Iran
Iranian president says White House “afflicted by mental retardation”
Hits out at Trump administration’s “outrageous and idiotic” decision to impose sanctions on supreme leader and foreign minister.
Trump tells world to ‘wait and see’ how US will respond to Iran shooting down drone
Anxieties over conflict in Middle East grow as day also sees Iranian-backed Houthis hitting Saudi desalination plant with apparently sophisticated missile.
Iran cranks up nuclear deal pressure with “20%” uranium threat
Tehran demands economic help from Europe to persuade it away from path that would wreck accord. US accuses Iranians of atomic “extortion”.
TEHRAN BLOG: Iran did it because Mad Uncle Donald says so
Trump, seen by the Iranians as not even fit to run a chip shop, points his gnarled finger at the Islamic Republic following the tanker attacks.
TANKER ATTACKS: Tehran claims somebody’s out to frame Iran
Search on for state actor possibly behind latest mysterious Gulf of Oman incidents. Iranian supreme leader, meanwhile, tells visiting Japanese PM he’s no message for ‘unworthy’ Trump. Day ends with US State Sec. Pompeo blaming Iran for attacks.
Japan’s Shinzo Abe arrives in Iran. Analysts ask what message he might bear from Trump
Iranians must “play a constructive role in strengthening peace and stability in the Middle East” Japanese PM tells Tehran press call.
India ‘likely to resume taking Iranian oil exports’
New Delhi-based publication cites government official as saying re-elected Modi administration “is not keen” on the attempted US blockade of Iran’s crude.
Trump: ‘Toppling Iranian leadership not my aim and I think Tehran wants a deal’
Analyst responds that US president changes his mind within 24 hours and “wouldn’t be surprised to see him going to war with Iran tomorrow”.