Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Aug. 20 – Iran on Saturday sentenced two US hikers detained on espionage charges to eight years in prison, state television reported.
Iran sentences US hikers to 8 years in prison
Sinopec starts up refining unit in Iran’s Arak plant
Reuters: Sinopec Engineering Inc. (SEI), an arm of Sinopec Group, started up a unit this week in Iran’s Arak refinery, offering a rare clue on the progress the state-run Chinese oil firm is making in the sanctions-hit country.
US keeps Iran, Syria, Sudan, Cuba on terror blacklist
AFP: The United States retained Iran and its ally Syria as well as Sudan and Cuba on a list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism Thursday, after blacklisting the countries the previous year.
ANALYSIS-Markets can swallow Syrian oil loss, Iran a worry
Reuters: Oil markets will quietly swallow the loss of modest Syrian supplies if Europe joins Washington in slapping new sanctions on the country, but prices would spike if Syria’s ally and major oil producer Iran becomes directly involved in a confrontation with the West.
Iran plans military drill with country in region, Press TV says
Bloomberg: Iran’s Air Force plans to hold a joint aerial military exercise with an unidentified country in the region next month, Press TV reported.
US, Europe ask Syria’s al-Assad to step down
Iran Focus: Washington, Aug. 18 – The United States and its allies on Thursday called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stand down, as the Obama administration imposed new sanctions on Syria’s government.
Iran Guards to keep up raids on Iraq-based Kurd rebels
AFP: The Revolutionary Guards will carry on operations against Kurdish rebels in northwest Iran along the Iraqi border despite strains with Iraq, a commander of the elite force said on Wednesday.
Iran says to switch on Bushehr plant soon
Reuters: Iran’s foreign minister said on Wednesday his country’s Russian-built nuclear power plant at Bushehr would be switched on soon after years of delays, but gave no date.
Chavez, Ahmadinejad blast ‘aggression’ in Libya, Syria
AFP: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have denounced the West’s “imperialist aggression” in Libya and Syria, the foreign ministry in Caracas said Tuesday.
US general: Iran-backed groups biggest Iraq threat
AP: Iranian-backed militias present the most dangerous security threat for Iraq, outpacing al-Qaida-linked terrorists who have been blamed for the spike in violence there, a senior U.S. military officer said Tuesday.
