New York Times: The chaotic situation in Iraq showed no sign of letup on Thursday as emboldened Sunni militants who seized two important Iraqi cities this week moved closed to Baghdad while Kurdish forces poured into the strategic northern city of Kirkuk after it was evacuated by government forces.
U.S. scrambles to help Iraq fight off militants as Baghdad is threatened
Expanding Iran’s borders: the marching threat
Al Arabiya: A few weeks ago, high ranking Iranian officials admitted to a mindset I have asserted—for almost a decade in briefings with Congress and government officials on both sides of the Atlantic—exists. The Tehran regime’s minister of defense openly stated on April 16, 2014, that his country’s real borders are along south Lebanon, sitting on the northern frontiers of Israel.
Democrats face dilemma on Iran delay
The Hill: Senate Democrats face a dilemma over whether to buck the White House and press for new sanctions on Iran with bilateral talks on a nuclear deal almost certain to drag on for at least six more months. Democrats held back on imposing tougher sanctions earlier this year after a full-court lobbying press by the White House.
Growing Iran oil exports challenge U.S. nuclear sanctions
Bloomberg: Questioned in Congress yesterday about possible sanctions violations, an Obama administration official who monitors Iran’s oil exports said he’s confident that Iranian crude shipments have remained within the limits set in a six-month agreement signed Jan. 20 that granted Iran some sanctions relief in exchange for limited nuclear concessions.
Arm Syria’s Opposition
New York Times: In February, I resigned as the American ambassador to Syria, after 30 years’ foreign service in Africa and the Middle East. As the situation in Syria deteriorated, I found it ever harder to justify our policy. It was time for me to leave.
Sunni militants drive Iraqi army out of Mosul
New York Times: Sunni militants spilling over the border from Syria on Tuesday seized control of the northern city of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest, in the most stunning success yet in a rapidly widening insurgency that threatens to drag the region into war.
Iran slashes basmati rice purchases from india
Wall Street Journal: Iran has slashed its purchases of India’s basmati rice by around half over the past three months, helping push India’s domestic prices nearly 10% lower in recent weeks.
U.s. Push to get Iran talks on track as France sees wall
Bloomberg: Iran and world powers are holding a series of unscheduled talks to revive momentum for an accord on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program even as the French foreign minster said the two sides have “hit a wall.”
Iran questions nuclear deal deadline as talks ‘hit wall’
Reuters: Iran, after talks with senior U.S. officials, questioned whether a July deadline for a nuclear deal with world powers will be met, fuelling doubts on the outcome as France spoke out, saying talks on curbing Tehran’s uranium enrichment had “hit a wall”.
Iran, Germany to hold nuclear talks in Tehran Sunday
AFP: German officials will visit Tehran on Sunday for talks on Iran’s nuclear drive. The meeting will follow similar discussions with American, Russian and French negotiators this week ahead of the resumption of political talks between Iran and world powers on Monday in Vienna.
