Belfer Iran Brief—U.S. works to free journalists and other news

Highlights

• U.S. Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman declined to guarantee that negotiators would not seek another extension of the interim nuclear deal with Iran. 

• The U.S. has asked Switzerland to assist in securing the release of American journalists recently detained in Iran. 

• Ayatollah Khamenei said at a prayer ceremony that “the Muslim World has a duty to arm the Palestinian nation by all means.”

Diplomacy and nuclear issue

• In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, U.S. Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman declined to guarantee that negotiators would not seek another extension of the interim nuclear deal with Iran. (Reuters, 7/29/14) (Al-Monitor, 7/29/14)

Sanctions and Iran’s economy

• Iran announced that its annual inflation rate fell 2% to 24.2% in the Persian month of Tir, which runs from June 22 to July 22. (PressTV, 7/28/14)

• The U.S. is urging European companies to accelerate shipments of humanitarian materials to Iran. (WSJ, 7/28/14)

• Japan’s imports of Iranian oil remained roughly level in June at 188,685 barrels per day. (Reuters, 7/31/14)

• A U.S. State Department official traveled to South Korea as part of a tour of Asia to continue coordination on sanctions against Iran during the extension of talks. (Korea Herald, 7/28/14)

• An official at the National Iranian Oil Company estimated that extending the interim nuclear deal with the P5+1 saved Iran from a 20% decrease in oil sales. (Tehran Times, 8/1/14)

Iranian domestic politics

• No significant developments.

US-Iran relations

• Newly-approved exports of U.S. crude oil condensates are running into competition from cheaper Iranian condensates. (Reuters, 7/27/14)

• The U.S. has asked Switzerland to assist in securing the release of American journalists recently detained in Iran. (WaPo, 7/28/14) Note: One of the men being held was released, but the other three journalists remain in detention. (Reuters, 7/30/14)

• Many members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee pressed the Obama administration to allow Congress to vote on any final nuclear deal with Iran. (NYT, 7/29/14)

Geopolitics and Iran

• Iran accused Egypt of delaying shipments of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. (Reuters, 7/30/14)

• Iran resumed allowing shipments of oil from Iraqi Kurdistan to cross its border, offering a new revenue stream to the Kurdish government. (Iraq Oil Report, 8/1/14) Note: Reports suggest that Iranian forces entered Kurdistan last week to assist in the fight against ISIS. (Al-Arabiya, 8/1/14)

• Ayatollah Khamenei said at a prayer ceremony that “the Muslim World has a duty to arm the Palestinian nation by all means.” (AP, 7/29/14)

Israel

• No significant developments.

“Red lines,” “points of no return,” and military strikes

• No significant developments.

Uncertain or dubious claims

• No significant claims.