Albany Tribune: The answer to that conundrum, if indeed it has been fully formulated, is a secret restricted to Ayatollah Khamenei (the “Supreme Leader”), and the tight group of oligarchs of which he is head.
What are the long-term ambitions of the Iranian regime?
Egypt, Iran resume direct flights after decades
AP: A commercial airliner left Egypt for Iran on Saturday in what was the first direct passenger flight between the two countries in more than three decades, Egyptian airport officials said.
Iran hopes ‘forward movement’ continues in nuclear talks
AFP: Iran said on Friday it is hopeful “forward movement” continues during talks with major world powers over its controversial nuclear drive, the state broadcaster and ISNA news agency reported.
Commanders of Iran’s Guard wounded in Damascus airport strike: FSA official
Al Arabiya: Spokesman for the opposition Syrian Military Council, said Friday a number of commanders belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were wounded in Thursday’s incident when the Free Syrian Army (FSA) destroyed a plane allegedly carrying arms from the Islamic republic.
Syria, Iran and the N.R.A. versus everybody
New York Times: It was always wishful thinking to expect that all of the United Nations’ 193 member states would approve the treaty regulating global trade in conventional weapons that was negotiated in New York this week.
Iraq says it will search more Syria-bound flights
AP: Iraq says it will stop more aircraft moving through its airspace and vehicles traveling overland to search for weapons being sent to the Syrian civil war, a senior Iraqi official said Friday.
Iran criticizes Qatar for giving embassy to Syrian opposition
Reuters: Iran, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, accused Qatar on Friday of “intensifying the bloodshed” in Syria and criticized it for enabling an opposition bloc to open its first embassy in Doha.
Iran, N. Korea, Syria block arms trade treaty
AFP: Iran, North Korea and Syria on Thursday held up agreement on the first global treaty on the $80 billion a year conventional arms trade.
Egypt says Iranians pose no risk
AP: Egypt’s tourism minister said Thursday that allowing Iranian tourists to visit Egypt after being banned for more than three decades would pose no threat and could help shore up the nation’s struggling tourism industry.
Ten years after Iraq war began, Iran reaps the gains
Los Angeles Times: Ten years after the U.S.-led invasion to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the geopolitical winner of the war appears to be their common enemy: Iran.
