Sunday Telegraph: Nowhere is the West’s inability to grasp the realities of Middle Eastern politics more obvious than in its self-deceiving attitude to the most powerful and menacing regime of all, the theocratic dictatorship that rules over Iran.
The West is deluded about the Middle East – just look at Iran
EU’s Ashton urges Iran’s new FM to resume nuclear talks
AFP: The EU’s top diplomat Catherine Ashton, who leads global talks with Tehran on its disputed nuclear drive, called for a resumption of the talks in a phone conversation Saturday with Iran’s new foreign minister.
Iran’s president says “no change” in foreign policy principles
Xinhua: Iran’s new President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that Iran will not change the principles in its foreign policy, semi-official Mehr news agency reported. Rouhani made the remarks during a ceremony held for the inauguration of new Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif.
Anaheim convention will address U.S. policy on Iran
Los Angeles Times: Hundreds of Iranian Americans are expected to attend a convention in Anaheim on Saturday that will explore the current state of Iranian politics after the election of new president Hassan Rouhani.
Iran says it has about 18,000 nuclear centrifuges
AFP: Iran has about 18,000 centrifuges, including 10,000 active ones, the outgoing head of the country’s atomic agency said Saturday, confirming figures from the UN watchdog overseeing its disputed nuclear drive.
Prospects after Iran’s presidential elections
The Hill: Hassan Rouhani is a key figure within the establishment who in the past 34 years has always had critical posts within the regime, especially intelligence, military and national security posts.
India, Iran bid to resolve oil tanker dispute
AFP: New Delhi and Tehran were Saturday working to resolve a dispute over the detention of an Indian oil tanker by Iranian naval guards for allegedly polluting sea waters in the Persian Gulf.
No cause for optimism with Iran’s new leader
American Thinker: Since the June election of Hassan Rowhani as the new president of Iran, optimism in the West for negotiations with the Islamic state over its illicit nuclear program has been increasing. That optimism is misplaced.
Iran president’s cabinet shows dual policy track
Wall Street Journal: The cabinet choices made by Iran’s President Hasan Rouhani signal that the new government could be pursuing a dual policy track: a shift in foreign and economic polices to ease international sanctions but far less compromise on opening up domestic politics and social freedom.
Iran arms to Syria down but not over: Iraq FM
AFP: Iran has reduced flights of arms to Syria but Iraq cannot stop them completely and should not be treated as a “whipping boy,” its foreign minister said Friday.
