For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and the Cradle, and to commentary from Indian Punchline accompanied by brief video from Forbes; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 6  U.S. imposes sanctions on network that helps ship Iranian oil to China, by Fatima Hussen | AP  WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Treasury on Thursday imposed sanctions on a network of more than a dozen people and firms that are accused of facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 6  ‘Iran not seeking nuclear weapons’: Pezeshkian. From the Cradle. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday his nation is not seeking to possess nuclear weapons, adding that verifying his claim “is an easy task.” READ MORE . . .

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Trump revives ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran but adds a message on U.S.-Iran deal, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  Extremely unlikely events can be expected, metaphorically called ‘black swans’. The so-called ‘black swan theory’ characterises events that come as a surprise, have a major effect, but can be rationalised only . . . Click HERE for article and Feb. 4 Forbes video.