Wall Street Journal: Economic sanctions have been working to strangle the Iranian economy, and now, the country’s diplomats and overseas businesses are being cut off from Costco.
Iran’s sanction woes continue: shut out of Costco
Iran threats against Israel ‘unacceptable’: Putin
AFP: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Iran had a right to a peaceful nuclear programme but slammed as “unacceptable” its threats against its regional nemesis Israel.
Iran’s Rafsanjani backs Rowhani for president
AFP: Iranian ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani backed Hassan Rowhani for Friday’s presidential election, saying the former nuclear negotiator who champions better international ties is “more suitable” for the post.
Aref quits Iran vote as reformists back moderate Rowhani
AFP: Sole reformist candidate Mohammad Reza Aref pulled out of Iran’s presidential race on Tuesday as the reformist camp including ex-president Mohammad Khatami urged voters to rally around Hassan Rowhani, a moderate.
Iran denies ‘problem’ at sole nuclear reactor
AFP: Iran’s foreign ministry on Tuesday denied its Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant had suffered a malfunction, saying the process of its start-up was going ahead without a hitch.
Iran launches rearmed destroyer on Persian Gulf
AP: Iran says it has launched a 50-year-old destroyer on the Persian Gulf after overhauling it and rearming with modern missiles. Since 1992, Iran has been pursuing a self-sufficiency military program, reportedly producing its own jet fighters, tanks, missiles and light submarines as well as torpedoes.
Iranian hardliner drops out of election, narrows field for allies
Reuters: A conservative former parliament speaker dropped out of the June 14 Iranian presidential election on Monday in a move to consolidate the hardline vote and lessen the chances of an upset favoring a moderate candidate.
Iranian diplomat detained for three months without lawyer: sources
Reuters: A senior Iranian diplomat linked to Iran’s reformists, who has been detained at Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison for three months, has been denied access to his attorney for the entire time, sources familiar with the case told Reuters on Monday.
Reports: Iran may disqualify centrist candidate
AP: Iranian media are reporting that a centrist presidential candidate may be disqualified from the June 14 election. The report late Sunday by the semi-official Mehr news agency says the country’s electoral watchdog may review Hasan Rowhani’s qualifications.
Iran clerical group for Velayati as president: report
AFP: A leading Iranian conservative clerical group has endorsed veteran diplomat Ali Akbar Velayati to succeed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June 14 presidential election, a media report said on Sunday.
