AP: The semi-official Fars news agency said Khazali was sentenced to five years for conspiracy against the country’s security, and one year for spreading propaganda against the ruling system.
Iran sentences veteran blogger to 6 years prison
West unlikely to offer immediate sanctions relief in Iran talks
Reuters: With a week until negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program resume in Geneva, Western diplomats are playing down any suggestion that Iran’s new openness on the world stage will result in any immediate or broad loosening of sanctions.
Why U.S. is losing Iraq and why Iran can’t afford to
UPI: At times in U.S. history its leaders failed to “get the message” of a national security threat, suffering dire consequences as a result. In 1998, U.S. leaders paid no heed when a little known terrorist — Osama bin Laden — declared war against the country.
Official: Iran won’t unblock Facebook, Twitter
AP: Iran does not plan to unblock Facebook and Twitter for the general public even if some top government officials use it, the minister of telecommunications and information technology said Monday.
Rouhani has evealed his true nuclear intentions
Bloomberg: The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, the putative moderate on whose shoulders great American hopes have been placed, is proud of the work he did to advance his country’s nuclear program — and also of his efforts to stymie Western attempts to stop that work.
How not to negotiate with Iran
Wall Street Journal: How depressingly predictable: Iran lies and prevaricates—about the breadth of its nuclear programs; about their purpose; about the quality of its cooperation with U.N. nuclear watchdogs; about its record of sponsoring terrorism from Argentina to Bulgaria to Washington, …
U.S. opens door to Iran taking part in Syria peace conference
Reuters: The United States said on Monday it would be more open to Iran taking part in a long-delayed peace conference on Syria if Iran publicly backed a 2012 statement calling for a transitional government in Syria.
Billions at stake for economic winners and losers of Iran thaw
Reuters: After years of being caught in the geopolitical crossfire over Iran’s disputed nuclear program, Iranian businessmen in Dubai are daring to hope that signs of a diplomatic thaw will allow crippling economic sanctions to be lifted.
Iran insists on ‘absolute right’ to enrich uranium
AFP: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif insisted on Monday that his country has the “absolute right” to enrich uranium on its soil, ISNA news agency reported.
MP for Hendon calls for release of Iranian hostages
Hendon Times: The MP for Hendon gave flowers to hunger strikers as he gave his support for their ongoing protest to save Iranian hostages in Iraq. Dr Matthew Offord addressed a rally for the release of seven hostages abducted from Camp Ashraf by the Iraqi army last month.
