AFP: The United States called Wednesday for a united front with China against Iran’s nuclear program as it debates whether to slap sanctions on the Asian power over oil purchases from the Islamic republic.
US calls for unity with China on Iran
Saudi-Iran rivalries high ahead of OPEC meeting
AP: OPEC ministers are coming into a meeting deeply divided over how much crude to pump, with Saudi Arabia keen to keep a lid on prices, rival Iran pushing to cut production and Iraq expected to back Iran, its longtime foe under Saddam Hussein.
No delay on EU Iran ship insurance ban: Oettinger
Reuters: The European Union will not cancel or delay a July 1 embargo on EU countries providing shipping insurance for Iranian oil tankers, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said at an industry conference on Wednesday.
Russia presses Iran ahead of nuclear talks
AFP: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov flew into Iran on Wednesday for a brief visit to discuss upcoming international talks over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme.
OPEC’s new ground rule? Don’t mention Iran: Campbell
Reuters: It is no exaggeration to say the impact of the pending U.S. and European sanctions against Iran are one of the most taboo subjects at an OPEC meeting in years.
Iran oil storage at sea seen by IEA rising to 42 million barrels
Bloomberg: Iranian oil stored on tankers at sea rose to as much as 42 million barrels, the International Energy Agency said. The Persian Gulf country added about 10 million barrels of floating storage by the end of last month.
Daughter: Iran dissident gets 13 years in prison
AP: A prominent Iranian human rights lawyer has been sentenced to 13 years in prison by a Tehran revolutionary court, his daughter said Tuesday.
US presses Turkey to cut more Iranian oil imports
Reuters: The United States has pressed Turkey to follow up on a 20 percent cut in oil purchases from Iran with a further cut in six months time to help persuade Iran to quit stalling in talks over its nuclear programme, a U.S. diplomat said on Tuesday.
Facing sanctions, China defends Iran oil imports
AP: China defended its imports of Iranian oil but wouldn’t say Tuesday whether it might reduce them to avoid U.S. sanctions against Chinese banks as the U.S. tries to squeeze Iran financially.
Iran claims designing nuclear submarine
AFP: Iran has taken “initial steps” to design its first nuclear-powered submarine, a deputy navy commander claimed in an interview with the Fars news agency published on Tuesday.
