Reuters: Dubai’s non-oil trade with Iran shrank 12 percent in the first half of 2013, a sign that Western sanctions continue to inflict fresh damage on the Iranian economy, data showed on Thursday. Dubai, across the Gulf from Iran and home to tens of thousands of ethnic Iranians.
Dubai’s non-oil trade with Iran shrinks 12 pct in H1
Iran’s new IAEA envoy says ‘strong will’ to engage
AFP: Iran’s new envoy to the UN atomic agency said Thursday that Tehran had a “strong political will” to engage with the international community over its nuclear programme. But speaking at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Reza Najafi said that Iran would never give up its nuclear “rights”.
Iraqi government admits to holding seven Iranian dissidents hostage
Digital Journal: Iraq’s Ministry of Human Rights acknowledged that the Iraqi government had indeed detained seven members of the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) for attacking Iraqi security forces at Camp Ashraf on September 1st.
U.S. and Iran are edging toward direct talks
Los Angeles Times: Signaling a possible thaw in long-frozen relations, the Obama administration and the new leadership in Iran are communicating about Syria and are moving behind the scenes toward direct talks that both governments hope can ease the escalating confrontation over Tehran’s nuclear program.
White House pushes back on Putin’s op-ed on Syria
AP: The White House pushed back Thursday against Russian President Vladimir Putin for his opinion piece in The New York Times that blamed opposition forces for the latest deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria and argued President Barack Obama’s remarks about America were self-serving.
Iranian exiles leave disputed Camp Ashraf in Iraq
AP: The remaining 42 residents of an Iranian dissident camp that was the scene of a disputed outbreak of violence last week left the compound Wednesday to join their comrades at another camp near Baghdad airport, according to Iraqi officials and representatives for the exiles.
Obama ally in Congress grapples with Syria plan
AP: U.S. Rep. Adam Smith is a leader on military issues in a comfortably Democratic district – a perfect ally to build support for President Barack Obama’s proposal for a military strike in Syria. Yet Smith, like many of his fellow Democrats, remains cautious and uncertain about the idea.
Iran’s Zarif offers IAEA supervision of nuclear program
Bloomberg: Iran’s nuclear program must remain peaceful and be conducted under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with state-controlled PressTV.
American says Iran keeping him for prisoner swap
AFP: A US citizen jailed in Iran said in a letter released Wednesday that his captors were keeping him in harsh conditions in hopes of obtaining a prisoner swap. Amir Mirzai Hekmati, a former Marine who holds dual citizenship, said he was kept in “miserable prison conditions”.
U.S. sees ‘troubling’ Iran nuclear moves, seeks steps by Tehran
Reuters: The United States said on Wednesday it saw “troubling developments” in Iran’s nuclear program and called on the country’s new president to take concrete steps soon to ease concerns about Tehran’s aims.
