UANI

CQ wrote that Congressional "leaders are split over pursuing tougher sanctions against Iran next year following their inability to move several punitive measures through the Senate during the 110th Congress." Read More

The Los Angeles Times reported further details about the detention of American Esha Momeni. "Momeni, 28, was abruptly arrested two weeks ago. On Tuesday, she was still being held for interrogation in Section 209, the notorious security ward of Iran's Evin prison. She had been allowed to make only one phone call to her family, her father and lawyer told The Times." Read More

The New York Times covered Iran's announcement that it "had opened a naval base in the Gulf of Oman to counter any hostile forces, in what was clearly an allusion to American Navy vessels patrolling nearby." Read More

The Human Rights Watch released a statement saying "The Iranian government is escalating its attacks against women activists, subjecting them to arbitrary detention, travel bans, and harassment." Read More

Reuters highlighted Iran's complaints of having its nuclear negotiation proposal ignored by the 5+1 nations. "Instead, Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee told a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, a small group of countries continued to insist that Iran halt its uranium enrichment program, a demand that he said violated international law." Read More

Iranian press reported that "Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says US sanctions will not stop Russia's state arms trader from selling defensive weapons to Iran." Read More

Iranian press reported that "Iran has invited international firms to participate in a tender on the development of several onshore oil and natural gas fields." Read More

The Gulf News reported from Abu Dhabi that "former US intelligence specialists warned on Monday night a group of UAE businessmen and academics that doing business with Iran is risky." Read More

Iranian press highlighted government comments indicating that "sanctions are hindering but not stopping Iran's plans to export gas and to secure 8-10 percent of the world market by 2025." Read More

AP covered a U.S. Justice Department announcement that illegal shipments to Iran and China have been on the rise. "Of 145 people or companies charged with rogue shipments last year, nearly half - or 43 percent - were exporting goods to Iran and China.... 'Keeping U.S. weapons technology and other restricted materials from falling into the wrong hands - and from being used against our allies, our troops overseas or Americans at home - is a top counterintelligence priority,' Assistant Attorney General Pat Rowan said in a statement." Read More

Iranian press reported  First Vice President Parviz Davoudi's remark that "Necessary infrastructure for the country's all-out development is prepared." "He made the remark in the inaugural ceremony of Zarand Coke Plant... The Industries and Mines Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian said in the same ceremony that the mining and industry sector accounts for 40 percent of the economic growth. The minister anticipated that expansion plans would boost the plant's output to 800,000 tons in two years increasing the country's total coke production capacity to two million tons." Read More

Bloomberg covered reports that Thailand "plans to barter rice for oil from Iran as it aims to empty government stockpiles before the next harvest." Read More