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TOP STORIES
When President Trump announced in May that he was going
to withdraw the United States from the nuclear agreement that the
Obama administration and five other countries negotiated with Iran in
2015 and reimpose sanctions on the country, the decision was fraught
with potential disaster. If Mr. Trump's approach worked too well, oil
prices would spike and hurt the American economy. If it failed,
international companies would continue trading with Iran, leaving the
Islamic Republic unscathed, defiant and free to restart its nuclear
weapons program. But the policy has been effective without either of
those nasty consequences, at least so far.
Should he stay or should he go? Ahead of next week's
annual gathering of the United Nations in New York, the debate in
Iran over President Hassan Rouhani's attendance has been
raging.
An Iranian government-aligned group of hackers launched
a major campaign targeting Mideast energy firms and others ahead of
U.S. sanctions on Iran, a cybersecurity firm said Tuesday, warning
further attacks remain possible as America re-imposes others on
Tehran.
SANCTIONS, BUSINESS RISKS, & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is
concerned by threats to crude supply from large producers such as
Iran, the group's top official said.
Iran's once optimistic tourism industry has been left in
disarray following the reintroduction of U.S. sanctions against
Tehran in early August.
OPEC must stick together for the good of the global
economy as founding member Iran faces renewed U.S. sanctions, the
head of the cartel said Tuesday - though he did not address how an
already-tight market will make up for the loss of Iranian supply.
Since January, Iran's housing sector has been in a
long-awaited boom phase after a five-year recession - the longest dip
in recent memory. But now the sector is in danger of sliding back
into negative ground due to the sudden and massive price hikes across
the country spurred by the ongoing currency crisis.
MILITARY/INTELLIGENCE MATTERS & PROXY WARS
Iranian Kurdish militants who were targeted by Iranian
missile strikes earlier this month at a headquarters in Iraqi
Kurdistan have declared intentions to step up their activities
against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Iran's important new retirement law, approved by the
powerful Guardian Council enacted by the country's parliament, could
effectively put an end to the decades-long practice of the
re-employment of some government workers upon their retirement.
At least 21 people died and 20 others were injured after
a bus and a fuel tanker collided in central Iran, officials say.
RUSSIA, SYRIA, ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON & IRAN.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Tuesday that
Israel would keep acting against its arch foe Iran in Syria, after a
Russian aircraft was accidentally downed there by Syria during an
Israeli missile strike.
CHINA & IRAN
Iran's close ties to China leave Tehran vulnerable to
criticism as Beijing cracks down on Muslim minority groups.
GULF STATES, YEMEN, & IRAN
Saudi Arabia's cabinet of ministers held a session on
Tuesday chaired by King Salman in which they called for joint efforts
in countering Iranian's terror activities in the region.
The Saudi government accused on Tuesday Iran of
practicing the ugliest form of terrorism through its blatant meddling
in the affairs of Arab countries and support for terrorist
militias.
IRAQ & IRAN
The United States' economic and diplomatic pressure on
Iran is expected to reach its crescendo in early November with the
imposition of oil and gas sanctions. The Iraqi Kurds who were
punished by Tehran and snubbed by Washington last year following
their ill-conceived referendum for independence are under extensive
pressure to choose a side in this international affray.
MISCELLANEOUS
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Tuesday asked the
Department of Justice to launch an investigation into former
Secretary of State John Kerry's private meetings with top Iranian
officials, which Trump administration officials have characterized as
undermining U.S. interests.
Donald Trump sees next week's main session of the United
Nations General Assembly as a chance to condemn Iran for spreading
what he's called "chaos and terror" through the Middle
East. But many key U.S. allies will likely use the global forum to
present Trump himself as a threat to world peace.
The Iranian film for next year's Oscars has stirred
controversy at home both over the choice of a downbeat movie and for
taking part in the Hollywood spectacle at a time of tense
Tehran-Washington ties.
Ehsan Yarshater, an eminent Iranian historian who
founded and edited the Encyclopedia Iranica, a magnum opus of Iranian
history and culture that helped transform the modern understanding of
Persian civilization, died on Sept. 2 in Fresno, Calif.
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