Reuters: Iran has made a rare purchase of U.S. wheat in an effort to build food stockpiles as the United States and Europe implement tough new sanctions to contain Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Iran buys US wheat despite nuclear tensions
Clinton urges Iranian group to complete move
New York Times: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Wednesday that a decision on whether to remove an Iranian opposition group from the list of terrorist organizations would depend in part on whether more than 3,000 of its members cooperate in moving to a new location inside Iraq.
US panel passes bill on Iran-Latin America links
AFP: A US House of Representatives subcommittee passed a bill Thursday requiring the State Department to report to Congress on Iran’s activities in Latin America.
Australian charged over Iran military parts
AFP: An Australian man indicted by a US federal grand jury for plotting to export components for missiles, drones and torpedoes to Iran said Thursday he had no idea his actions were in breach of an embargo.
Thailand should store crude for producers spooked by Iran threat, PTT says
Bloomberg: Thailand should be used as a base to store crude-oil supplies from Middle East producers spooked by Iran’s threat to shut the Strait of Hormuz, according to the head of the country’s biggest energy company.
AI: Discussions focus on Iran nuclear programme at the expense of human rights
Iran Focus: An Amnesty International report published on Tuesday called on the global community “not to allow tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme or events in the wider region to distract it from pressing Iran to live up to its human rights obligations.”
MEK status on US blacklist may hinge on Iraq camp
Reuters: The United States sent a strong signal on Wednesday that dropping the Mujahadin-e Khalq (MEK) from a U.S. terror blacklist may hinge on the Iranian dissident group’s cooperation in closing its Camp Ashraf base in Iraq.
US skips first chance at new Iran penalties
AP: The Obama administration sidestepped a congressional deadline Wednesday and an opportunity to unilaterally ratchet up economic pressure on Iran by punishing foreign firms that do business there.
Iran suffers ‘crippling effect’ of sanctions
Bloomberg: The cascade of U.S. and European sanctions imposed on Iran is crippling its ability to export oil and conduct trade, hitting the Gulf state’s economy and stoking internal dissent, sanctions specialists and U.S. officials say.
Iranian navy boasts of abilities
UPI: A military leader said the Iranian navy has the capability to cope with military intervention, which is feared to arise in reaction to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
