Blair says Gaza ceasefire must cut off Hamas smugglingWashington, 6 January (IranVNC)—Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair said today that an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip could be secured if the tunnels used to smuggle weapons from Egypt into the coastal Palestinian territory are destroyed.

Israel pushes into south Gaza amid “full-blown” crisisWashington, 6 January (IranVNC)—Israel today expanded its ground offensive deeper into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, which the International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] said was caught in a “full-blown” humanitarian crisis.

Sarkozy says deal may be close to end Gaza fightingWashington, 6 January (IranVNC)—France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy said today that an agreement to end the 11-day-old Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip was “not far”, as international efforts to secure a ceasefire continue.

Russia-Ukraine gas row disrupts supplies to EuropeWashington, 6 January (IranVNC)—Russian gas supplies via Ukraine to the Balkans, Turkey and southeastern Europe were halted this morning amid a deepening price row between Moscow and Kiev.

Security tight as Shiite Muslims in Iraq mark holy daysWashington, 6 January (IranVNC)—Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims today crowded the streets of the central Iraqi city of Kerbala as the ceremonies of the Islamic month of Muharram built toward their climax.

Iran firms told to cut ties with Israeli-held companiesWashington, 6 January (IranVNC)—Iran’s Industries Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian yesterday called on Iranian firms to suspend commercial ties with international companies which may have “Zionist” shareholders, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

Iran, Kuwait cooperating on OPEC cutsWashington, 6 January (IranVNC)—Iran and Kuwait have notified some customers in Asia of bigger oil supply cuts, as both countries join their peers in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries [OPEC] in cutting output to boost oil prices.

Israeli envoy to US: 90% of Hamas capacity from IranWashington, 6 January (IranVNC)—Hamas is an organization that is “connected deeply to Iran”, Israel's ambassador to Washington, Sallai Meridor, said today, adding that 80 to 90 percent of Hamas' capacity is “made, funded or guided” by Iran.

Washington seeks “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza StripWashington, 6 January (IranVNC)—The US today said it was seeking an “immediate ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas, on the condition that it be durable, sustainable and indefinite.

Memo to Obama: Don't separate Iran from greater Middle EastWashington, 5 January (IranVNC)—US President-elect Barack Obama should not “compartmentalize” Iran from other conflicts in the Middle East since they are all interrelated, Middle East expert Kenneth Pollack said today.