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US officials urged South Korea to reduce oil imports from Iran. The UN’s nuclear monitoring agency plans to send a delegation to Iran by the end of January.

Europe is expected to agree to ban the import of Iranian oil by the end of the month. Saudi Arabia said it could make up for the loss of Iranian oil exports. Iran warned Gulf Arab states they would suffer consequences if they raised oil production to replace Iranian oil.

Iran warned oil-producing Gulf states not to boost production if Iran’s crude exports are affected by Western sanctions. State television said it had evidence the US was behind the killing of the recently slain Iranian nuclear scientist. The US warned Israel not to attack Iran.

The US said Iran would cross a “red line” if it tried to close the Strait of Hormuz. Russia said military intervention in Iran would be a threat to Russia’s own security. Iran said it would discuss allegations it was involved in nuclear weapons work.

Iran called for revenge for the killing of one of its nuclear scientists. Japan agreed to reduce its imports of Iranian oil. The US imposed sanctions on China’s Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp, Iran’s largest supplier of refined petroleum products.

An assassin killed a Iranian scientist involved in its nuclear program. Iran accused the US and Israel; the US denied responsibility. This was the latest in a series of attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists and facilities.

The US has said Iran’s uranium enrichment at an underground bunker was a “further escalation.” Russia expressed regret and concern. Europe and Japan moved forward with plans to cut Iranian oil imports.

The IAEA confirmed Iran has started uranium enrichment in an underground bunker. Iran imposed a death sentence on an American man accused of spying. China rejected sanctions on Iranian oil, but it cut Iranian oil purchases anyway.

President Ahmadinejad will visit Latin America in an attempt to gain local support. The US expelled the Venezuelan consul general over links to an Iranian cyberattack plot. Iran’s Bushehr nuclear reactor will reach full capacity within weeks.

The UK threatened military action if Iran attempted to close the Gulf of Hormuz. Western nations prepared contingency plans in case Iranian oil supplies are cut off. Iran prepared to move uranium enrichment into underground bunkers. Iran mounted a crackdown on internet cafes.

Iran warned US aircraft carriers not to return to the Persian Gulf after the USS Stennis exited the gulf. The US dismissed the warning. France said it was convinced Iran was developing nuclear weapons and called for stricter economic sanctions.

Iran test fired “long-range” shore-to-sea and surface-to-surface missiles, called Qader (Capable) and Nour (Light). The value of Iran’s currency fell 10 percent following new US sanctions against Iran’s central bank. Iran closed a border point with Pakistan after a Pakistani border force detained three Iranian guards for crossing the border and killing a man.

The commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps backed away from recent threats to close Strait of Hormuz. Iran postponed long-range missile tests and signaled it was ready to reopen talks on its nuclear program. The US imposed further sanctions on financial institutions that deal with Iran.

Iran’s navy chief threatened again that his country can easily close the Strait of Hormuz. The US warned Iran that it will not tolerate any disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait. Iran held the first trial session of Amir Mirza Hekmati, who was recently arrested on a charge of spying for the CIA.

Iran said its navy would hold war games beyond the Strait of Hormuz. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the US military was ready to engage in a conflict with Iran if necessary. Sanctions have impacted Iran’s trade ties with Arab Gulf states.

The Gulf Cooperation Council called on Iran to stop interfering in the internal affairs of its members. Western sanctions are inflicting damage on Iran’s economy.

In an apparent reference to Iran, Saudi Arabia said the security of the Gulf states was being targeted. US, Europe, and key Arab states discussed how to maintain stability in the energy markets as a possible precursor to an embargo on Iran’s oil exports. Iran would be unlikely to replace its exports.