Reuters: Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged Tuesday for the first time that his militant movement received financial and material support from Iran, but denied it took instructions from the Islamic Republic.
Hezbollah says gets support, not orders, from Iran
Iran lawmakers may summon President on mismanagement, Fars says
Bloomberg: Iran’s parliament may summon President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to answer questions about his alleged economic and political mismanagement, the state-run Fars news agency reported.
Iran calls new US sanctions ‘psychological war’
AP: Iran’s foreign ministry has dismissed the new U.S. sanctions on Tehran, saying they are part of a “psychological war” meant to sow discontent among Iranians.
Iran MPs say ready to ban oil exports to some EU states
Reuters: Iran’s parliament said on Tuesday it was ready to impose a ban on oil exports to some European states, the country’s English-language Press TV reported.
Iran detains alleged BBC Persian journalists – reports
BBC: Reports from Iran say several people have been detained for alleged links to the BBC’s Persian Service, which is banned in the country.
Shell, UOP among companies put on blacklist by Iran, Mehr says
Bloomberg: Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi has ordered five European companies, including Royal Dutch Shell Plc, to be put on a blacklist for failing to meet their commitments in the nation’s refinery projects, Mehr reported.
Deeper Iran sanctions; US targets its central bank
AP: Targeting Iran’s economy, the U.S. ordered tough new penalties Monday to further pinch the country’s financial system and encourage Israel to give sanctions more time before any military action against Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran boosts nuclear work in bunker-diplomats
Reuters: Iran is believed to be expanding uranium enrichment activity deep inside a mountain, diplomatic sources said on Monday, a move likely to add to tension with Western powers that suspect Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons capability.
Obama signs order blocking all Iranian assets in US
AFP: President Barack Obama on Monday ordered new sanctions into force on Iran, including its central bank, seeking to tighten a choke hold on Tehran’s economy as a nuclear showdown deepens.
Iran deters hypothetical ground invasion
UPI: An Iranian military official said his forces wrapped up a war games exercise in southern Iran meant to deter a hypothetical ground invasion.
