Business Wire: In a conference in advance of the latest round of nuclear talks between the P5+1 and Iran in Istanbul, Turkey, a number of senior officials from the past three U.S. administrations on Thursday underscored the failure of the policy of engagement with Tehran and offered a broader range of options, most significantly lifting the terrorist designation of the principal Iranian opposition movement, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (PMOI/MEK).
Top ex-officials urge Obama to delist Iran opposition group
Blair urges West to take action on Iran
Reuters: Former Prime Minister Tony Blair made a passionate plea on Friday for the West to use force if necessary against Iran over its disputed nuclear programme.
China renews Iran crude deal with steady volume-sources
Reuters: China has renewed crude import pacts with Iran for 2011 by keeping the total supply amount almost the same as last year at about 460,000 barrels per day, two industry sources with direct knowledge of the deals told Reuters.
US cable claims Swiss linked Iran, Gitmo to UBS
AP: A leaked U.S. diplomatic cable claims the Swiss government linked economic sanctions against Iran and the resettlement of Guantanamo detainees to the tax evasion case against UBS AG in the United States.
Senegalese ambassador returns to Iran after dispute over weapons shipment
Bloomberg: Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade told his government to return the country’s ambassador to Tehran, five weeks after the official was recalled following a diplomatic dispute over a seized Iranian arms shipment.
Iran draws red line round enrichment at nuke talks
Reuters: Iran would refuse to discuss any suspension of its uranium enrichment activities during talks with six world powers over its nuclear programme that opened in Istanbul on Friday, a senior Iranian official said.
Iran in new nuclear talks with world powers
AFP: World powers on Friday began crunch talks with Iran to resolve tensions over its controversial nuclear drive as Tehran raised its rhetoric saying it will “not retreat an inch.”
Iran refuses to discuss uranium enrichment as nuclear talks resume
The Guardian: Diplomats were struggling today to salvage international talks over Iran’s nuclear ambitions after the Iranian delegation signalled it would not negotiate over the most controversial part of its programme, uranium enrichment.
Intel panel wants Iran dissidents off terror list
Fox News: As yet another round of talks gets under way in Istanbul to try to convince Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, a bipartisan panel of top former national security experts has proclaimed further negotiations are likely to be futile and are instead urging President Obama to use a controversial dissident group to destabilize the Tehran regime.
Murder overlooked
Iran Focus – Editorial: What would the rest of us do if a mad gunman was in our midst, systematically murdering our fellow human beings in front of our eyes? The responsible amongst us would not look the other way, because that would serve as a source of encouragement for the murderers to carry on with their heinous acts unchecked. Sooner or later, we would also be harmed in one way or another.
