NYT: “The world’s global nuclear inspection agency, frustrated by Iran’s refusal to answer questions, revealed for the first time on Tuesday that it possesses evidence that Tehran has conducted work on a highly sophisticated nuclear triggering technology that experts said could be used for only one purpose: setting off a nuclear weapon. The disclosure by the International Atomic Energy Agency was buried inside a nine-page report on the progress of Iran’s nuclear program. The agency did not say where the evidence came from, nor did it provide many details about the allegations. Statistics in the report also indicated that Iran has begun to recover from the effects of the Stuxnet computer worm, which first struck the country nearly two years ago in an apparent effort to cripple its production of nuclear fuel. Based on recent visits by inspectors, the agency concluded that Iran’s main production site at Natanz is now producing low-enriched uranium at rates slightly exceeding what it produced before being hit by the Stuxnet… The I.A.E.A.’s last report, issued in February, listed seven outstanding questions about work Iran apparently conducted on warhead design. The documents in the hands of the agency raise questions about work on how to turn uranium into bomb fuel, how to cast conventional explosives in a shape that can trigger a nuclear blast, how to make detonators, generate neutrons to spur a chain reaction, measure detonation waves and make nose-cones for missiles. Tuesday’s report gave new details for all seven of the categories of allegations.” http://t.uani.com/jV6fnn

AFP: “The United States on Tuesday announced new sanctions against Iran, targeting foreign firms that the country has relied on for the gasoline and other refined petroleum products its people need. It said the sanctions on seven companies — including those from Venezuela, Singapore and Israel — are part of a new strategy to squeeze Iran’s energy sector and deny it funds for a nuclear program suspected of developing weapons. Washington also imposed sanctions against 16 other firms and individuals, including from China, over trade with Iran, Syria and North Korea in goods or technology that may be used for weapons of mass destruction or missiles. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said all seven firms were involved in the supply of gasoline and other refined petroleum products to Iran. Two firms were previously hit with sanctions for similar reasons… The seven companies are Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), as well as PCCI (Jersey/Iran), Royal Oyster Group (UAE), Speedy Ship (UAE/Iran), Tanker Pacific (Singapore), Ofer Brothers Group (Israel), and Associated Shipbroking (Monaco).” http://t.uani.com/iXhQik

WSJ: “Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Iraq to host U.S. troops beyond the end of the year to maintain stability and keep Iran at bay, echoing the growing concerns of U.S. military officials that the government in Baghdad isn’t moving fast enough to request an extension of the U.S. troop presence. Mr. Gates predicted the U.S. would accede to such a request to send a message to American allies and Iran that the U.S. isn’t withdrawing from the region, he said in remarks to a think tank in Washington on Tuesday. ‘It would be reassuring to the Gulf States. It would not be reassuring to Iran, and that is a good thing,’ Mr. Gates said. Some military officials say that without a continued U.S. presence, Iraq is likely to fall into the orbit of Iran. In a paper released Tuesday, Frederick Kagan, an influential defense analyst, argued that without a continued U.S. presence, Iraq would also be vulnerable to continued insurgent-style attacks from Iran-backed proxies or even a full-scale invasion by Iran… Mr. Kagan, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute who regularly advises military commanders, argued in his paper, which was released Tuesday, that Iraq won’t be able to defend itself against Iran and its agents without a U.S. troop presence. ‘The Iraqi Security Forces will not be able to defend Iraq’s sovereignty, independence from Iran, and internal stability without American assistance, including some ground forces, for a number of years,’ Mr. Kagan wrote. Many Iraqi lawmakers say they believe there is a parliamentary majority in Iraq supporting a continued U.S. troop presence. But the influential pro-Iranian cleric, Moqtada al Sadr, is pushing lawmakers to block a request.” http://t.uani.com/kHsISq