The Times: Iranian banks will be given the cold shoulder in the City after Americas imposition of new economic sanctions on Iran, a leading Anglo-Iranian business group predicted yesterday.
Sanction-hit Iranian banks expected to face City boycott
Iranians dismiss new U.S. sanctions
New York Times: Irans chief nuclear negotiator on Friday dismissed the sweeping new sanctions announced by the Bush administration against an elite unit of the Revolutionary Guard in Iran as insignificant and said they would have no effect on the countrys nuclear policies, the student news agency ISNA reported.
On notice
The Times – Leading Article: There is a hubris about Iranian behaviour that can be breathtaking. Far from expressing mock horror at Western accusations that Iran is funding Sunni as well as Shia extremists in Iraq, senior Iranian advisers nowadays go out of their way to make explicit their determination to harass and confront the Americans throughout the Middle East.
Sanctions could harm Iran ties with U.N. nuclear body
Reuters: New U.S. sanctions could push Tehran to rethink its cooperation with the United Nations atomic watchdog, Iran’s former chief nuclear negotiator said on Friday.
Oil rises to record over $92 after U.S. says Iran backs terror
Bloomberg: Oil rose above $92 a barrel for the first time in New York after the U.S. accused Iran’s military of supporting terrorism and stepped up pressure on foreign companies to cut ties with the Middle East oil producer.
Iran closer to nuclear bomb, emigre opposition says
Reuters: Iran may be closer to developing nuclear weapons than three to eight years believed by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the country’s emigre opposition said on Friday.
Steinmeier holds ‘constructive’ talks with Iran
Reuters: Germany’s foreign minister held “constructive” talks with Iran’s nuclear negotiators on Thursday and urged them to cooperate with the international community to resolve a dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
China says opposed to U.S. sanctions against Iran
Reuters: China indicated on Friday it opposed the latest U.S. economic sanctions on Iran, warning that what it called rash steps could “complicate” the nuclear standoff with Tehran.
List: Sanctioned Iranian groups, people
AP: Targets of new sanctions against Iran Thursday, according to a government fact sheet:
U.S. plays its unilateral card on Iran sanctions
New York Times: In announcing sweeping new sanctions against an elite unit of the Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran, Bush administration officials took pains to offer assurances on Thursday that at least for now, the United States is not going to war with Iran.
