AP: Sen. John Kerry, President Barack Obama’s nominee for secretary of state, said Thursday that the United States will “do what we must” to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon even as he signaled that diplomacy remains a viable option with Tehran.
Kerry: ‘Do what we must’ to stop Iran on nukes
Iran may hand staple-food coupons to help poor, Mehr says
Bloomberg: Iran’s government may distribute staple foods to 17 million of the country’s poorest people before the Iranian year ends on March 20, Mehr reported, citing an unidentified Commerce Ministry official.
Iran diplomat warns of strait closure if US chooses ‘war’
AFP: The United States has nothing left to pressure Tehran over its nuclear programme except for war, and if it chooses conflict Iran could close a key energy chokepoint, its envoy to Baghdad told AFP on Thursday.
Iran’s Evin prison: Jail or ‘hotel’?
BBC: Last month, 20 prisoners wrote an open letter to the head of the prison in which they criticised him for allegedly not letting sick inmates receive proper treatment, claiming his alleged negligence had “political motives”.
Novartis draws U.S. investigation into sales to Iran
Bloomberg: Novartis AG (NOVN), Europe’s biggest drugmaker by sales, said its Alcon eye-care unit is under U.S. government investigation related to the export of products to Iran and other countries subject to trade sanctions.
Iran nuclear power plant stokes worries closer to home, too
Reuters: For the Iranian government, the Bushehr nuclear power plant is proof to a world worried about Tehran’s intentions that its atomic program is aimed only at securing a modern, clean energy source for its people.
Obama-Netanyahu odd couple testing U.S.-Israel relationship
Bloomberg: President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerge from their re-election campaigns confronting the same disputes that divided them last year: peace talks with the Palestinians, settlements and, above all, Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons program.
Iran: Release human rights lawyer for good
Amnesty International: A prominent Iranian human rights lawyer was returned to prison on Monday, unexpectedly curtailing a three-day temporary leave to visit her family, which was expected to be extended.
Expert: Iran sanctions near end of effectiveness
AP: A leading academic says there’s not much more the world can do to sanction Iran, and that such penalties could drive Tehran to take radical action.
Iranian Guard asserts power over Strait of Hormuz
AP: The top commander of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard insists his force controls shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, gateway for one fifth of the world’s oil.
