Reuters: The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved a $48.8 billion spending bill for U.S. foreign policy and aid efforts, and tried to apply more pressure on Iran after the violence that followed its disputed election results.

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 23 – Shops remained closed throughout the day on Tuesday in cities in the western Iranian province of Kurdistan, Iran Focus has learnt.

Reuters: Britain is expelling two Iranian diplomats after Iran forced two British diplomats to leave, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Tuesday.

Reuters: European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana condemned on Tuesday violence that followed elections in Iran and said he was concerned about the situation.

AFP: US President Barack Obama Tuesday stepped up criticism of Iran's regime, saying he "strongly condemned" its crackdown on street protests but denying he was interfering in the deepening crisis.

Reuters: A Greek journalist covering Iran's disputed presidential election for the Washington Times has been arrested on charges of "illegal activities," a friend told Reuters on Tuesday.

Reuters: Sweden on Tuesday summoned Iran's ambassador and conveyed its concern over violence in the wake of last week's elections, a foreign ministry official said.

UPI: Iran resumed gas shipments to Turkey through a 1,600-mile pipeline following maintenance to repair cracks in the line.