The Hill: Much is being made inside the Beltway about the appointment of Hamid Abutalebi as Iran’s next ambassador to the United Nations. He is accused–by several of the former American hostages–of taking an active role in their abduction and brutal captivity.
Right to reject Abutelabi
Iran foreign minister to visit Russia next week
AFP: Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will travel to Russia next week for a meeting of the countries that border the Caspian Sea, the official IRNA news agency reported. “Mr Zarif will arrive in Russia on Tuesday”, Iran’s ambassador to Russia wrote on his Facebook page.
Iran testing U.S. with U.N. nominee
US News and World Report: Iran’s choice to fill a U.N. post with a reported participant in the 1979 U.S. embassy takeover and subsequent hostage crisis in Tehran may have been a test shot designed to see how many allowances the White House would make before imposing hard lines against Iran.
US: No visa for Iran UN envoy over hostage crisis ‘role’
AFP: “Given his role in the events of 1979, which clearly matter profoundly to the American people, it would be unacceptable for the United States to grant this visa,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.
Official: Iran will not discuss missile program
AP: Iran’s defense minister says Tehran will not discuss its ballistic missiles as part of ongoing talks with world powers on a final agreement to curb the Iranian nuclear program. Ballistic missile can be used to deliver nuclear warheads.
Syria rebels get US-made missiles: source
AFP: Syrian rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad for the first time received at least 20 US-made TOW anti-tank missiles from a “Western source,” a rebel official told AFP Tuesday. Fighters from the Hazm movement have received more than 20 TOW anti-tank missiles from a Western source.
Iran says oil barter deal with Russia very hard to seal
Reuters: Iran and Russia will find it hard to agree any oil or gas trade deal because they are rivals in both markets, Iran’s deputy oil minister for international trade said on Monday. Iran and Russia have been discussing various ways of increasing bilateral trade.
Rouhani says Iran sanctions will unravel in months
Reuters: President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday international sanctions on Iran would unravel in months following negotiations with world powers on its nuclear program, the official IRNA news agency reported.
UN’s Iran rights watchdog slams case of death-row woman
AFP: UN human rights monitor urged Tehran to halt the planned execution of an Iranian woman for the alleged murder of a former intelligence official, saying her trial had been deeply flawed. Shaheed is tasked by the UN with monitoring Iran, and has regularly locked horns with the Islamic republic over its human rights record.
Iran asks UN chief to intervene in envoy row
AFP: Iran on Monday urged United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to intervene directly in a row sparked by America’s refusal to give Tehran’s chosen UN envoy a visa. The spat over Hamid Aboutalebi has undermined a cautious thaw in relations after decades of enmity.
