Times of India: As US and European sanctions cripple its economy, Iran on Saturday offered India a new production sharing regime for oil exploration in an attempt to keep its third largest buyer of oil engaged.
Iran offers new oil contracts to lure India
Iran ready to ‘train’ Syria army, says commander
AFP: Iran is ready to help “train” the Syrian army if Damascus seeks such assistance, the commander of the Islamic republic’s army ground forces, General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, was quoted as saying on Sunday.
Israeli warplanes strike Syria in escalation
AP: Israeli warplanes struck areas in and around the Syrian capital Sunday, setting off a series of explosions as they targeted a shipment of highly accurate, Iranian-made guided missiles believed to be on their way to Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, officials and activists said.
Media crackdown in Iraq
UPI: Iraq’s descent into another sectarian civil war, prompted by Maliki’s determined efforts to marginalize the Sunni population, has become an embarrassment to the United States, which regard the Iraqi prime minister as their adopted son.
Iran diplomat’s arrest due to “misunderstanding:” minister
Reuters: Iran’s foreign minister said he believed the detention of a former diplomat linked to the country’s reformists was caused by a “misunderstanding” and defended the man’s record, Iranian media reported.
Obama says he doesn’t foresee sending troops to Syria
Bloomberg: President Barack Obama said he doesn’t foresee circumstances that would require putting U.S. troops on the ground in Syria, where rebels are trying to topple the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Feds in NY seek 25 years in Saudi ambassador plot
AP: Prosecutors are seeking a 25-year prison sentence for a Texas man who admits he plotted to kill Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, saying he deserves the maximum in part because he didn’t care if an explosive he sought to put in a Washington restaurant killed a lot of people.
Iran’s quandary in the upcoming polls
The Hill: Iranians are going to the polls next June in what will prove to be a defining moment for the future of the mullahs’ regime. High on the supreme leader’s agenda remains the Islamic Republic’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.
U.S. calls for shutting down Iran, North Korea arms networks
Reuters: The United States said on Friday that Iran and North Korea were trying to obtain high-tech materials linked to their nuclear programs in violation of U.N. sanctions.
European sour crude to stay tight on Iran, fuel oil: JBC
Bloomberg: Supplies of sour, or high sulfur, crude oil in Europe will continue to be tight because of the loss of Iranian and Syrian exports and “strong” refining margins for fuel oil, according to JBC Energy GmbH.
