U.S. lawmakers have introduced a new package of unilateral sanctions targeting Iran that would challenge U.S. President Obama's discretionary authority to enforce such sanctions and would impose comprehensive restrictions on foreign entities that ship, refine or...
Obama Imposes New Iran Sanctions as War Chorus Rises
Amid new calls for Washington to attack Iran's nuclear facilities if its diplomatic efforts at curbing Tehran's uranium-enrichment program fail, the United States Wednesday imposed unilateral sanctions against eight senior Iranian officials whom it accused of...
How Smart Are the Iran Sanctions?
In the face of the rising hysteria regarding Iran's development of its nuclear power facilities, there is talk of preemptive military strikes against Iran. Meanwhile, sanctions on Iran – by both the UN Security Council and the United States – have become increasingly...
Sixty Years of Failed North Korea Sanctions
In response to the March 26 sinking of the South Korean ship, the Cheonan, allegedly by a North Korean submarine, the United States is poised to adopt even more stringent sanctions against North Korea. Robert Einhorn, the U.S. State Department's special advisor for...
Sanctions Give China an Advantage in Iran
LONDON -- The European Union's new sanctions against Iran appear to open a new space for eager Chinese companies to expand their investments in a country viewed as a rogue player by much of the western world. With China recently coming to light as Iran's largest trade...
Ending the Gaza Blockade Might Help Israel as Much as Gaza
In the wake of Israel's botched attack on a Turkish ship bringing relief to Gazans from Israel's (and Egypt's) economic blockade of Gaza, the Israelis have responded to intensely negative world opinion by relaxing the blockade. That move may help Israel as much as...
Iran Sanctions May Target Iran’s Middle Class
Although the United States and its allies insist that the latest round of U.N. sanctions against Iran targets high-level government officials rather than the general population, interviews with a number of analysts, activists and journalists in Tehran reveal a growing...
Congress Slows Unilateral Sanctions Drive Against Iran
President Barack Obama's efforts to gain greater flexibility in dealing with Iran received a small but potentially important boost Tuesday when a key congressional committee announced that the deadline for a unilateral U.S. sanctions package will be put off until next...
Egypt, Hamas Complicit in Israel’s Gaza Blockade
RAMALLAH -- A convoy of boats laden with humanitarian goods and accompanied by hundreds of journalists, human rights activists and European parliamentarians, is due to challenge Israel's naval blockade of Gaza at the end of May. The Free Gaza movement's "Freedom...
Obama Sanctions Strategy Complicated by Congress
President Barack Obama is hoping that relatively quick approval by the U.N. Security Council of a new round of sanctions against Iran will relieve growing pressure on Capitol Hill to take stronger measures against Tehran. But those hopes are likely to be disappointed...