Al-Arbaia -Iraq is no stranger to foreign influence in its politics, economy and way of life. It has been the crossroads for trade between Asia, Europe and Africa from time immemorial.

Radiofarda – As the Iranian budget is submitted to parliament, few expect full clarity and transparency in the budget approval process this year.

Reuters  – Saudi Arabia’s energy minister said he wasn’t confident OPEC would reach a deal on Friday to cut oil output as sources said the producer group’s leader had yet to agree exemptions for sanctions-hit Iran.

Radiofarda – U.S. President Donald Trump in brief remarks at the White House on December 6 said he will never allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.

Radiofarda – Some 95 members of Iran’s parliament (Majles), including 22 prominent reformists, have tabled a motion on Sunday December 2 that would tighten Iranian government’s grip on domestic and foreign messaging services. The reformists have been harshly criticized on social media for the move.

Radiofarda – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused “foreign-backed terrorists” for attacks Thursday in the port city of Chabahar that killed two people and wounded around 40 others.

Radiofarda – Iran’s most senior nuclear official expressed hope on December 6 that by the end of the year Europe will deliver on a proposed mechanism to continue trade with Iran and save the nuclear deal.

Reuters – Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd’s chief financial officer was arrested as part of a U.S. investigation of an alleged scheme to use the global banking system to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran, according to people familiar with the probe.

Radiofarda – Several MPs from the Mazandaran province on the Caspian Sea in northern Iran have denounced President Hassan Rouhani’s recent decision to transfer water from the Caspian Sea to the parched province of Semnan as “unscientific” and “impractical,” with irrevocably damaging consequences for the region’s ecology and economy.

Al-Arabia – At least three people were killed in a bomb attack in Iran’s southeastern port city of Chabahar on Thursday, state TV reported, adding that many others were injured.