Wall Street Journal: The Pentagon has redesigned its biggest “bunker buster” bomb with more advanced features intended to enable it to destroy Iran’s most heavily fortified and defended nuclear site.
Pentagon bulks up ‘bunker buster’ bomb to combat Iran
Azerbaijan’s Israel diplomacy tests Iran
Asia Times: Azerbaijan in late April crossed a self-imposed “red line” in its relations with southern neighbor Iran by dispatching Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov to Israel, Tehran’s arch-foe. Reasons for the timing of the move are not clear, but, so far, Tehran appears to be biding its time with a response.
Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei embroiled in German car dealer row
The Telegraph: An investment company controlled by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been accused of bullying in the takeover of the country’s biggest dealer in German cars.
Iran, Syria ranked among world’s worst countries for press freedom
Al-Arabiya: North Korea, Iran and Syria have been named among the top 10 worst countries for press freedom, according to an annual ranking by Freedom House.
Ashland says joint venture sold products to Iran
Bloomberg: Ashland Inc. (ASH), the biggest producer of specialty papermaking chemicals, said a 50-50 joint venture with Switzerland’s Clariant AG (CLN) sold products to Iran without the approval of the U.S. government.
Iran detains senior diplomat for unknown reasons
AP: Iran’s foreign minister says authorities have detained a veteran Iranian diplomat, but describes the incident as a potential “misunderstanding.” No other details were given in Thursday’s report by the semi-official ISNA news agency.
US reconsidering whether to arm Syria rebels
AFP: The United States said Thursday it was taking a fresh look at whether to arm Syria’s rebels as the Damascus regime pressed an assault on opposition forces in the embattled city of Homs.
EU’s Ashton to meet Iran’s nuclear negotiator on May 15
Reuters: Negotiators from the European Union and Iran will meet in Istanbul this month to discuss future diplomatic efforts to resolve a decade-old dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Kenya court: 2 Iranians guilty of terror plot
AP: A Kenyan court has found two Iranian nationals guilty of planning to attack Western targets in Kenya. Magistrate Kaire Waweru Kiare said Thursday the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt all counts against the two.
Iran’s foreign minister fuels war of words over Syria
The Guardian: By describing the use of chemical weapons in Syria as a “red line”, Iran’s foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, has added fuel to the war of words over the increasingly nasty war on the ground.
