Eye on Iran: U.S. Appeals Court Revives Claims in $1.7 Billion Iran Terrorism Lawsuit

TOP STORIES U.S. Appeals Court Revives Claims in $1.7 Billion Iran Terrorism Lawsuit | Reuters A federal appeals court in New York on Tuesday revived part of a $1.68 billion lawsuit against Iran's central bank, Bank Markazi, by families of soldiers killed in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Lebanon.  EU Donates 20 Million For Safe Nuclear Energy In Iran | Associated Press Iran's state TV is reporting that the European Union has donated €20 million to develop safe nuclear energy in Iran. Iranian Hacker Charged In HBO Hacking That Included 'Game Of Thrones' Script | New York Times United States officials are charging an Iranian hacker in the theft of 1.5 terabytes of data from HBO in May, an attack that tormented network executives and included the release of several unaired programs and scripts. Behzad Mesri, who went by the pseudonym "Skote Vahshat," was charged with computer fraud, wire fraud, extortion and identity theft, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in United States District Court in Manhattan. But he remains in Iran, and officials acknowledged that it would be difficult to detain him. BUSINESS RISK Total Risks Entire Iran Investment If It Pulls Out of Project: Iran Minister | Reuters France's Total will lose all of its investment if it pulls out of a deal with Iran to develop South Pars, the world's largest gas field, the Iranian oil minister said on Tuesday.  Iran Pushes to Retain Asia Oil Buyers As Possible US Sanctions Loom | Reuters Iran is pushing to retain customers for its oil in Asia, hoping that price reductions will boost the appeal of its crude compared with other Middle Eastern supply even as the potential threat of further U.S. sanctions on the country looms.  SANCTIONS RELIEF Iran Courting New European Buyers to Maintain Oil Exports | Tehran Times Iran is negotiating with new European customers to expand its oil clienteles, Iranian Vice Oil Minister Marziyeh Shahdaie told Tasnim News Agency without further elaboration.  HUMAN RIGHTS ANALYSIS: How Iran Exploits Dual Nationals As Hostages For Income And Arms | Shima Silavi for Al Arabiya (Saudi Arabia / UAE) According to Reuters, the number of dual nationalities arrested in Iran has increased since the signing of the Iran nuclear deal in 2015. Currently, there are some 30 dual nationalities detained in Iran. As history will prove, Iran's strategy to gain both funds and arms by keeping dual nationalities hostage is nothing new. FOREIGN AFFAIRS Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri Puts Resignation on Hold | Wall Street Journal Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Wednesday he was holding off on submitting his resignation at the request of President Michel Aoun, another startling turn in a crisis that thrust his country back into the middle of a regional power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran, EU Hold Third Round of High-Level Talks | Al Monitor A senior delegation from the European Union traveled Nov. 19 to Iran for high-level talks between Iran and the EU. Helga Schmid, the deputy of EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, led the delegation in this third round of talks.  GULF STATES, YEMEN, AND IRAN Could Saudi Arabia and Iran Really Go to War? | CNBC Saudi Arabia and Iran's ongoing battle for power and influence rages on in the Middle East but analysts aren't convinced that an all-out war will happen, yet. Saudi Arabia Reiterates Condemnation of Iran's Terrorist Acts, Regional Meddling | Asharq Al-Awsat (U.K.) The Saudi cabinet underlined on Tuesday the statement of the extraordinary Arab League meeting that condemned Iran's interference in Arab internal affairs. Iran and Saudi Arabia on the Brink of a Proxy War over Lebanon | David Gardner for the Financial Times The intrigue over whether Saudi Arabia this month sparked a crisis in Lebanon by forcing Saad Hariri to resign as its prime minister may soon be clarified. But the possible closure of one chapter opens another, potentially more dangerous, crisis. The Challenge Of 'Iranian Interference' | Ghassan Charbel for Al Arabiya (Saudi Arabia / UAE) Talking about the "Iranian interference" is not a passing accusation that lacks evidence. The insistence on discussing it never falls within the framework of harassment or escalation. It is an attempt to crystallize a unified Arab will to deal with a tense Arab reality in a group of countries and maps. Commentary: How Saudi Arabia Has Overreached on Iran, Lebanon | Mohamad Bazzi for Reuters On Nov. 19, Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo for an hours-long gripe session against Iran and its ally, Hezbollah. The Arab leaders accused Tehran and the Lebanese Shi'ite movement of destabilizing the Middle East, but they fell short of agreeing on concrete action... These actions underscore a newly aggressive Saudi foreign policy, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is eager to challenge Iran more directly and has amassed tremendous power under the rule of his father, King Salman. But forcing Hariri to resign and ratcheting up tensions with Iran over Yemen has backfired on the prince and his advisers. The lack of support from fellow Arab leaders for tougher action against Iran and Hezbollah shows that few Saudi allies are willing to confront Iran directly. Eye on Iran is a periodic news summary from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Eye on Iran is not intended as a comprehensive media clips summary but rather a selection of media elements with discreet analysis in a PDA friendly format. For more information please email press@uani.com. 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