The Washington Post published the article headlined “Iran in the Atlantic? Experts say naval reach falls far short.” It says that in the past week, Iran has announced the deployment of ship-based missiles that can target shorelines from international waters, and its naval commander said that Islamic Republic warships could someday be cruising near America’s Atlantic seaboard. While many defense analysts believe such a mission is still far beyond Iran’s naval reach, the current emphasis on maritime forces suggests a growing drive by Tehran to display power beyond the Gulf and the overwhelming presence right on its doorstep of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. Warships flying the Iranian flag already have been sent far beyond the Gulf.
The Guardian reported that one man was killed, and another two were injured in the Syrian city of Homs, as they tried to rescue Bushra Zein, niece of Burhan Ghalioun, according to Wissam Tarif, founder of the human rights activist group Insan. Speaking on feint line from the Turkish Syrian border where he is monitoring events, Tarif said Zein was is one 25 women and girls who have been kidnapped in Homs in the last ten days. He said three men were injured at an army checking point as they tried to rescue Zein from a Taxi she had been driven away in. One of the men died this morning, Tarif said.
“Russia's Putin promotes 'Eurasian Union' in rare article” is an article published by the Turkish information agency Hurriyet Daily News. It says that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called for the unification of post-Soviet states into a "Eurasian Union" in an article published Tuesday on the announcement of his planned return to the Kremlin. Putin's article in the Izvestia daily outlining a grand project to integrate post-Soviet states into closer cooperation comes five months before polls that can put him at the helm of foreign policy decisions for at least six years. The front-page piece, titled "New Eurasian integration project: a future that begins today", sings praises to Russia's economic integration with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Putin called the project a "historic breakthrough" for all post-Soviet states, which would break barriers for business dealings as well as people looking for a job.
Press TV reported that managing director of Iran's Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) Manouchehr Manteqi says Iran plans to export six domestically-built “Iran-140” passenger planes in the near future.“Negotiations have been held with several countries in this respect and we have reached final agreement with one country,” Manteqi told IRNA on Tuesday. Manteqi further said that Iran will export six airplanes in the first stage and 30 airplanes in the next stage. Earlier, the Iranian official said that Iran is planning to become a major aviation industry hub in the region.
