Bloomberg: A group of 19 Iranian parliamentarians are seeking to impeach Labor, Cooperatives and Social Welfare Minister Abdolreza Sheikholeslami after he appointed an official accused of links to the deaths of prisoners in custody, the state-run Fars news agency reported.
Iran lawmakers seek to impeach labor minister, state media say
Iran ex-president urges better ties with Saudis
AFP: Iran should forge better ties with regional rival Saudi Arabia to counter Western sanctions on Iranian oil, a former president who now chairs an advisory body to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged on Tuesday.
Greek refiner stops Iran oil buys, banking a problem
Reuters: Greece’s top refiner Hellenic Petroleum has suspended purchases of Iranian crude in April as approaching sanctions on Tehran have made banking payments virtually impossible, a senior source at the firm said.
Iran families face inflation, unemployment, Tehran Times says
Bloomberg: Most Iranian families are grappling with inflation and youth unemployment, the Tehran Times reported, citing Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani.
Iranians count the cost of Nowruz traffic carnage
The Guardian: As the Iranian New Year holiday comes to an end, it is estimated that between 500 and 700 Iranians lost their lives in road accidents during the two weeks’ holiday, from 20 March to early April.
Iran sanctions biting; cut North Korea food aid, Richardson says
Bloomberg: Bill Richardson, former U.S. Energy Secretary, comments on the rising price of oil, China’s role in sanctions against Iran and North Korea’s plan to launch a rocket. He spoke in a Bloomberg Television interview today at the Boao Forum for Asia in China.
No date, place yet for Iran nuclear talks: Russia
AFP: Russia said Monday that the date and place for talks with Iran on its controversial nuclear programme have not been set, despite a US announcement over the first such meeting in more than a year.
Iran: Hyundai Motor ends operations
New York Times: The Hyundai Motor Company, the automaking subsidiary of Hyundai, the South Korean conglomerate, has quietly ended its business dealings with Iran, where it had extensive operations, including a joint venture to make cars.
Egypt halts tanker with Syrian oil for payment fees
Reuters: An Iranian tanker carrying Syrian crude oil is being held in Egyptian waters because it has not paid the Suez Canal Authority the fees required for passage, the Egyptian authority said on Monday.
Iran suspends Reuters news bureau ‘indefinitely’
AFP: The Tehran bureau of international news agency Reuters has been “suspended indefinitely” because of a report it issued mischaracterising Iranian female ninjas as “terrorists,” authorities said on Monday.
