Reuters: Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has accused Iran’s leadership of incompetence and ignorance just days after he was barred from standing in an election next month, the opposition Kaleme website reported on Thursday.
Barred from poll, Rafsanjani calls Iranian leaders ignorant
Glencore, Trafigura deals with Iran may have skirted sanctions – U.N
Reuters: Metals swap deals with Iran by Switzerland-based commodities giants Glencore Xstrata and Trafigura could have been a way of skirting international sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program, according to a confidential U.N. Panel of Experts report seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
Iran paves over suspected nuclear-related testing site despite U.N. protests
Washington Post: Iran has begun paving over a former military site where its scientists are suspected to have conducted nuclear-weapons-related experiments, according to a new U.N. report, a move that could doom efforts to reconstruct a critical part of Iran’s nuclear history.
US House panel backs stiff new Iran sanctions
AFP: Iran could face tightened sanctions within months after a US congressional panel Wednesday adopted a measure targeting the nation’s auto and mining industries as well as its foreign currency reserves.
Rafsanjani’s campaign staff detained
Iran Focus: The security forces have reportedly detained a number of former Preisdent, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s campaign staff in the aftermath of his disqualification by the watchdog Guardian Council.
US says Iran nuke saga has hit ‘unfortunate milestone’
AFP: The UN nuclear watchdog’s latest report on Iran’s nuclear program marks the “unfortunate milestone” of a decade of Iranian defiance of the body, the US State Department said Wednesday.
U.S. Congress moves to tighten sanctions on Iran
Reuters: A U.S. House of Representatives committee approved legislation on Wednesday seeking to impose tighter sanctions on Iran, the latest congressional effort to slow development of the Islamic Republic’s disputed nuclear program.
Iranian drone found in Bahrain near Saudi: spokeswoman
AFP: Bahrain on Wednesday said it has found an Iranian drone in the kingdom’s north near Saudi Arabia and called for increased cooperation between regional security services to face “threats” from Tehran.
Ahmadinejad slams decision to bar ally from Iran vote
AFP: Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hit out Wednesday at a decision to disqualify a close ally from a vote to elect his successor, while former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani had no objections to his own omission.
April Iran oil imports drop 34.2 per cent vs March
Reuters: Oil imports from Iran fell 34.2 percent in April from March, data from trade sources showed on Wednesday, bolstering the country’s case for the renewal of a waiver from US sanctions on Tehran due to expire next month.
