AFP: US House Speaker John Boehner urged Iran on Wednesday to spare the life of an Iranian pastor reportedly facing execution for refusing to recant his Christian faith and return to Islam.
Top US lawmaker urges Iran to spare Christian pastor
Iran plans to send ships close to US waters: report
AFP: Iran’s navy is going to deploy ships close to US territorial waters, its commander in chief was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Iran bank chiefs ousted in $2.6 bln fraud fallout
Reuters: A $2.6 billion financial fraud that has shaken the government of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saw the heads of three of the country’s banks ousted on Tuesday as lawmakers threaten to impeach the economy minister.
Iran nuclear drive heightens risk of strike: France
AFP: France’s UN envoy warned that Iran faces the risk of a military strike if it pursues its nuclear drive because certain countries would not accept it having an atomic weapon.
Iran builds first heavy oil refinery in Qeshm Island, Shana says
Bloomberg: Iran is building its first refinery able to process so-called heavy crude in the southern Qeshm Island, the Oil Ministry said, citing an official at the Research Institute of the Petroleum Industry.
Ready, set, walk out! Protesting Ahmadinejad at UN
Reuters: Coordination within the European Union isn’t always easy, but the bloc stayed on message this year when all 27 EU delegations left the U.N. General Assembly to protest the Iranian president’s speech.
US Treasury official in China trip on Iran
AFP: A top US Treasury official will visit Hong Kong and China this week to discuss measures to prevent Iran from obtaining financing for its illicit nuclear and weapons program, the Treasury said Monday.
WHO: Iran, South Asia worst for city air pollution
AP: Cities in Iran, India, Pakistan and the capital of Mongolia rank among the worst on the planet for air pollution, while those in the U.S. and Canada are among the best, according to the first global survey by the World Health Organization.
EU names adviser to help resolve Camp Ashraf issue
Reuters: The European Union has named a senior Belgian diplomat to work with the United Nations, Iraq and others to help resolve the plight of more than 3,000 opponents of the Iranian government living at a camp in Iraq.
Americans convicted in Iran say they were hostages
Reuters: Two American men jailed in Iran for more than two years for spying arrived in New York on Sunday, saying they were innocent and had been held hostage simply because of their nationality.
