A semi-official Iranian news agency says Iran’s navy has sent submarines to the Red Sea, in its first such mission in distant waters. The Fars news agency quotes an unnamed official Tuesday as saying Tehran sent the submarines to collect data in international waters and identify other warships. The report says the submarines accompanied Iranian […]
US Treasury Official Tours East Asia to Press Iran Sanctions
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 4:40 am (UTC-5)
A senior U.S. Treasury official will be meeting with counterparts in Japan and South Korea this week to urge the strict enforcement of sanctions on Iran and discuss whether additional measures are needed. The Treasury Department said David Cohen, the assistant secretary for terrorist financing, will be in the region from Tuesday through Friday. It […]
Chinese Marathoners Fall Ill in Iran; Date Rape Drug Suspected
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 2:35 am (UTC-5)
Iranian police are reported to be investigating complaints that two Chinese and a Taiwanese marathoner may have had their water spiked with the date rape drug Rohypnol during an expedition along the Old Silk Road. Organizers of the expedition say the three became “tired and disoriented” while running through Iran early Monday and were taken […]
US Official to Press Japan and South Korea on Iranian Sanctions
Posted June 6th, 2011 at 7:50 pm (UTC-5)
A senior official from the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday begins a mission to Japan and South Korea to press for implementation of international sanctions against Iran. According to a Treasury Department statement, Undersecretary David Cohen will consult with officials in the two countries on steps to increase pressure on what were described as “those […]
Iran, Syria Denounced in UN Nuclear Talks Opener
Posted June 6th, 2011 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
The head of the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog says Iran may have carried out nuclear work with possible military purposes. Speaking at the start of a week-long board meeting on nuclear developments in Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano criticized Iran Monday for not cooperating with international nuclear experts. Western nations say Iran […]
Supporters of US Hiker Held in Iran Fast for His Birthday
Posted June 4th, 2011 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
Supporters of a U.S. hiker detained in Iran are fasting on his birthday Saturday, in his hometown outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Josh Fattal turns 29 Saturday. He and 28 year old Shane Bauer have been held on spy charges in Iran for almost two years. A third hiker, Bauer’s fiancee Sarah Shourd was arrested with them […]
Head of Embattled Israeli Company Dies at 89
Posted June 3rd, 2011 at 5:10 am (UTC-5)
The primary shareholder of Israel’s Ofer Brothers Group, which was blacklisted by the United States last week for allegedly trading with Iran, has died at his home. Israeli news reports said Sammy Ofer was found Friday at his home, dead at age 89. Reports said he had been seriously ill. Ofer Brothers Group, owned by […]
Iran’s President Gives Up Role as Oil Minister
Posted June 2nd, 2011 at 1:45 pm (UTC-5)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stepped down from his role as the caretaker oil minister after parliament threatened to take him to court over the issue. State-run media say Mr. Ahmadinejad announced Thursday that he had named Mohammad Ali-Abedi as the interim chief of the ministry. He is the former head of Iran’s physical education […]
Ex-Israeli Spy Chief: Israel Not Planning Attack on Iran Soon
Posted June 2nd, 2011 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
Israel’s recently-retired spy chief says the Israeli government has no immediate plans to attack Iran’s nuclear program, which the United States and its allies suspect is aimed at producing weapons. In comments published Thursday in the Israeli media, Meir Dagan says he is “not familiar” with any government decision to strike Iranian nuclear facilities in […]
Controversy Over Iranian Activist’s Death at Father’s Funeral
Posted June 1st, 2011 at 2:15 pm (UTC-5)
Iranian opposition websites say the daughter of a prominent Iranian dissident has died after a scuffle with security forces at her father’s funeral, while government media say she died of a heart attack. Opposition websites say Haleh Sahabi, the daughter of Ezzatollah Sahabi and a prominent activist in her own right, fell to the ground […]
