Author Archives: Austin Knuppe

President Ahmadinejad announced that Iran is now a “nuclear state.” Iranian fuel consumption has fallen by 20 percent one week after the government ended petroleum subsidies.

Casualties in Iran’s latest earthquake rose to 40. Lebanese members of parliament denounced Supreme Leader Khamenei’s comments on the investigation of the assassination of Rafiq Hariri. Iran boosted the domestic production of gasoline to 1 billion liters.

Iran executed 11 Jundallah suspects in connection with recent bombings. Petroleum prices quadrupled after the government ended subsidies. Adm. Mullen reassured Gulf allies that the US will prevent Iranian military hegemony in the Persian Gulf.

Two Iranian-Americans were charged with executing a money laundering scheme to send money to Iran. Tehran arrested eight suspects in connection with the Chabahar suicide bombing.

Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki is concerned about a possible oil deal between Chevron and Iran on the Iran-Iraq border. An American citizen is accused of trying to sell military equipment to Russia and Iran. Russia announced plans to team up with Iran to fight terror. International sanctions have forced Iran to reduce its aid to […]

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has designated Ali Akbar Salehi, his nuclear chief and ally, as ‘caretaker’ foreign minister, replacing Manouchehr Mottaki. King Abdullah of Jordan plans to meet with the Iranian president. Israeli Defense Minister Barak traveled to the US to discuss Iran and Mideast diplomacy.

President Ahmadinejad fired Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki. Iran conducted a large military ground exercise near the Iraqi border. Iranian MPs called on the government to downgrade diplomatic relations with Britain.

The IAEA complained about a lack of Iranian cooperation in the lead-up to Dec. 5 negotiations. Tehran will take further security precautions for nuclear scientists in country. Foreign Minister Mottaki said that Iran is a perfect model of a developing country.

Secretary of State Clinton said new talks with Iran should focus on Tehran’s nuclear program. Dubai’s director of economic development said his country will not curb trade with Iran. The government closed offices in Tehran due to heavy air pollution.

Tehran said released Wikileaks documents reinforce its skepticism of Obama’s negotiation strategy over the Iranian nuclear program. Beirut endorsed Iran’s civilian nuclear research program.

Two car bombings in Tehran killed one Iranian nuclear scientist and injured another; Iran claimed the attacks were planned by US and Israel. The new Wikileaks release contains sensitive information on how Iran’s neighbors view its nuclear program. Iran’s ambassador to Russia claimed that Tehran does not need to buy North Korean missiles to defend […]

Iran plans to insist on nuclear proliferation rights at the Dec. 5 meeting with Western governments. Tehran donated funds for rebuilding and project development in the Gaza Strip. The EU passed a resolution urging the US to remove People’s Mujahideen of Iran from the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

Iranian officials rejected Western media claims that Iran has halted uranium enrichment due to technical problems. The Israeli government backed off threatening Iran, but increased pressure on the US to attack to halt Iranian proliferation.

The Iranian parliament moved to impeach Ahmadinejad; conservative allies see him as a “liability.” Gambia cut diplomatic ties with Iran. Tehran denied that the Stuxnet virus affected its nuclear program. Police issued an arrest warrant for ex-President Rasfanjani’s son.

Tehran launched air defense missiles as part of the recently completed war games. A trial date has been set for the three American hikers imprisoned in Iran. Nuclear talks between Iran and the West are set for Dec. 5 in Geneva.

A UN committee condemned human rights violations in Iran. Tehran claimed that a foreign plane violated Iranian air space before the commencement of war games. India chastised Iran over remarks about Kashmir.

Iran began a three-day-long air defense war game. Iran and Azerbaijan will increase energy cooperation. BP shut down the Rhum gas field in Aberdeen because the joint venture with Iranian Oil Company violated international sanctions.

New research on the Stuxnet worm demonstrated that it was designed to infect equipment used in uranium enrichment. Tehran will launch a five-day air defense war game. Iran said the NATO missile shield serves Israeli interests.

Tehran arrested five human rights lawyers for “security-related offenses.” Iranian representative to OPEC blamed the US dollar for oil price instability. The military announced upgrades to Iranian defensive radar and missile systems.

The US and the European Union agreed to resume nuclear talks with Iran on Dec. 5. The IAEA deflected Iranian criticism by arguing that inspection information on nuclear sites is kept confidential. the UN reported that North Korea is supplying Iran, Myanmar, and Syria with banned nuclear and ballistics equipment.

President Ahmadinejad said that Western pressure on Iran’s nuclear program has had no impact. Iran and Venezuela are exploring the possibility of constructing a an alternative passage to the Panama Canal. Tehran was denied a seat on the new UN agency for woman’s rights.

Tehran proposed two dates for resumed nuclear negotiations. Iran will test-fire a domestically-manufactured version of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. A UN report demonstrated North Korean support for the Syrian, Iranian, and Burmese nuclear programs.

Tehran suggested resuming nuclear talks this month in Turkey. The foreign minister announced that Iran supports the formation of an Asian Union. Iran is turning to China for help in continued development of petroleum reserves.

US Defense Secretary Gates rebuffed Israeli calls for credible threats of military force against Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran signed a visa-free travel agreement with Georgia.

Cuba and Iran criticized the human rights record of the United States at the UN. Tehran arrested four Kurds who are alleged to have the support of the British government. Tehran blocked public access to former President Khatami’s website.

Tehran postponed the trial of three US hikers imprisoned in Iran. Opposition leader Mousavi criticized President Ahmadinejad over energy and food subsidy plans. THe Chinese foreign minister called for a resumption of nuclear talks with Iran.

The Iranian Embassy in Nigeria refused to comment on the recent arms seizure in Lagos. The Russian foreign minister called on Iran to resume nuclear talks. President Ahmadinejad congratulated Rousseff on her presidential election win in Brazil.

The EU announced that Iran is ready to resume talks about its nuclear program. General Petraeus called Tehran’s payments to Afghan government “disingenuous.” Singapore agreed to enforce shipping sanctions on Iran.

The US and the EU are preparing a new offer to Iran over its nuclear program. Tehran applied for a position on the new UN initiative for women. Nigerian law enforcement seized 13 containers of Iranian weapons at the port of Lagos.

Tehran has expanded its economic influence in Iraq. The Israeli military is developing plans to respond to a nuclear-armed Iran.