Reuters: Iran is believed to have increased the number of centrifuges in an underground nuclear plant by nearly a third in three months, diplomats say, underlining the tough task facing major powers pressing Tehran to curb its atomic activity.
U.N.’s nuclear report on Iran
EU denounces Iran’s jamming of satellite TV broadcasts
AFP: The European Union on Wednesday denounced Iran’s “deliberate jamming” of television and radio satellite broadcasts that deprive its citizens of access to free information, and called on Tehran to abide by global telecommunications laws.
Iran locked in internal debate over whether to talk to U.S.
Washington Post: Iran appears to be locked in a fierce internal debate over whether to hold bilateral nuclear talks with the United States, with key political leaders calling for dialogue with Washington and hard-liners pressing ahead with expansion of the country’s nuclear facilities.
Clinton calls for pressure on Syria in announcing refugee aid
Bloomberg: The U.S. is also seeking to pressure Iran through economic sanctions as Israel threatens to attack the Persian nation’s nuclear facilities. “We agreed on the importance of holding the international community together to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons,” Clinton said.
Arrests made over death of detained blogger: Iran
AFP: Iran has arrested several people over the death in detention of blogger Sattar Beheshti, prosecutors said Tuesday after complaints about his fate were raised internationally.
Iran foreign minister makes Khartoum stop
AFP: Iran’s foreign minister made a brief stopover in Khartoum, his Sudanese counterpart said Tuesday, with ties between the two states under scrutiny after Khartoum accused Israel of bombing a military factory.
Iran postpones second round of subsidy cuts
AP: An Iranian lawmaker says the country’s parliament has postponed the implementation of a second round of subsidy cuts until 2013 over fears of stoking already rampant inflation.
Iran says it’s tested new air defense system
AP: Iran said Tuesday it successfully tested a new air defense system modeled after the U.S. Hawk system during a drill in the country’s east. A senior Iranian official called the maneuvers a “slap” to America and Israel.
Turmoil dims Obama’s goals for Mideast peace negotiations
Bloomberg: Tensions with Iran drove U.S. crude oil prices to a high for this year of $110.55 a barrel March 1 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Yesterday, oil for December delivery dropped 50 cents, or 0.6 percent, to settle at $85.57 a barrel on the New York market.
Israel official at White House for Syria, Iran talks
AFP: President Barack Obama’s national security advisor met Monday with his Israeli counterpart at the White House for talks on the conflict in Syria and Iran’s nuclear program, officials said.
