Michael GoldfarbJanuary 23, 2012 12:49

EU's Iran oil embargo: reactions

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The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its battle group have been on patrol in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has threatened to close the Strait in response to EU sanctions on the import of Iranian oil. (U.S. Navy/AFP/Getty Images)

Is the Iran oil embargo another staggering step towards war?

The EU's Iran oil embargo had been expected but that doesn't mean it won't significantly up the temperature.

Julian Borger at The Guardian has a lengthy essay on what this means and how the EU action might lead Iran to indulge in " ... harassment of the oil trade that would drive the price of crude up and keep it up, very much to Iran's benefit, but fall short of a casus belli for war. However, exercising such options requires subtlety and fine judgment on all sides and that is by no means a given. "

European Union agrees to Iran oil sanctions

News DeskJanuary 23, 2012 06:41

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said sanctions were designed to "try and make sure that Iran takes seriously our request to come to the table."

Michael GoldfarbJanuary 23, 2012 05:34

Greece: Debt deal done? Falling apart?

Greece and its creditors were close to deal on Friday but have hit a snag

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Managing Director of the Institute of International Finance Charles Dallara (L) and senior advisor to France's BNP Paribas Jean Lemierre leave the Greek Prime minister's office after talks in Athens last Friday (LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images)

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Today was supposed to be the day Greece and its private bondholders reached a deal on how big a write down, or "haircut," the creditors would take.

But talks broke-up over the weekend and the outcome is not clear, as Greek newspaper eKathimerini reports.

Noga TarnopolskyJanuary 18, 2012 17:31

Israeli official denies plans to attack Iran's nuclear facilities

Ehud Barak, Israel's defense minister, said Israel is "very far" from any decision to attack Iran.

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Iranian Navy boats take part in maneuvers during navy exercises in the Strait of Hormuz this month. Today, the U.S. navy rescued 13 Iranian sailors from pirates. (EBRAHIM NOROOZI/AFP/Getty Images)

JERUSALEM — Despite a lack of concrete developments since last week’s mysterious assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran, Iran and its nuclear ambitions continue to dominate diplomatic discourse here.

Ehud Barak, Israel’s defense minister, came closer Wednesday than any other Israeli figure to an official denial of any plans to overtly attack Iranian nuclear installations, saying that Israel is “very far from” any such decision.

Russia warns West against 'catastrophic' attack on Iran

News DeskJanuary 18, 2012 11:04

Russia would "do everything" in its power to prevent such an attack, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

US, Israel postpone war games scheduled for spring

Lillian RizzoJanuary 16, 2012 15:09

CIA killed Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan: Iran

Kyle KimJanuary 14, 2012 14:25

Tehran sent a diplomatic letter to US Saturday, claiming it has evidence that the CIA is responsible behind the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan.

Anti-US, Israel chants at Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan's funeral

Lillian RizzoJanuary 13, 2012 12:56

“Death to America!” “Death to Israel” the crowd shouted as they left their weekly prayers at Tehran University, where the dead scientist was a hailed a martyr in the tradition of Imam Hussein, a revered Shiite Muslim, Reuters reported.

Strait of Hormuz: US warns Iran to keep the waterway open

Lillian RizzoJanuary 13, 2012 12:11

The president contacted the supreme leader through a secret channel of communication. Officials declined to describe the unusual contact between the two governments, or the possibility of an Iranian spy, The Times reported.

Noga TarnopolskyJanuary 12, 2012 12:06

Iran intelligence source promises retaliation "beyond Iran"

An unnamed official threatens war while Ahmadinejad said Iran wants "justice"

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Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. (ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)

Israeli media are reporting an Iranian threat on Israeli targets worldwide.

The semi-official Raja News is quoted in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Acharonoth quoting an Iranian intelligence source saying that the Islamic Republic's retaliation over the assassination will “reach beyond Iran and beyond the region.”