AFP: “The Syrian army, supported by back-up forces and expert officers from Iran and Hezbollah, has taken control of large parts of the Wadi al-Sayeh district” in the centre of Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human rights watchdog said.
Syrian forces ‘tighten noose on Homs rebels’
Turkcell dismisses suit against MTN over Iran license
Bloomberg: Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS (TCELL) withdrew a lawsuit against MTN Group Ltd. (MTN) over bribes MTN allegedly paid to get an Iranian mobile-phone license, citing a Supreme Court decision that bars such cases in the U.S.
Forgotten children – human trafficking & child labor in Iran
Near East Observatory: There are many pressing humanitarian issues in the Middle East, but one that is often overlooked and under reported is the issue of child labor.
What could U.N. sleuths unearth at Iran’s Parchin base?
Reuters: The self-styled “Sherlock Holmeses” of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, now seeking access to a major Iranian base, say they have the capability to find tiny traces of atomic material at a site even if a country were to try to cover it up.
Ignoring al-Qaeda, Iran links ‘extraordinarily foolish’
CBC News: Given the ideological differences between the Sunni militant group al-Qaeda and the theocratic Shia government in Iran, recent allegations that the two groups had conspired in a foiled attack in Canada struck many observers as odd.
Obama hints at potential military action in Syria
AP: President Barack Obama signaled Tuesday he would consider U.S. military action against Syria if “hard, effective evidence” is found to bolster intelligence that chemical weapons have been used in the 2-year-old civil war.
Iran continues crackdown on Sufis
Huffington Post: Iran continues to arrest Sufi mystics. The victims of state suppression represent the Gonabadi-Nimatullahi order, the main body of traditional metaphysical Muslims in the country.
The window of opportunity that cannot be missed
Iran Focus: For those closely watching events in Iran, these are defining moments. If the United States and her allies miss the valuable potentials that these sensitive moments offer, future developments will not be as generous.
Iraq: Sectarian faultlines widen amid chaos
UPI: Iraq is approaching a security meltdown as a land-and-oil dispute between the Shiite-dominated government and independence-minded Kurds escalates along with sectarian violence between Shiites and minority Sunnis.
Iran: chemicals `red line’ but seeks rebel probe
AP: Iran’s foreign minister is insisting that use of chemical weapons in Syria would also be a “red line” for Tehran, but suggests rebel forces should be investigated rather than the Islamic Republic’s allies in Damascus.
