Bloomberg: Turkey’s ties with Iran are under growing strain as the countries split on sectarian lines over Middle East conflicts, depriving the Islamic republic of an ally against western nuclear pressure.
Iran-Turkey ties under increasing strain from Mideast Sunni-Shiite divide
Iran blocks U.N. nuclear team
WSJ: Iran denied United Nations inspectors access to a suspected nuclear site, scientists and documents during a visit to Tehran this week, dimming already scant hopes for a breakthrough to end a standoff over Iran’s nuclear work, according to diplomats briefed on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s mission.
UK’s Clegg fears military conflict with Iran
AP: Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Thursday he has concerns there could be a military conflict with Iran over its disputed nuclear program.
Don’t fall for Persian fairy tales in IAEA’s Iran talks: View
Bloomberg: The International Atomic Energy Agency has wrapped up its visit to Iran, with its chief inspector, Herman Nackaerts, saying “we had a good trip” and announcing plans for another “in the very near future.”
Iranian president proposes tightened budget amidmounting sanctions
WSJ: Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday submitted a budget that will cut spending by 5.6%, seeking to reduce the country’s reliance on oil as it faces potentially stifling new sanctions.
Intelligence report lists Iran and cyberattacks as leading concerns
New York Times: Some senior Iranian leaders are now more willing to carry out attacks inside the United States in response to perceived American threats against their country, the Obama administration’s top intelligence official said on Tuesday, pointing to last fall’s suspected assassination plot against the Saudi ambassador to Washington.
US Muslims seek clemency for condemned US-Iranian
AP: An American Muslim group has appealed to Iran’s top leader to show clemency for an ex-U.S. military translator with dual citizenship condemned to death on accusations of being a CIA spy.
UK court upholds extradition in Iran missile case
AP: Britain’s High Court said Tuesday a retired businessman who allegedly plotted to sell missile components to Iran cannot appeal against his extradition to the United States.
Still chance for diplomacy with Iran: US spy chief
AFP: Sanctions and diplomacy still have a chance to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear program as Tehran’s leaders have shown a rational “cost-benefit approach” in their calculations, US intelligence chiefs said Tuesday.
U.N. official facilitating Tehran’s Goebbels methods
UPI: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Sadly, those words by Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels more than 70 years ago still ring true and remain a key tactic of despots.
