Reuters: Iran’s day-to-day business is being affected by tighter international, U.S. and European Union sanctions imposed in response to Western fears the country’s nuclear activities are aimed at developing bombs. Tehran says it has no such aim.
FACTBOX – Foreign companies stepping away from Iran
U.S. praises Reserve Bank of India in Iran dispute
Reuters: The United States on Wednesday praised the Reserve Bank of India for reducing its dealings with Iran’s central bank, saying the Islamic Republic misuses its financial relationships to support its nuclear program.
Iran refuses India oil sales on Delhi’s terms-sources
Reuters: National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) has refused to accept payments for oil supplies to India without the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) guarantee, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
Standard Chartered talking to US sanctions investigators over past Iran dealings
Daily Telegraph: Standard Chartered has launched a review of its compliance with US sanctions, after revealing it is in discussions with American authorities about its “past business” with Iran.
India joins U.S. effort to stifle Iran trade
Wall Street Journal: India has tightened the web of sanctions around Iran by barring Indian companies from a range of deals transacted through a key trade-finance clearinghouse.
Iranian sentenced to lose eye and ear over acid attack
The Guardian: In a literal application of the law of an eye for an eye, an Iranian man convicted of blinding another man in an acid attack has been sentenced to lose an eye and an ear.
2 Germans detained in Iran meet family members
AP: Two detained German journalists were allowed to meet their families, nearly three months after they were arrested while covering the highly publicized case of an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery, Iranian and German officials said Tuesday.
Iran says no date set for nuclear talks
AFP: Iran is yet to agree on an exact date for the next round of nuclear talks with world powers due to be held next month in Istanbul, foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday.
Iran corruption claims stoke political infighting
AP: Corruption charges against one of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s most trusted political advisers provided the latest evidence of deep rifts within the Iranian president’s own conservative political camp.
Iranian dissident executed in prison
Iran Focus: Tehran/London, Dec. 28 – An Iranian political prisoner, Ali Saremi, was hanged in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison on Tuesday on the charge of “Moharebeh”, or “waging war against God”.
