U.S. moves to tighten sanctions on Iran

A U.S. House of Representatives committee approved legislation on Wednesday seeking to impose tighter sanctions on Iran, the latest congressional effort to slow development of the Islamic Republic’s disputed nuclear program.

The “Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013″ passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee (more…)

Iran plans to build more nuclear reactors in quake area

Iran plans to build more nuclear power reactors in an earthquake-prone coastal area, Iranian media said on Wednesday, a day after a strong tremor struck the region close to its only existing such plant. (more…)

Iran earthquake death toll rises to 37

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake killed at least 37 and injured hundreds more in a sparsely populated area in southern Iran on Tuesday, Iranian officials said, adding that it did not damage a nuclear plant in the region.

The report said the earthquake struck the town of Kaki 60 miles (96km) south-east of Bushehr (more…)

At least 3 killed in southern Iran quake

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake killed at least three people in a sparsely populated area in the country’s south, state TV reported on Tuesday.

The report said the earthquake struck the town of Kaki some 96 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Bushehr, a town on the Persian Gulf that is home of Iran’s first nuclear power plant. (more…)

Khamenei warns: Iran would destroy Israel if attacked

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Thursday that the Islamic Republic would destroy the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if its nuclear infrastructure came under attack from the Jewish state.

Israel puts little stock in big power negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s uranium enrichment – (more…)

Iranians are both hopeful and fearful as Nowruz nears

The Iranian new year arrives with the first moment of spring on Wednesday afternoon, and many here say they are happy to close the book on the past 12 months.

This year — 1391 on the Persian calendar that Iran uses — was by many accounts the most financially difficult for Iranians since the 1979 inception of the Islamic Republic. (more…)

U.S. to beef up missile defense against North Korea, Iran

The United States will deploy additional ground-based missile interceptors on the West Coast as part of efforts to enhance the nation’s ability to defend itself from attack by North Korea, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Friday. (more…)

Obama tells Israel he will prevent Iran bomb

President Barack Obama has told Israelis that the United States has significant capabilities to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and that he was keeping all options on the table.

In an interview with Israeli television broadcast on Thursday, ahead of his visit next week, Obama said the United States estimated it would take Iran “over a year or so” to develop a nuclear weapon (more…)

North Korea threatens US with pre-emptive nuclear attack

North Korea threatened to exercise its “right to pre-emptive nuclear attack” Thursday as Pyongyang ratcheted up its rhetoric ahead of a United Nations vote on new sanctions.

“Now that the U.S. is set to light a fuse for a nuclear war, the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK will exercise the right to a preemptive nuclear (more…)

Kerry: US will ‘empower’ Syria opposition

US Secretary of State John Kerry said in Riyadh Monday that Washington will work to “empower” Syria’s opposition, while warning arch-foe Iran that time for talk on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions could run out.

Mr Kerry, on his first tour to the region since becoming the Secretary of State, (more…)