Iran's Ahmadinejad ups rates to stem money crisis. Iran's currency crash a blow to Ahmadinejad. As Iran experiences new, harsh US and international economic sanctions over its nuclear program – a program considered by much of the country as a matter of national pride – a stable currency has become a national security priority.
EU governments agree in principle on Iranian oil ban. Iran: EU oil embargo 'economic war' Iran sanction poker. Exclusive: West readies oil plan in case of Iran crisis. Iran Has Ability to Block Strait of Hormuz, U.S. General Dempsey Tells CBS. Iran has the ability to block the Strait of Hormuz “for a period of time,” and the U.S. would take action to reopen it, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Martin Dempsey said.
“They’ve invested in capabilities that could, in fact, for a period of time block the Strait of Hormuz,” Dempsey said in an interview aired yesterday on the CBS “Face the Nation” program. “We’ve invested in capabilities to ensure that if that happens, we can defeat that.” Should Iran try to close Hormuz, the U.S. “would take action and reopen” the waterway, said Dempsey, President Barack Obama’s top military adviser. Blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping lane linking the Gulf of Oman with the Persian Gulf, would constitute a “red line” for the U.S., as would Iranian efforts to build a nuclear weapon, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on the same program. Iranian Threat Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Martin Dempsey. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Martin Dempsey. Close. The Navy Is Depending on Dolphins to Keep the Strait of Hormuz Open - Global. If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S.
Navy has a backup plan to save one-fifth of the world's daily oil trade: send in the dolphins. The threat of Iran closing the strait has reached a fever pitch, reports today's New York Times, with U.S. officials warning Iran's supreme leader that such moves would cross a "red line" provoking a U.S. response. Iran subs poised to torpedo US warships in Gulf.
File, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security. Iran, Gold and Oil - The Next Banksters War. Iran, Gold and Oil - The Next Banksters War Remember the real reason why Moammar Gadhafi is dead.
He dared to propose and started creating an alternative currency to the world reserve U.S. Dollar. The lesson learned in Libya is now ready for teaching in Iran. Forget all the noise about going nuclear, the true message is that the banksters rule and nation states serve their ultimate masters. Hillary Clinton: Iran's Straits of Hormuz threats 'provocative and dangerous' Iran strait "keeps me awake at night" - U.S. Navy boss. Pro wrestlers no longer with us Former professional wrestler The Ultimate Warrior died Tuesday night at the age of 54, becoming the third pro wrestler to pass away this year.
The Ultimate Warrior, who legally changed his name to Warrior but was born Jim Hellwig, joins Big Daddy V... The Ultimate Warrior dead at 54 One of the most iconic and best known wrestlers of the past 25 years The Ultimate Warrior — who legally changed him name to Warrior and was born Jim Hellwig — passed away on Tuesday night. He was 54 years old. Pro wrestlers no longer with us Hit-and-run truck sought in Brevard death. Doomsday Clock Updates 'Minutes To Midnight' UPDATE: The 'Doomsday Clock' has been moved forward.
We're now 5 'minutes from midnight.' View a live stream of the announcement and rationale here. Humanity will soon be getting an update on how close we are to catastrophic destruction, as scientists and security experts decide whether to nudge the hands of the famous "Doomsday Clock" forward toward midnight — and doom — or back toward security and safety. The clock, in use as a symbol of imminent apocalypse since 1947, now stands at six minutes to midnight.
On Tuesday (Jan. 10), the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) will announce whether they will nudge the minute hand forward or backward to reflect current trends in world security. In making the decision, the Bulletin considers the current state of nuclear weapons, climate change and biosecurity, along with other issues that could influence humanity's survival. Iran closer to bomb than world realizes?
Text smaller Text bigger John Bolton A report that Iran is about a year away from having the capability to build a nuclear bomb may be too optimistic, contended John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
“I worry the publicly available information is giving only a very small picture and that Iran is actually even much further along,” Bolton said today in a radio interview. Bolton was on “Aaron Klein Investigative Radio” on New York’s WABC Radio. The former ambassador was asked about a statement from a former head of U.N. nuclear inspections claiming Iran is now just a year or so away from having enough enriched uranium to assemble a nuclear bomb. » Closing Hormuz Alex Jones. Walter Block LewRockwell.com January 4, 2012 The closure of an international body of water is an act of war.
If Iran implemented such a policy in the Strait of Hormuz, it would thus constitute an act of war. US seeking to 'close down' Iran central bank. Iran warns Gulf Arabs on oil. CAIRO (AP) - Iran warned Gulf Arab oil producers against boosting production to offset any potential drop in Tehran's crude exports in the event of an embargo affecting its oil sales, the latest salvo in the dispute between the West and the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.
The comments by Iran's OPEC governor, published Sunday, came as Saudi Arabia's oil minister was quoted the same day denying that his country's earlier pledges to boost output as needed to meet global demand was linked to a potential siphoning of Iranian crude from the market because of sanctions. World oil markets have been jolted over concerns that Iran may choke off the vital Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for sanctions hampering its ability to sell its oil. Saudi Arabia and other key Gulf Arab producers have recently said they are ready to provide stable and secure supplies of oil. Red lines in the Strait of Hormuz. Page 1 of 2Red lines in the Strait of HormuzBy George Friedman The United States reportedly sent a letter to Iran via multiple intermediaries last week warning Tehran that any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz constituted a red line for Washington.
The same week, a chemist associated with Iran's nuclear program was killed in Tehran. Iran to U.S.: Bring it on. Text smaller Text bigger Editor’s Note: The following report is excerpted from Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin, the premium online newsletter published by the founder of WND. Subscriptions are $99 a year or, for monthly trials, just $9.95 per month for credit card users, and provide instant access for the complete reports. WASHINGTON – High-ranking Iranian military officials are rattling sabers again, this time by issuing a warning that Iranian submarines “can ambush and destroy enemy vessels especially U.S. aircraft carriers” should they return to the Persian Gulf – even as the first has returned, according to a report in Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin. Rear Adm. Farhad Amiri, of the Iranian army’s self-sufficiency jihad, claimed that the United States is especially focused on Iran’s “astonishing subsurface capabilities.”
Iran is known to have a number of diesel-run submarines, some purchased from Russia years ago, but the nation also has developed an indigenous submarine production. Iran says ready for nuclear talks as tensions mount. Iran reported to enrich uranium at underground lab. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran has begun uranium enrichment at a new underground site built to withstand possible airstrikes, a leading hard-line newspaper reported Sunday in another show of defiance against Western pressure to rein in Tehran's nuclear program. The operations at the bunker-like facility south of Tehran, reported by the Kayhan daily newspaper, are small in comparison to Iran's main enrichment site.
But the centrifuges at the underground labs are considered more efficient and are shielded from aerial surveillance and protected against airstrikes by up to 300 feet (90 meters) of mountain rock. Uranium enrichment is at the core of the international standoff over Iran's nuclear program. The U.S. and its allies fear Iran could use its enrichment facilities to develop high-grade nuclear material for warheads. Iranian officials have issued similar threats, but this is the strongest statement yet by a top commander in the security establishment.
In an interview broadcast Sunday, U.S. File, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security. Iran reported to enrich uranium at underground lab. Russia 'regrets' reported Iran nuclear activity in Qom facility. File, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security. Contrary to Widespread Claims, There Is NO EVIDENCE that Iran Is Building a Nuclear Weapon. Iran Is NOT Building a Nuclear Bomb Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said: Are they [the Iranians] trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No. But we know that they’re trying to develop a nuclear capability. And that’s what concerns us. Iran moving closer to stage where it will be too late to destroy nuclear facilities, Israel warns. CORRECTED-UPDATE 5-Oil jumps on Iran sanction agreement. Seoul and Tokyo seek to ease Iran oil ties. IEA ‘Prepared’ to React to Any Oil Supply Disruption, No Steps Planned Now. Related Gilman's Outlook for Crude Oil, Gasoline Prices The International Energy Agency, the adviser to U.S., Germany and Japan, isn’t planning an immediate release of emergency oil stockpiles (DOESCRUD) in response to the tension in the Middle East.
“We remain prepared to respond to any significant oil supply disruption, but as no specific supply disruption is under way, we are not actively considering any action at the present time,” the Paris-based adviser said on its website today. Asian Customers of Iran Look for Other Oil Sources. Japan Backs Geithner on Iran Oil, China Snubs. U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Greece presses EU to ease Iran oil sanctions. European Union agrees on Iran oil embargo. EU agrees Iranian oil embargo. Iran 'definitely' closing Strait of Hormuz over EU oil embargo. Iran threatens to act first on EU embargo. Iran Turns Embargo Tables: To Pass Law Halting All Crude Exports To Europe. In what is likely a long overdue move, Iran has finally decided to give Europe a harsh lesson in game theory.
Instead of letting Euro-area politicians score brownie points at its expense by threatening to halt imports and cut off the Iranian economy, the Iranian government will instead propose a bill calling for an immediate halt to oil deliveries to Europe. The move, with most reports citing the Iranian news agency Mehr, has come about in response to the EU agreement to impose sanctions against Iran, which were announced earlier this week. And why not? After all if Europe is indeed serious, sooner or later Iran will be cut off but in the meantime experience significant policy uncertainty, which is precisely what the flipflops on the ground need. The one thing that Europe, however is forgetting, is that all that whopping 0.8 Mb/d in imports will simply find a new buyer.Quickly.
US presses China over Iran oil imports. 'Consequences': Iran warns Gulf countries not to replace its oil. By msnbc.com news services. Iran Criticizes Saudi Comments on Boosting Oil Exports. Posted January 17th, 2012 at 6:40 am (UTC-5) File, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security. Gold for Oil: India and Iran Ditch Dollar - Report. There were reports that officials have been floating this idea for some time, and now, as the EU finally decided upon an oil embargo on Iran, more details became available, yet still pend confirmation. Oil is priced in US dollars, and bypassing the greenback posed challenges for both parties. Will Iran Kill the PetroDollar?
Politics / US DollarJan 26, 2012 - 02:51 AM GMT By: Marin_Katusa Marin Katusa, Casey Research writes: The official line from the United States and the European Union is that Tehran must be punished for continuing its efforts to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran and Russia drop dollar for their own currencies in bilateral trade. Iran, Russia Replace Dollar with National Currencies in Trade Exchanges. File, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security. National : India won’t scale down petroleum imports from Iran: Pranab. India, which imports 12 per cent of its oil from Iran, will not scale down its petroleum imports from Tehran despite US and European sanctions against the Islamic republic, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said.
India mulls using rupee to pay for Iran oil imports. Chinese supertankers hired for Iran oil. Iran-China trade soars to top $45 bn: report. The U.S. and Iran Are Already Locked in Economic War - Yochi J. Dreazen - International. Bombs may not be falling, but sanctions and markets are the new, hard-hitting tools of this escalating conflict. Why Iran could start the next global recession. » $9 Gallon Gasoline Will Crash World Economies If WW3 Starts: Greg Hunter Reports Alex Jones. My Blog. Can the economy bear what oil prices have in store?