Reuters: A slip by a French government official on Thursday, mistakenly suggesting Paris was about to unilaterally ban Iranian oil imports, has raised expectations that European Union countries could consider a boycott of the OPEC producer’s oil sales to step up the pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme.
French slip on solo Iran oil ban puts spotlight on EU
U.N. atomic chief boosts efforts to inspect Iran
Wall Street Journal: The United Nations’ nuclear chief, Yukiya Amano, is stepping up efforts to gain access to Iranian scientists, secret documents and military sites, even as Tehran unleashes new attacks against his credibility and mandate.
Italy looks to persuade its firms to drop Iran oil
Reuters: Italy believes sanctions should be tightened against Iran, and is seeking to persuade its companies to stop buying Iranian oil, the spokesman for Italy’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
S.Korea might ban Iran petchem imports-sources
Reuters: South Korea might ban Iranian petrochemical product imports following pressure from the United States to beef up sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme, sources said, although the measure would have a limited economic impact.
EU to urge member states to accept Iranian exiles
AP: An official says the EU’s foreign policy chief will urge the member countries to accept some of the Iranians living in a refugee settlement in Iraq.
France to put unilateral ban on Iranian oil imports
Reuters: France will unilaterally stop importing oil from Iran, the first European country to do so, as part of an effort to isolate Tehran because of its nuclear programme.
Eriksson leaves Iran after talks with Persepolis FC
AFP: Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson left Iran Thursday after holding talks on maybe becoming the next coach of Persepolis FC, the state news agency IRNA reported.
Britain says downgrade in Iran ties would be ‘regrettable’
AFP: Britain said Wednesday it would be “regrettable” if Iranian lawmakers vote to expel the British ambassador in retaliation for newly imposed Western sanctions.
Iran’s Ahmadinejad slams European “puppets” of U.S.
Reuters: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday denounced European countries that are tightening sanctions on Iran as puppets of a U.S. master and said he was surprised at their moves to isolate Tehran’s central bank.
Report: Iran lawmaker says 12 CIA agents arrested
AP: An influential Iran parliamentarian has said that the country has arrested 12 agents of the American Central Intelligence Agency, the country’s official IRNA news agency reported.
