AFP: Iraqi assassination squads are being trained in Iran by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force and Lebanese Hezbollah for attacks in Iraq, a US military official said Friday.
Iran training Iraqi hit squads: US military
U.S. military: Iran training assassination squads
CNN: Iraqi Shia fighters are now been trained inside Iran as assassination squads, the U.S. military has told the Iraqi government.
Confronting the Iranian threat
Washington Times – Editorial: As it considers its options in dealing with Iranian nuclear weapons, Israel has become increasingly concerned about the possibility of a larger war with Tehran and its proxies – and specifically, the possibility that it could be on the receiving end of missile attacks launched by the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah in the event of a strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
US: Quds, Hezbollah training Iraqi militia in Iran
AP: Iraqi Shiite assassination teams are being trained in at least four locations in Iran by Tehran's elite Quds force and Lebanese Hezbollah and are planning to return to Iraq in the next few months to kill specific Iraqi officials as well as U.S. and Iraqi troops, according to intelligence gleaned from captured militia fighters and other sources in Iraq.
Iran, Turkey fail to reach deal on new pipeline
AP: Iran and Turkey signed several cooperation agreements Thursday but failed to complete a deal for building a new natural gas pipeline — a project the United States has opposed.
Turkey pulls out of deal to buy Iranian gas under pressure from US
The Guardian: Turkey delivered a humiliating snub to Iran's visiting president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, yesterday by backing out of a lucrative energy deal under pressure from the US government, which feared it would enhance Iranian nuclear ambitions.
Sanctions hurting Iran economic activity, says IMF
Reuters: Stepped-up international pressure and sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program are hurting its economy, making trade financing and payments difficult and discouraging foreign investment, according to an IMF report published on Thursday.
US envoy urges Iran to be responsible for peace
AP: The main U.S. envoy to the Muslim world urged Iran on Friday to fulfill its obligations to international security and seek a peaceful resolution to the standoff over its nuclear program.
Signing of Iran-Turkey energy deal difficult – source
Reuters: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Turkey may not yield the expected oil and gas deals following new demands from the Iranian side, a source from the Turkish prime minister's office said on Thursday.
Visiting Iraqi seeks to reassure Iran over US pact
Reuters: A deal allowing U.S. forces to stay in Iraq beyond the end of this year is not aimed at keeping military pressure on Iran, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said on Thursday during a visit to Tehran.
