The Guardian: The prospect of direct western military or “humanitarian” intervention, overt and covert, to speed regime change in Syria appears to be strengthening after last week’s UN debacle and the regime’s ensuing violent efforts to finish off its opponents. But appearances are deceptive.
Bashar al-Assad’s Syria offers Iran a springboard into the Arab Middle East
Vatican says no Iran trip planned
AP: The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI receives many invitations and that a trip to Lebanon is under consideration but that there are no plans for a visit to Iran.
South Africa’s close ties to Iran under scrutiny
AP: The West’s increasing pressure on Iran has meant scrutiny for South African businesses that operate in the Middle Eastern nation accused of having nuclear ambitions.
Malaysian exporters stop supplying Iran with palm oil-sources
Reuters: Malaysian palm oil exporters have stopped supplying most of the 30,000 tonnes of the food staple that Iran buys monthly from the Southeast Asian producer as Western financial sanctions against Tehran stymie payments, said two trading sources.
Iran anxiety no match for Central Banker cash
Bloomberg: Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Syria’s bloody crackdown and Greece’s potential default are leaving markets unfazed as central bankers take unprecedented steps to prevent the global economy from crumbling.
Bolstering the military option on Iran
WSJ: In his recent State of the Union address, President Obama declared, “Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.” Yet Iran is fast approaching the nuclear threshold, despite new, tough international sanctions.
India-Iran work out oil payment deal
UPI: Iran, facing tough U.S. and European sanctions, reached a deal with India to accept 45 percent of payment for its oil in Indian currency, its ambassador said.
Oil prices rise as Iran threatens EU supply cut
AP: Oil prices climbed above $98 per barrel Tuesday after Iran again threatened to cut off supplies to Europe.
EU, US must accept Camp Ashraf residents: Iranian dissident
AFP: The EU and United States must take in ailing and wounded residents from a camp in Iraq housing thousands of Iranian dissidents, the leader of an Iranian opposition group said Tuesday.
US trial set for Iranian-American in death plot
AFP: A US judge Tuesday set an October 22 trial date for an Iranian-American accused of plotting with senior Tehran officials to hire Mexican gangsters to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington.
