AFP: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hailed the “resilience” of Iran in striking a landmark nuclear deal with world powers, according to his Facebook page on Wednesday. The posting on Assad’s page said the deal was “the result of the Iranian people’s resilience”.
Syria’s Assad hails Iran ‘resilience’ on nuclear deal
Iran says to continue building at Arak nuclear site despite deal
Reuters: Iran will pursue construction at the Arak heavy-water reactor, Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif was quoted as saying on Wednesday, despite a deal with world powers to shelve a project they fear could yield plutonium for atomic bombs.
Iran six-month nuclear freeze period not started
AFP: Iran’s six-month temporary rollback of its nuclear activities agreed to in the recent deal has not begun and the start date has not yet been set, a spokesman for world powers’ chief negotiator said Wednesday.
Iran deal gives UN more _ but not full _ overview
AP: The U.N. will probably not begin expanded inspections under last weekend’s Iranian nuclear deal until early next year, officials said Wednesday. Even then, they will be limited to sites the Iranians have confirmed and not those critics suspect may exist secretly.
Iran, US to open joint chamber of commerce
AFP: Iran and the United States are to establish a joint chamber of commerce within a month, with direct flights also planned, an Iranian official said Wednesday in a newspaper report. Flights would connect Kish Island in southwest Iran with New York, he said.
Iraq says no success tracing killers of Iranian dissidents
Reuters: “From the onset, the Iranian resistance had announced that the purported investigation by the government of Iraq has been devoid of any legitimacy and nowhere in the world would the culprit and suspect be in charge of investigation,” NCRI spokesman Shahin Gobadi said in a statement.
Crude traders skeptical Iran deal will bolster oil supplies
Bloomberg: Crude traders are skeptical that the accord loosening some economic sanctions against Iran in return for limiting nuclear work will lead to a surge in oil supply from what was once OPEC’s second-biggest producer.
Iran hard-liners criticize Geneva deal
AP: Hard-line lawmaker Ruhollah Hosseinian said the deal was so vague and conditional that it may finally lead to a shutting down of Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Hamid Resaei, another hard-line lawmaker, has called deal “a poison chalice.”
Obama’s Iran deal strains efforts from Israel to Syria
Bloomberg: President Barack Obama’s agreement with Iran is part of a high-stakes set of diplomatic initiatives that is unnerving Middle East allies concerned that his goal is to reduce U.S. commitments in the region. The issues in play have the potential to alter regional politics whatever the outcomes.
Dem to Obama: Don’t fix Iran’s airplanes
The Hill: A senior Democrat is lashing out at a provision of the nuclear deal with Iran that could make it easier for the country to repair its aging fleet of civilian aircraft. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) says the planes could be used to promote terrorism and support Syria’s Bashar Assad.
