AP: Iran has summoned a Saudi envoy to protest the kingdom’s allegation that members of a spy ring arrested in the Arab country last week worked for Iranian intelligence.
Iran summons Saudi envoy over spy ring claim
Japan takes on more Iranian crude oil
UPI: Japan imported more crude oil from Iran in February than it did during the same period last year, the Japanese Ministry of Finance said.
China oil tanker seen at Iran port for first time since EU ban
Bloomberg: A Chinese supertanker able to haul 2 million barrels of crude sent a signal from Iran’s largest export terminal in what may be the first visit of its kind since a European ban on insuring shipments in July.
Focus on Syria and Iran instead
New York Times: Much of the news media coverage of President Obama’s Middle East trip focused on the quest for Israeli-Palestinian peace, the “Holy Grail” of recent American presidents. But that issue, though important, is simply not ripe for resolution.
Iran ordered to pay $40m for taking share of dairy
AP: A federal judge has ordered Iran to pay $40.55 million for confiscating an American company’s share in an Iranian dairy.
How Iran could get the bomb overnight
Wall Street Journal: The West has tried to stop Iran from manufacturing nuclear weapons by diplomacy, sanctions and cybersabotage, and with the threat of military action if Tehran crosses red lines in moving toward the final stages of making a bomb.
Ahmadinejad roadshow: Pitching his political heir
AP: During a celebration last week to mark the Persian new year, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did something quietly remarkable: He stood modestly to the side and let his favored aide have the spotlight.
Iran sanctions may force BP to shut UK gas field earlier than planned
Wall Street Journal: BP may decide to shut down the Bruce natural gas field in the U.K. North Sea earlier than planned unless a way is found to restart production at the adjoining Rhum field, which is shutdown because of sanctions against Iran.
Iran condemns Arab League for handing seat to opposition
Reuters: Iran lambasted the Arab League for allowing an opposition leader to fill Syria’s vacant seat at the organization’s annual summit and described it as “dangerous behavior”, Iranian media reported late on Tuesday.
Stopping an undetectable Iranian bomb
Wall Street Journal: Iran’s nuclear program dominated last week’s meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A key challenge for both leaders: how to stop Iran’s rapid advance toward “critical capability.”
