The New York Times ran an interesting editorial today titled “Iran, the Deal and the Council.” After laying out the details of the recent nuclear fuel swap deal negotiated by Iran with Brazil and Turkey, the anonymous author offers some pointed commentary on the actual significance of the deal (if it comes to fruition) [emphasis […]
Major powers reached an agreement on the fourth round of sanctions against Iran. Tehran dismissed the new UN sanctions regimen, saying the sanctions will be “discredited.”
Tony Badran from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies reports in NOW Lebanon that Kuwaiti and Saudi officials have unearthed a group of Iranian agents allegedly tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and living on Kuwaiti soil. In light of this recent security breach, the Kuwaiti government is prepared to move forward […]
US officials expressed skepticism over the proposed new Iranian fuel swap deal with Turkey. Ayatollah Khamenei called for Tehran to expand its ties in Africa. Iran expanded its non-oil export sector in the past quarter.
Last week, the Hoover Institution at Stanford University hosted Fouad Ajami on its weekly interview program, Uncommon Knowledge. In one of the more interesting segments, interviewer Peter Robinson asked Dr. Ajami about the goals of the Iranian regime and what chances the opposition has of success: I’m worried about people who believe that Twitter and […]
Tehran agreed to Brazil’s proposal to send uranium to Turkey as part of a fuel swap. Ayatollah Khamenei urged unity in Muslim opposition to Israel. Zimbabwe’s President Mugabe arrived in Tehran for a state visit.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps will increase control of Iran’s energy sector. President Ahmadinejad said a new round of Western sanctions would ruin Iran’s relationship with the US. Brazil offered to mediate a nuclear fuel swap deal. Tehran began new “Velayat 89” war games in the Persian Gulf.
President Ahmadinejad called for the UN to reprimand the US for nuclear aggression. US Secretary of Defense Gates said Iran is seeking to challenge US naval supremacy in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian navy announced new war games will commence in the next few weeks.
President Ahmadinejad said “Iran does not need to gain the West’s trust.” Ahmad Motamehdi, a former reformist minister, was wounded in knife attack. Iran will launch two telecommunication satellites in 2010.
Iran’s deputy president threatened to “cut Israel’s legs off should it dare to attack Lebanon or Syria.” The US will grant a visa to President Ahmadinejad for IAEA’s Non-Proliferation Treaty summit next week at the UN headquarters in New York City.
The US is planning to soften sanctions on Iran. President Ahmedinejad will speak at the IAEA’s conference on the NPT. Tehran’s police chief said law enforcement will crack down on suntanned women.
Israeli Ambassador to US Oren hinted that a strike on Iran is on the table. Desmond Tutu called for Tehran to release US hikers from captivity. Opposition leaders in Iran called for protests on June 12 to commemorate the 2009 election.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki is hopeful for a nuclear fuel-swap deal with the West. Iranian Defense Minister Vahidi said the “Great Prophet 5” war games conducted in the Strait of Hormuz last weekend were a success.
Opposition leader Mousavi called ruling clerics “corrupt, despotic rulers.” President Mugabe denied that Zimbabwe signed a uranium mining agreement with Iran. The government eased investment restrictions in an attempt to counter sanctions.
In the wake of a nuclear summit in Washington, D.C., and a counter-nuclear summit with various non-aligned nations in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran has begun a three-day military exercise in the Persian Gulf called “Great Prophet 5.” In the lead-up to the military exercise, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that President Obama’s nuclear summit […]
Tehran agreed to better monitoring by the IAEA for new enrichment sites. President Mugabe of Zimbabwe voiced support for Iran’s nuclear program. Iran began day two of its “Great Prophet 5” war games.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei decried “atomic threats against Iranian people” which were allegedly made by the US president. The Pentagon said a military attack on Iran is “still on the table.” Defense Minister Vahidi said Iran has no plans to construct an ICBM capable of reaching the United States.
General James Cartwright said the US will not stop the Iranian nuclear weapons program without “boots on the ground.” The Revolutionary Guards will stage a three-day military exercise in the Strait of Hormuz this weekend. Turkey offered to mediate between the West and Iran.
A US Defense Department report said Iran may be able to hit the United States with an ICBM by 2015. Iran began work on a new nuclear enrichment site. Iran’s foreign minister said that the proposed nuclear fuel swap is a chance to build trust with the West.
US Defense Secretary Gates said that the news media mischaracterized his January memo on Iran that was leaked last week. US Secretary of State Clinton warned of “regional conflict” if UN sanctions are not imposed on Tehran. Iran’s nuclear summit urged Israel to abandon nuclear weapons. US Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen said diplomacy is the […]
Malaysia cut off Iran’s gasoline supplies. The five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany accelerated negotiations on a new round of sanctions against Iran. Ex-president Khatami has been barred from leaving Iran.
The US is willing to consider a weaker regimen of sanctions on Iran. Top US military leaders said Iran could have nuclear fuel for a weapons program in a year and a nuclear weapon in 2-5 years. A Pentagon report said that Iran has the military resources to barricade the Persian Gulf. The UN Security […]
US Secretary of Defense Gates said Iran is at least a year away from producing a nuclear weapon. The US intelligence community said Iran won’t be capable of a nuclear weapon for 3-5 years. Iranian military officials defied the clerical leadership over punishing anti-government protesters.
Iran’s army chief said that Tehran will attack US troops in the Middle East if attacked. The United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany, and China will meet in New York this month to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei offered support for President Ahmadinejad’s plan to cut federal subsidies to the economy. Ahmadinejad called President Obama an “inexperienced amateur” and criticized the new US nuclear force posture.
Iran’s foreign spokesman said that Tehran is ready to renew negotiations. President Obama said that Iran and North Korea are “outliers” to his new nuclear posture review. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei called for “unity and harmony” among government figures in Tehran.
An Iranian envoy called for further negotiations on its nuclear program while in Beijing. Tehran hosted two Shia Iraqi political delegates. Former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton criticized the Obama administration’s Iran policy.
China agreed to make steps toward supporting new sanctions on Iran. Tehran sent its chief nuclear negotiator to Beijing to discuss the threat of new sanctions. The US navy reportedly test-fired Trident missiles in a military exercise with the Saudi military; the US Navy denied the report.
An Iranian nuclear scientist defected to the US and has provided intelligence to the CIA. President Obama demanded a new sanctions deadline of “weeks, not months” for Iran. A US official said that “Iran is not leaving China much room to stand on.”
Turkey disagreed with the US and EU’s decision to implement new sanctions. A new CIA report said that Iran is capable of producing nuclear weapons. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei urged new steps toward industrializing Iran.