Iran

Reuters reported Monday that UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Yukiya Amano was increasing pressure on Iran to enhance transparency around its atomic program, after a September 7th IAEA report concluded that the Iranians were continuing to stonewall efforts to clarify the so-called “possible military dimensions” (PMDs)...

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Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Wednesday that Russia and Iran have successfully laid the groundwork for what the outlet described as a “strategic partnership aimed at vastly expanding trade and investment,” with observers describing the maneuver as a way for the Iranians to dodge Western sanctions pressure: According to a Western diplomat...

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Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said Monday that there would be no deal between the P5+1 and Iran if the latter’s “demands are not met,” and that recent sanctions targeting the Islamic republic “violate the Geneva interim deal.” Iran’s official PressTV news agency reports: On August...

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On Tuesday, Iran announced that it was in talks with Russia “about economic cooperation in energy, which could undercut the sanctions”. South Africa, which had been observing the sanctions regime, also said it was prepared to resume importing Iranian oil in three months time. The economic cooperation being discussed is...

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Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon traveled to Azerbaijan today for a two day visit to Iran’s northern neighbor. The Jerusalem Post reports: Ya’alon met with the Azeri President Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev, as well as with the country’s Defense Minister, Zakir Hasanov, and Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, as well as senior officials...

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On Sunday, Benjamin Weinthal documented the expansion of business ties between Iran, Germany and the Czech Republic, which have been undermining the leverage that sanctions initially provided in the P5+1 nuclear negotiations with the Islamic republic. Weinthal reports that the Czech Republic is scheduled to “send 20 companies to Tehran on...

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