Reuters: Around five people died on Wednesday in an explosion at an Iranian petrochemical plant, Iranian media reported.
Iran petchem plant explosion kills five – media
Ahmadinejad urges US to join nuclear swap talks
AFP: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged the United States on Wednesday to join talks on a nuclear fuel swap deal, reiterating that Tehran was ready to start talks near the end of the month.
Iran presidency official denies grenade attack on Ahmadinejad, TV reports
Bloomberg: An unidentified official in President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s office denied reports that there had been a grenade attack on the Iranian leader today, according to state-run Press TV’s website.
US urges Japan to get tough on Iran
AFP: Senior US officials on Wednesday urged Japan to follow Europe’s example and take “strong measures” to punish Iran over its contentious nuclear programme
US gets serious on Iran sanctions
BBC: For banks, oil companies and other big businesses around the world, from India to Japan, Russia and Germany, the US now has a clear message: you’re either with us or with Iran.
Iran’s account of woman’s crime shifting from adultery to murder
New York Times: Iran appears to be answering international criticism of its handling of the case of a woman sentenced to death by stoning by suggesting that she is guilty not only of adultery, but also of murder.
Iraq election victor boosted as Shiite parties bicker
AFP: The secular coalition that narrowly won Iraq’s general election is edging closer to power after a bitter row over who becomes prime minister left a rival Shiite alliance on the brink of collapse.
Militants claim suicide bomb attack on Japan tanker
AFP: Militant jihadists claimed Tuesday that a suicide bomber blew himself up on a Japanese oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz last week, the US monitoring group SITE said.
U.S. blacklists Iran military leaders, 21 firms
Wall Street Journal: The U.S. Treasury blacklisted 21 state-owned Iranian companies as part of a growing and coordinated international effort to undercut Tehran’s ability to use units in Europe and Asia to facilitate financial transactions and weapons development.
Hundreds denounce crackdown on Azeri culture in north-west Iran
Iran Focus: Tabriz, Aug. 03 – Hundreds of people in the north-western Iranian city of Tabriz, provincial capital of East Azerbaijan, staged a public demonstration against the denial of the right to learn the Azeri language in schools and promote Azeri culture.
