Iran Focus: Tehran, Jul. 29 – From the Grapevine… Passengers and employees in Tehran’s southern and western bus terminals reported new graffiti in at least 30 different locations.
Political graffiti in Tehran’s bus terminals
Tensions rise in Iran capital
Iran Focus: Tehran, Jul. 29 – From the Grapevine… Pro-democracy activists in Tehran have continued writing graffiti on metro and petrol stations, urging people to hold new anti-government protests and stage strikes.
US officials to press China on Iran sanctions
AFP: Top US officials announced Thursday they were heading to China in late August to press Beijing to “step up” and fully implement sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear program.
Iran’s cross merchants: The bazaar strikes back
The Economist: With its shutters down and shops closed, Tehran’s usually bustling Grand Bazaar has been quiet of late. In the first weeks of July Iran’s powerful merchants went on strike because the government tried to raise their annual income tax by 70%. Even when the government hastily agreed to lift taxes by only 15% after the protests spread to other cities, businesses stayed shut for several days.
Iran may get gasoline from Russia state companies next month, Chamber says
Bloomberg: Three Russian state-controlled oil companies, including OAO Rosneft and OAO Gazprom Neft, may begin delivering gasoline to Iran in a month, said the head of the Iran Commission of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Japan’s Mitsui maintains oil tanker was likely attacked
AFP: A Japanese shipping company maintained Thursday that its oil tanker was likely attacked in the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier, dismissing reports it may have been hit by a freak wave.
Australia adopts new sanctions against Iran
AP: Australia will impose new sanctions against Iran, including restrictions for the first time on business dealings with that country’s oil and gas sector, the country’s foreign minister said Thursday.
Japan supertanker probe reveals crash impact
Reuters: A Japanese supertanker, which triggered fears of an attack in the sensitive Strait of Hormuz oil shipping route, collided with something, possibly a submarine or mine, UAE port officials inspecting the ship said on Thursday.
Iran ready to stop enrichment if import deal holds
AFP: Iran will suspend uranium enrichment to 20 percent if it acquires nuclear fuel for a research reactor, the country’s atomic chief said on an Iranian television channel on Thursday.
Iran: Plants to use benzene to increase gas production
New York Times: Trying to offset the effect of sanctions on the country’s nuclear program, Iran said Wednesday that it would increase domestic gasoline production by converting two petrochemical plants so they could produce gasoline by processing benzene.
