Reuters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government will face the immediate task of passing an austerity budget and the time-sensitive challenge of preventing what it believes is Iran’s drive to develop nuclear weapons.
Budget, Iran top priorities for new Israeli government
Experts meet in Istanbul over Iran’s nuclear programme
AFP: Iranian and foreign nuclear experts gathered in Istanbul on Monday to discuss Tehran’s controversial atomic programme, a European Union spokeswoman said.
Netanyahu cites threat from Iran, Syria as cabinet named
Bloomberg: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented his third Cabinet to parliament as he vowed to fight threats from Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah.
MRPL said to buy oil from Shell on possible Iran disruptions
Bloomberg: Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) sold two high-sulfur oil cargoes to Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL), the biggest state-run Indian buyer of Iranian crude, as supplies from the Persian Gulf state may be disrupted because of global sanctions.
Despite sanctions’ toll on Iran, U.S. sees no shift in nuclear behavior
Washington Post: Harsh economic sanctions have taken a serious toll on Iran’s economy, but U.S. and European officials acknowledge that the measures have not yet produced the kind of public unrest that could force Iranian leaders to change their nuclear policies.
Ten years on, Iraq war planners discredited
AFP: They were the men who were to remake the Middle East, but 10 years on, the alliance of politicians and neo-conservative thinkers who launched the Iraq war are a discredited band.
Netanyahu’s pick for defense minister cautious on Iran
Reuters: Although Benjamin Netanyahu’s next defense minister shares his deep distrust of the Palestinians, the two could yet clash about when – and whether – Israel should go to war with Iran.
Iranian opposition group turns down Albania’s asylum offer for 210 members living in Iraq camp
Washington Post: An Iranian opposition group on Saturday turned down Albania’s offer of asylum to 210 of its members who are living at a former U.S. military base near Baghdad.
Iran to try 18 over killing of nuclear scientists
AP: An Iranian news agency reports the judiciary has indicted 18 suspects on charges of involvement in the killing of nuclear scientists.
Iran launches destroyer in the Caspian Sea
AP: Iran launched a domestically built destroyer in the Caspian Sea on Sunday, its first deployment of a major warship in the oil-rich region, state TV reported.
