A risky bid on tough Iran sanctions: What We're Reading Now
Feb 15, 2012

IRAN

A risky bid on tough Iran sanctions
Julie Pace and Anne Gearan, Associated Press - February 15, 2012
The United States and Europe are considering unprecedented punishment against Iran that could immediately cripple the country's financial lifeline. But that extreme option in the banking world would come with costs.

Iran Leader to Announce Atomic Steps
Rick Gladstone, New York Times - February 14, 2012
Iran signaled on Tuesday that it had made further advances in the country’s disputed nuclear energy program, announcing that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would reveal “key nuclear achievements” on Wednesday. An Iranian news agency said he was likely to proclaim that a new uranium enrichment plant built inside a mountain near the holy city of Qum was “fully operational.”

Blasts in Bangkok Add to Suspicions About Iran
Thomas Fuller and Rick Gladstone, New York Times - February 14, 2012
A series of explosions rocked a residential neighborhood here on Tuesday, leading the Thai authorities to a cache of bombs in a rented house and the capture of two men who the Thai police said carried Iranian passports. Thai officials said that two other suspects, whom they believed to be Iranians, were being sought, and that one of them had fled to neighboring Malaysia.

MIDDLE EAST

U.S. Steps Up Watch of Syria Chemical Weapons
Adam Entous and Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal - February 15, 2012
The U.S. and some Mideast allies are intensifying surveillance of Syria's chemical and biological depots amid fears that the weapons could go loose if unrest escalates out of control.

Europe bans Iranian oil imports in push to curtail nuclear program: What We're Reading Now
Jan 23, 2012

IRAN

Europe bans Iranian oil imports in push to curtail nuclear program
Edward Cody, The Washington Post - January 23, 2012
Europe banned the import of Iranian oil Monday and froze Europe-based assets of the Central Bank of Iran, intensifying an international campaign to choke Iran’s economy and force the radical Islamic government to dispel fears that it is working to develop nuclear weapons.

U.S. aircraft carrier sails through strategic Strait of Hormuz
David S. Cloud, Los Angeles Times - January 22, 2012
A U.S. aircraft carrier sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the first transit since Iran warned American ships this year against using the strategic waterway.

Iran gets the message from Washington
David Ignatius, The Washington Post - January 20, 2012
The Iran nuclear crisis is far from over, but Tehran appears to have made a subtle blink — backing away from its threat a few weeks ago to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to escalating U.S. sanctions.

"What we know suggests the development of nuclear weapons'
Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic - January 20, 2012
Yukiya Amano, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is not shrinking in the face of Iranian denials. Once again, he has asserted his suspicions that Iran's goal is a nuclear-weapons capability.

Handsome accordion player is North Korea's kingmaker: What We're Reading Now
Dec 23, 2011

IRAN
Iran Navy to Hold War Games Near Crucial Sea Lanes
Rick Gladstone, The New York Times -- December 22, 2011
Iran put neighbors on notice Thursday that it was about to conduct vast naval exercises in the Arabian Sea, including war games near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for international oil traffic.

Bill Clinton says US must mull all options on Iran
Associated Foreign Press -- December 22, 2011
Former US president Bill Clinton said in a television interview to be shown Wednesday that President Barack Obama should not rule out military action on Iran, but there might be other ways "to skin the cat."

NORTH KOREA
North Korea Warns South to Respect Late Leader
Voice of America -- December 23, 2011
North Korea accused the South Friday of an intolerable response to the death of supreme leader Kim Jong Il by expressing sympathy for the North Korean people, but deciding not to send a government delegation to Kim's funeral next week.

Handsome accordion player is North Korea's kingmaker
Jack Kim, Reuters -- December 23, 2011
The power behind the throne in North Korea was a dashing accordion player in his youth, whose life changed when he met the daughter of autocratic founder Kim Il-Sung at university and wooed and married her despite the dictator's opposition.

Exclusive: North Korea's military to share power with Kim's heir: What We're Reading Now
Dec 21, 2011

IRAN
Top general says Iran shouldn't 'miscalculate our resolve'
Barbara Starr, CNN -- December 20, 2011
As Gen. Martin Dempsey toured around the globe over the last eight days, one issue was prominent -- Iran's nuclear intentions. Dempsey, in an exclusive interview with CNN, warned that Iran is playing a dangerous game that could ensnare the Middle East, the United States and others into conflict and a renewed nuclear arms race. From Iraq to Afghanistan, Kuwait to Saudi Arabia, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff heard about growing concerns about Iran's ambitions.

Diplomats agree to increase pressure on Iran
Roberto Landucci and Philip Pullella, Reuters -- December 21, 2011
Diplomats from the United States, the European Union and other allies agreed on Tuesday to step up pressure on Iran to force it to resume talks over its nuclear program, an Italian diplomatic source said.

NORTH KOREA
Why U.S.-China Strategic Competition Is Unlikely to Help Manage North Korea’s Transition
Tony Karon, Time -- December 21, 2011
The growing geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China makes prospects for productive partnership in managing North Korea much less likely.

Who Has North Korea’s Nuclear 'Football'? Few Have an Answer
Elaine M. Grossman, National Journal -- December 20, 2011
On the heels of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s death, outside experts seem more uncertain than ever about who retains control over the hermit nation’s nuclear weapons or authority for their potential use.

North Korea's nuclear program
Suzanne Kelly and Pam Benson, CNN -- December 20, 2011
When it comes to assessing the future of North Korea's nuclear position and potential threat under a new leader, even the experts describe this transfer of power as an interesting predicament.

Exclusive: North Korea's military to share power with Kim's heir
Benjamin Kang Lim, Reuters -- December 21, 2011
North Korea will shift to collective rule from a strongman dictatorship after last week's death of Kim Jong-il, although his untested young son will be at the head of the ruling coterie, a source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing said.

Syria crackdown has killed 5,000 people, UN says: What We're Reading Now
Dec 13, 2011

IRAN
Israeli aide: U.S. will lose standing if Iran gets nuclear weapons
Ben Birnbaum, The Washington Times -- December 12, 2011
The United States could lose its role as the “main player” in the Middle East if Washington fails to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, according to a special envoy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Iran Rejects US Calls to Return Downed Drone
Voice of America -- December 13, 2011
Iran says the United States should accept its consequences after a U.S. surveillance aircraft went down in Iranian territory earlier this month.  The Obama administration has made a formal request for Iran to return the aircraft, but Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that the U.S. should apologize instead.

NORTH KOREA
US envoy says North Korea 'must change behaviour'
Associated Foreign Press -- December 12, 2011
The United States will consider meeting North Korean officials if they make good on nuclear disarmament pledges, but they first "must change their behaviour", according to a top US envoy.  "The basic, most important point that has to be underscored is that it's really up to North Korea to take the right steps," Glyn Davies, the US special representative on North Korea, told reporters after meeting Japanese officials on Monday.

N Korea furious at South's Christmas lights plan
BBC News -- December 11, 2011
North Korea has warned South Korea of "unexpected consequences" if it lights up a Christmas tree-shaped tower near their tense border.

Blix: NK Not a Topic at Seoul Nuclear Summit: What We're Reading Now
Nov 30, 2011

IRAN
UK to expel all Iranian diplomats over embassy attack
BBC News -- November 30, 2011
The UK is to expel all Iranian diplomats following the storming of its embassy in Tehran, Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced.

European Refiners Wary of Potential Iran Oil Ban
Benoit Faucon, Konstantin Rozhnov and Summer Said, Wall Street Journal -- November 30, 2011
European refiners will struggle to find enough crude oil to replace lost Iranian barrels should a meeting Thursday lead to a European Union ban on oil imports from Iran, a move that will likely also result in higher costs and hit the sector's already shaky competitiveness in the global market.

Iran nuke threat close to crisis point
Joschka Fischer, The Australian -- November 30, 2011
WHILE Europe remains preoccupied with its own slow-motion crisis and other global powers continue to be mesmerised by the bizarre spectacle of European officials' efforts to rescue the euro (and thus the global financial system), clouds of war are massing over Iran once more.

NORTH KOREA
North Korea Reports Progress on New Reactor
Choe Sang-Hun, The New York Times -- November 30, 2011
North Korea reported brisk progress in building a new nuclear reactor and producing enriched uranium on Wednesday. Although the statement appeared to invite international inspectors to verify that the facilities are for peaceful purposes, it was the latest sign that North Korea is pressing ahead with its nuclear program.

Blix: NK Not a Topic at Seoul Nuclear Summit
Evan Ramstad, Wall Street Journal -- November 29, 2011
Hans Blix, the Swedish lawyer and nuclear specialist who led the International Atomic Energy Agency in the 1990s and the U.N. nuclear verification commission a decade ago, was in Seoul Tuesday to meet President Lee Myung-bak and help define the agenda for the 47-nation Nuclear Security Summit to be hosted in Seoul in March.

Domestic Woes Sideline Foreign Policy: What We're Reading Now
Nov 01, 2011

IRAN
Israeli PM warns about danger of nuclear Iran
AP - October 31, 2011
Israel's prime minister says a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a serious threat to the entire world — but particularly to Israel.

Iran Plays Down Likelihood of New Atomic Discussions
Global Security Newswire - October 31, 2011
Further nuclear discussions between Iran and world powers would "not have any meaning" while the United States maintains its confrontational posturing, the Middle Eastern nation's top diplomat said on Saturday (see GSN, Oct. 28).

China’s Iranian Gambit
Michael Singh & Jaqueline Newmyer Deal, Foreign Policy (Blog) - October 31, 2011
Beijing is using the Islamic Republic to foil American interests in the Middle East. It's time we wised up to this dangerous game.

NORTH & SOUTH KOREA
EU legislators to visit S. Korea this week
Yonhap News - November 1, 2011
A delegation of European Union legislators will visit Seoul this week for talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions and other issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Opinion: To deal with Iran’s nuclear future, go back to 2008: What We're Reading Now
Oct 27, 2011

IRAN
Opinion: To deal with Iran’s nuclear future, go back to 2008
Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post -- October 27, 2011
Early in the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama signaled that he was going to break with the Bush administration’s Manichean foreign policy. The topic was Iran. He explained repeatedly that the Bush policy of simply pressuring Iran was not working and that he would be willing to talk to the country’s leaders to find ways to reduce tensions and dangers.

IAEA Pressed to Publish Less Iran Nuclear Data, Diplomats Say
Global Security Newswire -- October 26, 2011
Diplomatic sources on Tuesday affirmed reports that the International Atomic Energy Agency is facing pressure from China and Russia to tone down or withhold a forthcoming safeguards assessment expected to include data reflecting a possible Iranian effort to establish a nuclear deterrent, Agence France-Presse reported.

NORTH KOREA
Diplomacy with North Korea Takes Center Stage in Seoul
Steve Herman, Voice of America -- October 27, 2011
The South Korean capital is again the focal point for intensified diplomacy concerning North Korea and its nuclear weapons and missile development.

Pentagon chief says he doubts North Korea will give up on nuclear ambitions
Washington Post -- October 27, 2011
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday he is skeptical that diplomacy will push North Korea to give up its nuclear program, and he raised the prospect of the North’s stance leading to “escalation and confrontation.”

U.S. warns NATO over spending cuts, security: What We're Reading Now
Oct 05, 2011

IRAN
Iran ready to halt 20% nuclear enrichment: Ahmadinejad
AFP – October 5, 2011
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday reiterated Tehran's readiness to "immediately" stop production of low enriched uranium of 20 percent, provided world powers give it the nuclear material.

U.K. Defense Chief Cites Iran's Nuclear Risk
Alistar MacDonald, WSJ – October 4, 2011
U.K. Defense Minister Liam Fox said a nuclear-armed Iran would trigger an arms race in the Middle East, one of the world's most unstable regions. Speaking at the Conservative Party's annual conference, Mr. Fox said Iran was a huge danger to the U.K. and that the world shouldn't rule out any option, including military action, to stop its advance.

Iran Could Boost Uranium Enrichment if Exchange Plan Fails
Global Security Newswire – October 4, 2011
Iran on Tuesday warned it would begin manufacturing atomic fuel at a faster pace if other governments continue to reject an exchange of nuclear material the Middle Eastern nation proposed last year with Turkey and Brazil, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported.

SOUTH & NORTH KOREA
Seoul taps Wi as ambassador to Russia
Kim Young-jin, Korea Times – October 4, 2011
Seoul has tapped its chief nuclear envoy as its new ambassador to Russia, promoting his deputy to take his place, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. Wi, formerly the chief negotiator at the stalled six-party talks on North Korea’s denuclearization, will be replaced by Lim Sung-nam, who has served as diplomatic minister to Beijing.

How Sept. 11 Changed the Nuclear Industry: What We're Reading Now
Sep 09, 2011

IRAN
West Keep's Pressure On Iran's Nuclear Program
Margaret Besheer, Voice of America -- September 07, 2011
Western nations on Wednesday warned that they will not let up their pressure on Iran to comply with international demands that it suspend its nuclear enrichment activities and answer questions about its disputed atomic program.

In shift, Iran's President Calls for End to Syrian Crackdown
Neil MacFarquhar, New York Times -- September 8, 2011
For years, posters celebrating the decades-old alliance joining Syria and Iran festooned the streets and automobiles of the Syrian capital — the images of Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad embroidered with roses and daffodils.

NORTH KOREA
North Korea leader Kim Jong-il appears with Kim Jong-un
BBC News -- September 09, 2011
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il has appeared at national celebrations with his son and heir apparent Kim Jong-un.

North Korea Problem "Very Tough," Obama Nominee Says
Global Security Newswire -- September 8, 2011
The Obama administration's nominee to assume a top spot at the State Department on Wednesday said Washington has "no good choices" in resolving the long-running standoff over North Korea's nuclear weapons work, Agence France-Presse reported.