BBC: Ayatollah Seyyed Hashem Hoseyni-Bushehri, who heads the Qom Seminary, criticised the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) for airing shows that “demean the clerical attire”, according to Rasa news agency.
Iran: TV stars ‘warned not to play clerics’
Iran’s Rouhani not ‘optimistic’ about nuclear talks
AFP: Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani is not “optimistic” about ongoing nuclear negotiations with world powers, the official IRNA news agency reported Monday ahead of a new round of talks this week.
Nobel winner Ebadi urges EU, U.S. to ban Iran from TV satellites
Reuters: Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi on Monday called on the European Union and United States to ban Iran from using U.S. and European satellites to broadcast what she described as the Islamic Republic’s propaganda.
Iran prisoners on hunger strike
AFP: Several Iranian political prisoners have gone on hunger strike in protest at being denied proper medical care in jail, international rights groups said in a statement Monday.
Iraq’s Maliki gets U.S. arms, but no Apache gunships
UPI: Nouri al-Maliki does not appear to be getting the Apache attack helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles he’s pressed U.S. President Barack Obama for to bolster Baghdad’s struggle against al-Qaida insurgents, but he’s still expected to get other weapons.
Oil majors weigh benefits and costs of return to Iran
Financial Times: There are very few places in the world that are entirely off limits to the western oil majors, a group who will literally go anywhere in search of crude. But Iran is the big exception. Thanks to US and EU sanctions, Iran is, for Big Oil at least, beyond the pale.
Iran sticks to ‘Death to America’ on embassy takeover day
AFP: Iran on Monday marks the anniversary of the 1979 US embassy takeover with its customary “Death to America” chants despite a taboo-breaking telephone call between their presidents.
Kerry lands in Saudi to ease tensions over Syria, Iran
AFP: Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Saudi Arabia Sunday hoping to repair ties with America’s longstanding ally, which have frayed over the Syrian conflict and US outreach to Iran.
Iran leader warns against undermining negotiators
AP: Iran’s Supreme Leader warned Sunday against undermining negotiators engaged in talks with the West, a message directed apparently at hard-liners who have criticized Iran’s diplomacy over its nuclear program.
Iran burning $7 billion to lead Gas OPEC as it faces sanctions
Bloomberg: Iran will lead a club of the world’s biggest natural gas exporters as its own shipments abroad are hampered by U.S. and European Union sanctions that force the country to burn off billions of dollars worth of the fuel.
