Mail online: Eight women were either shot at close range or crushed to death under the wheels of armoured vehicles when Iraqi forces stormed Camp Ashraf, near Baghdad, on April 8 last year, a reason to pause this Easter Sunday in their remembrance.
A reason to pause this Easter Sunday
Showa Shell still in talks with Iran to reduce oil purchases
Bloomberg: Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. (5002), Japan’s largest buyer of oil from Iran, is in the final stages of talks on reducing its crude-oil purchasing contract with the country for the fiscal year started April 1, company spokesman Satoshi Yoshida said today in Tokyo.
U.S. not backing off as Iran sanctions bite
Reuters: The Obama administration’s man in charge of squeezing Tehran over its nuclear program is unapologetic for the difficulties faced by banks in their dealings with Iran since the U.S. tightened sanctions against the country.
Obama’s signal to Iran
Washington Post: President Obama has signaled Iran that the United States would accept an Iranian civilian nuclear program if Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei can back up his recent public claim that his nation “will never pursue nuclear weapons.”
Iran eyes spiritual leadership of Iraq’s Shiites
OfficialWire: Iran is promoting a conservative cleric close to its supreme leader as a possible successor for the aging spiritual leader of Iraq’s Shiites, a move that would give Tehran a powerful platform to influence its neighbor, according to figures close to Iraq’s religious leadership.
Former US military commanders concerned over BBC’s programme about PMOI
USNewswire: Former senior US military commanders in Iraq have expressed their concerns about a report BBC radio is planning to broadcast this weekend about residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq and the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Turkey PM tells Iran to act ‘honestly’
AFP: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday called on neighbouring Iran to act honestly after Tehran’s about-face on Istanbul as the venue for nuclear negotiations.
US still expects Iran talks next week
AFP: The United States said Thursday that it still expected Iran’s talks with six powers on the Islamic republic’s disputed nuclear program to go ahead next week, despite a dispute over the venue.
Iran stresses warm ties with Turkey
UPI: Iran and Turkey enjoy sustainable and friendly diplomatic relations despite some geopolitical differences, an Iranian deputy foreign minister said.
Why Iran-Brazil friendship has gone cold
CNN: Gone are the days when Brazil’s leader, President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva (2002-2010), worked hard to strengthen Brazil’s partnership with Iran, defending Iranian interests, sharing and learning from similar policy experiences over cafezinho.
