The Telegraph online covers candid comments regarding Iran’s nuclear development made yesterday by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the organisation’s board. Yukiya Amano said that despite ten rounds of talks with Tehran since January 2012 over an inspections framework, “To be frank…we have been going round in circles.” Amano also suggested that Iran has already removed traces of illicit activity at the Parchin facility and expressed concern over lack of information on activities at Arak. Meanwhile, the Financial Times and Independent i both report that the United States has introduced another set of sanctions on Iran, restricting the use of the Iranian currency, the rial. In Iran itself, government officials claim to have uncovered a “spy ring” working for the UK and Israel to “sabotage” the country’s upcoming presidential elections, according to the Independent i and Independent online.

The Financial Times online reports that Prime Minister David Cameron is under pressure from MPs from both sides of the house to agree to a vote in the House of Commons prior to any government decision to send arms to moderate opposition groups in Syria. The Telegraph quotes the commander of the opposition Free Syrian Army who says that the Assad regime will not be defeated if Western governments fail to supply his forces with heavy weapons. However, the Independent and sister publication Independent i cover an interview with Foreign Secretary William Hague in a German publication, in which he indicated that a decision on supplying arms to the Syrian opposition would depend on the progress made at proposed US-Russia backed peace talks in Geneva. Meanwhile, six people were killed yesterday in fighting in Lebanon stoked by the Syrian civil war according to the Independent online.

The Times reports that the United States government has inadvertently revealed details about a sensitive Israeli military installation in the publication of a tender for construction of the project. The Guardian and Independent i cover reports in Israel that an unnamed East African country may have agreed to house tens of thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese nationals who have illegally crossed the border with Egypt to take refuge in Israel over the past few years. The Guardian online includes an article discussing the arrival of the England under-21 football team in Israel for the European championships, noting that some have opposed hosting the tournament in Israel. Meanwhile, the Times, Telegraph, Sun and Daily Mirror report that female recruits to the Israeli army have been reprimanded for posting revealing photos of themselves on social media networks.

In the Israeli media, the unrest in Turkey is the headline once again in Yediot Ahronot and is also covered prominently in Israel Hayom and Haaretz. Yediot Ahronot commentator Nahum Barnea compares the demonstrations in Turkey with widespread social street protests in Israel during the summer of 2011.

Meanwhile, the top story in Maariv, Israel Hayom, Haaretz and Makor Rishon is the potential impact of significant cuts to the defence budget. The IDF announced yesterday that the restrictions will mean that reserve duty will be severely restricted for the remainder of 2013, in the hope of an improved financial outlook in 2014. Both Haaretz and Maariv highlight the concerns of Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon who is quoted saying that the budget cuts will have a “serious and immediate impact,” describing it as a “crisis situation.”

Maariv follows up on the story that it ran yesterday, suggesting that an agreement had been reached for an unnamed African country to house tens of thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese nationals who illegally crossed the border with Egypt to enter Israel over the last few years. However, today’s report includes a denial of such an arrangement by Foreign Ministry officials, who pointed out that Israel’s High Court would likely reject  an initiative of this nature.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio news says that Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is leading Israel’s peace efforts with the Palestinians, met yesterday in Washington with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is expected to visit the region again next week.