AFP: Russia and China on Wednesday joined Western powers in rounding on Iran at the UN atomic watchdog in a move aimed not only at pressuring Tehran but also persuading Israel that diplomacy must continue.
World powers pressure Iran at IAEA
In unusual snub, Obama to avoid meeting Netanyahu
Reuters: In a highly unusual rebuff to a close ally as tensions escalated over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program, the White House said on Tuesday President Barack Obama would not meet Benjamin Netanyahu during the Israeli prime minister’s U.S. visit later this month.
Egypt trying to persuade Iran to drop Assad
AP: Newly activist Egypt is trying to convince Iran to drop its unquestioned support of Syria’s embattled President Bashar Assad in order to end that country’s bloody civil war in exchange for help in easing Tehran’s regional isolation at a time of mounting pressure on it over its disputed nuclear program.
If Iran builds bomb, US has a year to act: Panetta
AFP: The United States would have about a year to take action if Iran decided to build a nuclear weapon, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday, despite urgent warnings from Israel that time is running out to prevent Tehran from getting the bomb.
Questions grow over Iran’s influence in Iraq
Christian Science Monitor: The death sentence issued for Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi on Sunday is the latest measure of sectarian division in Iraq, where questions about dictatorial rule and the influence of Iran have grown in the nine months since US troops withdrew.
Israel Presses U.S. Over Setting ‘Red Lines’ for Iran
Bloomberg: The U.S. and Israel are disagreeing publicly over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push to set “red lines” and deadlines for dealing with Iran’s nuclear activities.
Iran says oil prices too low, may rise more
Reuters: Crude oil prices are still low and could rise further, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said on Monday, the same day Saudi Arabia said prices are too high and would work to moderate them.
Ahmadinejad accuses the West of ‘stealing Iran’s rain’ again
Daily Mail: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused the West of deliberately destroying rain clouds headed for Iran as part of efforts to plunge the country into drought.
Egypt hosts meeting of 4 nations in new Syria push
AP: Diplomats from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Egypt held on Monday the first gathering of a quartet of regional heavyweights aiming to work out a resolution for Syria’s civil war.
US rebuffs Israel over Iran ‘red lines’
AFP: Tensions between Israel and the United States over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program bubbled to the surface Monday, as Washington rebuffed calls for it to declare “red lines.”
