concern for the murderous mullahs. Amnesty International said on 17 January Iran had carried out 40 executions since the beginning of 2014, with at least 33 carried out in one week alone.
Iran: Ex-leader’s daughter gets suspended sentence
AP: An Iranian news agency is reporting that the daughter of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has received a six-month suspended prison sentence on charges of slandering top officials.
U.N. nuclear chief says still ‘long way to go’ on Iran
Reuters: The U.N. nuclear chief said on Friday there was “still a long way to go” to resolve a decade-old dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, a note of caution days after Tehran curbed its atomic activity under an interim deal with world powers.
Iran to woo oil companies with ‘sexy’ contracts, Total CEO says
Bloomberg: Iran plans to offer oil companies improved terms to develop oil and natural gas fields once a trade embargo against the country is lifted, Total SA (FP) Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie said.
Talks with Iran over nuclear program face dilemma
AP: Vast differences between Iran and the six-nation coalition seeking to dismantle the Islamic republic’s nuclear program may lead to another short-term deal – and that could renew criticism that Iran is stalling and energize the push in Congress for tougher sanctions even if they endanger negotiations.
UN watchdog calls for funds to monitor Iran nuclear freeze
AFP: The UN atomic watchdog said Friday it needs 5.5 million euros to monitor Iran’s partial nuclear freeze under a landmark deal with world powers struck in November.
