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. Skip to next paragraph Recent posts Subscribe Today to the Monitor Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS ofThe Christian Science MonitorWeekly Digital Edition “Even though it's not necessarily good for the economy, amidst sanctions a stable currency creates an illusion of strength,” says a veteran analyst in Tehran.
But in the past week Iran's currency – the rial – dropped almost 30 percent after President Obama approved new sanctions targeting Iran's Central Bank. A sign of national strength In a country such as Iran, with a rich history of empire and a powerful literary tradition, national pride has remained strong even in the wake of growing discontent with the country's Islamic regime and mounting global isolation. Bad for Ahmadinejad. EU governments agree in principle on Iranian oil ban | Energy & Oil. 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 Open. 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 could block the strait with any assortment of mines, armed speed boats or anti-ship cruise missiles but according to Michael Connell at the Center for Naval Analysis, “The immediate issue [for the U.S. military] is to get the mines.” To solve that problem, the Navy has a solution that isn't heavily-advertised but has a time-tested success rate: mine-detecting dolphins. "We've got dolphins," said retired Adm. KEATING: They are astounding in their ability to detect underwater objects.
The invasion of Iraq was the last time the minesweeping capability of dolphins was widely-touted. 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. The hype and disinformation that surrounds the push for war is best understood by examining the viewpoint of Iranian MP Kazem Jalali. "The European Union must be aware that it can never compel the Islamic Republic to succumb to their will and undermine the Iranian nation’s determination to achieve glory and independence, access modern technologies, and safeguard its rights, through the intensification of the pressure.
" Many political commentators warn that an embargo is an act or war. "This week, the warlords of the West took yet another step toward their long-desired war against Iran. 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. Details on his passing are... Pro wrestlers no longer with us Hit-and-run truck sought in Brevard death The driver of this pickup towing a trailer late Sunday in Cocoa is sought for questioning by the Florida Highway Patrol. Vampires, nudists, snakes: Nobody does wacky like Florida Last week, news broke that a congressional candidate in Gainesville had a secret pastime: impersonating vampires.
Gardiner's Coast to Coast bike trail becomes trade bait Lake Brantley vs. 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. The last time the clock hand moved was in 2010, when the group moved the hand from five minutes to midnight back to six. (See a slideshow of highlights from the Doomsday Clock's history below. 1947 - 7 Minutes To Midnight 1 of 9 The announcement of the new "doomsday time" will come at 1 p.m.
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. Olli Heinonen wrote in an article published earlier this week that Iran made this advancement after switching production of its higher-grade enriched uranium to a new, underground site. Reacting to the one-year timeline, Bolton stated, “I think it can be even less than that.” » 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. This is because in order to do so, this country would have to physically violate the rights of peaceful shippers. One might object that at present, Iran has only threatened to close the Straits of Hormuz. However, before we unduly criticize the Iranians for this threat, let us put the matter in context. Why is the U.S. acting in so bellicose a manner? Now, somewhat paradoxically, I agree with the Obama administration on this matter. However, this demand of Iran on the part of the U.S. comes with particular ill grace given the fact that the latter country has thousands of such nuclear devices. But are not the Iranians unstable? Now that we have explored the context, let us return to the Iranian threat to close the Straits of Hormuz.
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. The embargo concerns are linked to Iran's nuclear program. Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran contributed. 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.
In Ankara, Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani met with Turkish officials and has been floating hints of flexibility in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. This week, a routine rotation of United States aircraft carriers is taking place in the Middle East, with the potential for three carrier strike groups to be on station in the US Fifth Fleet's area of operations and a fourth carrier strike group based in Japan about a week's transit from the region. Next week, General Michael Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will travel to Israel to meet with senior Israeli officials. But that's not how the Iranians operate. Continued 1 2. 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. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper confirmed in a Senate hearing – following the release of the classified National Intelligence Estimate in 2011 – that he has a “high level of confidence” that Iran “has not made a decision as of this point to restart its nuclear weapons program.”
Mohamed ElBaradei – who spent more than a decade as the director of the IAEA – said that he had not “seen a shred of evidence” that Iran was pursuing the bomb. Six former ambassadors to Iran within the last decade say that there is no evidence that Iran is building nuclear weapons, and that Iran is complying with international law. The International Atomic Energy Agency states: What about Iran’s enriching uranium to 20%?
Not really. 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.
Crude oil gained over the last three weeks, partly on concern that Iran may close the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. The waterway carries about 17 million barrels of oil a day, according to the U.S. Energy Department. The IEA’s last emergency release of government and industry stockpiles was in June, when about 60 million barrels of crude and oil products were made available in response to the slump in supply from Libya (OPCRLIBY). Asian Customers of Iran Look for Other Oil Sources. Japan Backs Geithner on Iran Oil, China Snubs.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner’s efforts to tighten economic sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program won backing from Japan after China rejected limiting oil imports from the country. “We want to take concrete steps to reduce our share in an orderly way as soon as possible,” Finance Minister Jun Azumi said at a joint press conference in Tokyo yesterday with his U.S. counterpart. “The world cannot tolerate nuclear development.” Geithner’s meetings were part of a trip to Asia’s two largest economies aimed at building support for tighter Iranian economic sanctions after international monitors detected an acceleration in the nation’s nuclear development program. Crude for February delivery climbed 49 cents yesterday, or 0.5 percent, to $101.36 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 5:00 p.m. ‘Halfway Solution’ ‘Quite Supportive’ “They actually have been quite supportive in tangible ways,” Geithner said. Total Purchases Strait of Hormuz.
Greece presses EU to ease Iran oil sanctions. European Union agrees on Iran oil embargo. EU agrees Iranian oil embargo | World news. 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. US presses China over Iran oil imports.
'Consequences': Iran warns Gulf countries not to replace its oil. Iran Criticizes Saudi Comments on Boosting Oil Exports. File, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security. Gold for Oil: India and Iran Ditch Dollar - Report. Will Iran Kill the PetroDollar? Iran and Russia drop dollar for their own currencies in bilateral trade. File, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security. National : India won’t scale down petroleum imports from Iran: Pranab. 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. Why Iran could start the next global recession | Business. » $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?