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Iranian plot against Saudi ambassador uncovered
Obama administration announces it has uncovered a plot orchestrated by Iran to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States. Iranian agents allegedly tried to hire a Mexican drug cartel hit squad to kill Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir. -
IAEA reports signs of Iranian nuclear weapons ambitions.
International Atomic Energy Agency reports several experiments conducted by Iran appear to be directed at developing a nuclear weapon. The experiments included testing of high-explosives and computer modeling which would be only applicable to nuclear weapons research. <a href='http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/07/idINIndia-60367120111107' target="blank">See the story here.</a> -
West increases pressure on Iran with sanctions.
US and allies attempt to isolate Iran's financial system after IAEA report finds evidence of Iran's nuclear ambitions. <a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/world/middleeast/iran-stays-away-from-nuclear-talks.html' target="_blank">See story here.</a> -
UK embassy raided in Tehran
The United Kingdom’s embassy in Tehran is raided by an angry mob after London announced new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. The UK closed its embassy in response and expelled Iranian ambassadors from London. France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands also closed their embassies temporarily. -
West reacts to UK embassy attack
EU freezes assets of 180 Iranian officials and companies. Britain and France call for an oil embargo.
<a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/world/middleeast/britain-closure-embassy-iran-expel-diplomats.html' target="_blank">See the story here.</a> -
Iran reports capture of U.S. drone aircraft.
The United Kingdom’s embassy in Tehran is raided by an angry mob after London announced new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. The UK closed its embassy in response and expelled Iranian ambassadors from London. France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands also closed their embassies temporarily. -
Signs of nuclear arms race in Middle East
Saudi Prince says Saudi Arabia might be forced to develop nuclear weapons should both Iran and Israel build atomic arsenals.
<a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-may-seek-nuclear-weapons-prince-says.html' target="_blank">See story here.</a> -
Turkey intercepts nuclear weapons materials destined for Iran
Turkey says it has intercepted materials being sent to Iran to supply its nuclear program but does not reveal what the materials were or where they were being sent from.
See the story here. -
U.S. imposes sanctions against Iran's Central Bank
U.S. Congress passes tough sanctions against Iran’s Central Bank and other financial institutions that do business with it. -
Iran invites IAEA to nuclear talks
An Iranian envoy extends an invitation to International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. Western nations view the invitation skeptically as a ploy to buy time and ease international pressure and sanctions.<a href='http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/uk-nuclear-iran-talks-idUKTRE7BJ17320111220' target="_blank">See story here.</a> -
Iran rattles saber in Straight of Hormuz.
Iran begins 10 days of naval maneuvers in the Strait of Hormuz to practice closing the strait, a critical chokepoint of international oil trade.
<a href='http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-23/iran-navy-to-hold-exercises-east-of-hormuz-strait-fars-says.html' target="_blank">See story here.</a> -
Iran announces progress in nuclear program
Iranian scientists announce progress after successfully producing Iran's first nuclear fuel rod.
<a href='http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/01/iran-nuclear-fuel-rod-missile.html' target="_blank">See story here.</a> -
Iranian nuclear scientist killed
Iran reports killing of nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan in terrorist bombing. Many believe Roshen's death was an attack against Iran's nuclear program by Israeli Mossad. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton denied any U.S. involvement in the killing.
<a href='http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16501566' target="_blank" >Read this story.</a> -
Iran endures financial consequences of international sanctions
President Ahmadinejad announces a raise in bank interest rates from 12.5 to 21 percent. The value of the rial to the American dollar dropped almost 50 percent from December until January as sanctions against the imports of Iranian oil tightened and Iranians traded rial for Amerian dollars and gold. At 21 percent, the interest rate is barely above Iran’s official inflation rate of 20.6 percent. -
Israeli journalist predicts Israel to attack Iran
Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman predicts Israel will attack Iran in 2012.
<a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/magazine/will-israel-attack-iran.html?pagewanted=all' target="_blank">See the story.</a> -
IAEA talks in Iran
The International Atomic Energy Agency holds talks in Tehran from January 29 to 31. IAEA expresses concerns over ambiguities as to the military dimension of Iran's nuclear program. No agreements were reached during talks.
<a href='http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/mediaadvisory/2012/ma201202.html' target-"_blank">Read this release.</a>I -
Ahmadinejad looks to Palestine
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya meet in Tehran. Ahmandinejad says it is every Muslim’s duty to support Palestine resistance movement. -
Iranian nuclear program goes increasing underground
Iran's uranium enrichment program is revealed to have increased its production capacity at Fordo underground facility. The facility is said to increase the speed at which Iran would be able to produce nuclear warheads. <a href='http://www.newsday.com/news/world/iran-uranium-enrichment-said-to-be-growing-1.3541198' target="blank">See the story.</a> -
Oil exports stopped to England, France
Iranian government orders a halt on oil exports to Britain and France in retaliation to their participation in the EU's tightening sanctions against Iran's nuclear enrichment ambitions.
<a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/20/world/middleeast/iran-halts-oil-shipments-to-britain-and-france.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast' target="_blank">Read this story.</a> -
U.S. intelligence says no nuclear proof
U.S. intelligence analysts say there is no "hard evidence" that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program.
<a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/25/world/middleeast/us-agencies-see-no-move-by-iran-to-build-a-bomb.html' target="_blank">Read this story.</a> -
Inspectors say uranium missing
International inspectors say a discrepancy in Iran's laboratory figures might indicate some uranium is missing. The unaccounted for amount is too small to build a weapon, but some speculate the missing material might have been used for weapons research. <a href='http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/25/us-nuclear-iran-uranium-idUSTRE81O08V20120225' target="_blank" >Read this story</a> -
U.S. touts bunker-buster bombs
The U.S. claims its newest weapon, called the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, could break through Iran's subterranean bunkers.
<a href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/experts-irans-underground-nuclear-sites-not-immune-to-us-bunker-busters/2012/02/24/gIQAzWaghR_story.html' target="_blank" >Read this story.</a> -
Ahmandinejad losing grip on political power?
Elections are held for 290 parliamentary seats in Iran. With 75 percent of the seats going to supporters of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some analysts say Ahmandinejad, a secular leader, might be losing power to religious hardliners. Many members of the reformist Green Party abstained from voting because only nonconservative candidates were not allowed onto the ballot. -
Iran's advanced cement might be inpenetrable
The Economist reports on the toughest building material in the world: Iran's cement. Against this, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the Massive Ordnance Penetrator might not be effective against Iranian underground bunkers.
<a href='http://www.economist.com/node/21548918' target="_blank">Read this story.</a> -
Obama and Netanyahu meet
Netanyahu visits Washington to drum up support for drawing harder line on Iran. Obama encourages Israel to give sanctions more time and discourages "Loose Talk of War." -
Supreme Council of Cyberspace created
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei creates the Supreme Council of Cyberspace to oversee internet usage in order to protect Iranians from dangers on the Web.
<a target=_"blank" href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iranian-leader-orders-creation-of-internet-oversight-agency-in-bid-to-control-web/2012/03/07/gIQAlpYawR_story.html' >Read this story.</a> -
Netanyahu addresses Jewish-Americans
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. Describing what he sees as the clear ambitions of Iran’s nuclear program to develop weapons, he says, “If it looks like a duck, if it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, what is it? What is it? It’s a duck.”
