Reuters: An Iranian oil official has confirmed that Iran owes Italian energy major Eni some $2 billion worth of oil that Rome is concerned could be put at risk by a European Union embargo on crude imports from the Islamic Republic.
Iran confirms has $2 bln oil debt with Italy’s Eni
Iran bans unofficial money trades after rial slip
Reuters: Iran’s parliament cracked down on unofficial money traders on Sunday after new U.S. sanctions helped trigger a currency crash as Iranians rushed to buy dollars.
US will respond if Iran blocks Strait: Panetta
AFP: The United States will respond if Iran tries to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Sunday, saying such a move would cross a “red line.”
Geithner’s Asia trip to focus on Iran
Wall Street Journal: U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner headed to Asia Sunday to seek support from China and Japan for boosting financial pressure on Iran in an effort to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.
UK sends new warship to Gulf amid Iran tensions
AFP: Britain’s newest warship is heading to the Gulf for its first mission at a time of tensions over Iran’s threat to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key transport route for oil.
Iran denies central bank resignation rumor
Reuters: A senior Central Bank of Iran official has denied rumors that the bank’s governor has resigned, the ISNA news agency reported Saturday, in a week when the currency hit a record low amid rising inflation and concerns about tighter economic sanctions.
US: Iran has not yet decided to build nuclear bomb
AP: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Iran is laying the groundwork for making nuclear weapons someday, but is not yet building a bomb and called for continued diplomatic and economic pressure to persuade Tehran not to take that step.
Iranian president to tour US foes in Latin America
AFP: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, under growing pressure from debilitating Western economic sanctions, starts a Latin America tour Sunday aimed at shoring up ties with his few remaining allies.
Report: Iran begins uranium enrichment at new site
AP: Iran has begun uranium enrichment at a new underground site well protected from possible airstrikes, a leading hardline newspaper reported Sunday.
US Navy rescues Iranian fishing boat from pirates
AP: The political tensions between the U.S. and Iran over transit in and around the Persian Gulf gave way Friday to photos of rescued Iranian fisherman happily wearing American Navy ball caps.
