January 15, 2014
12:08 pm

Steny Hoyer (D-Md. right) and Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Montgomery, Ala., March 2, 2013. Both Representatives have lead tours of Israel (photo credit: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism/JTA)

US representative: Obama aide ‘irresponsible’ on Iran

From the web House minority leader criticizes White House for suggesting lawmakers behind sanctions bill are itching for war, Politico reports

January 15, 2014
9:47 am

Obama can’t be trusted on Iran

A bipartisan effort to ratchet up sanctions is not, as the White House portrays it, a case of warmongering

By Jeff Robbins

January 15, 2014
6:08 am

US President Barack Obama speaks to his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, on September 27, 2013, marking the first time the two countries' leaders had engaged each other since 1979. (photo credit: Pete Souza via White House Twitter page)

Senators wary of Obama’s ‘secret side deal’ with Iran

Highlighting the urgency of passing tougher sanctions legislation, senior Republican lawmakers demand transparency from White House

By Times of Israel staff and JTA

January 14, 2014
11:43 pm

Iran sanctions bill sponsor Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) (photo credit: CC BY-Glyn Lowe Photoworks, flickr)

Iran sanctions have Senate majority, but veto looms

White House has managed to keep most Democrats from supporting bill, saying it will put US on path to war

By Ron Kampeas

January 14, 2014
8:07 am

White House press secretary Jay Carney speaks during a news briefing at the White House, Monday, January 13, 2014. (photo credit: AP/Jacquelyn Martin)

In Washington, Iran nuke deal doesn’t end sanctions debate

US lawmakers determined to push through new economic restrictions on the Islamic Republic, despite recent progress on nuclear issue

By Bradley Klapper

January 10, 2014
5:56 pm

The Senate side of the United States Capitol building in Washington, DC (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/File)

Iran sanctions push garners momentum in US Senate

White House has threatened to veto motion, but growing number of Senators back tighter restrictions on Islamic Republic

By AP and JTA

January 10, 2014
1:35 pm

Russian President Vladimir Putin with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, Friday, September 13, 2013 (photo credit: via YouTube)

Iran, Russia negotiating big oil-for-goods deal

From the web Reuters reports two countries close to agreement that would see Moscow buying up to 500,000 barrels a day from Tehran

January 7, 2014
2:19 am

Illustrative photo of an Iran Air Boeing 747SP-86 (photo credit: CC-BY-SA 2.0 contri/Flickr/File)

US issues rare order to stop transfer of goods to Iran

Commerce Dept. uses anti-terrorism laws in attempt to prevent a Turkish company from exporting two Boeing airplane engines

By Desmond Butler

January 3, 2014
11:54 pm

US Secretary of State John Kerry, left, meets with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, on Friday (photo credit: AP/Brendan Smialowski)

Sniping shadows Kerry’s pursuit of a framework deal

Netanyahu blasts Abbas; Palestinians slam Netanyahu; and Republican senators bring their partisan rivalry to Jerusalem

By Deb Riechmann

December 31, 2013
11:49 am

An Iranian airplane. (photo credit: CC BY-SA Pieter v Marion, Flickr)

Iran eyes American tourism increase

From the web LA Times: US tour operators say they have recently experienced a surge of bookings and questions about visiting the Islamic Republic

By Times of Israel staff

December 31, 2013
9:37 am

Illustrative photo of a crude oil tanker (photo credit: Shay Levy/Flash90)

China may raise Iran oil imports with new contract

From the web Tehran is negotiating an increase in exports to Beijing, a move seen as a reward for Iran’s softer diplomatic stance, Reuters reports

December 30, 2013
11:33 pm

Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani (screen capture: YouTube/Lenziran Newsvideo)

Iranian tycoon said arrested

Babak Zanjani, blacklisted by the US for trying to avoid sanctions, detained on corruption charges

By AP

December 26, 2013
12:33 am

In this photo taken late Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, is flanked by his wife Emine Erdogan, right, and Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, left, as he addresses supporters at the Esenboga Airport, Ankara, Turkey. Interior Minister Muammer Guler and Caglayan resigned from their posts on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013, days after their sons were arrested in a massive corruption and bribery scandal that has targeted Erdogan’s allies and has become the worst crisis in his decade in power. Caglayan and Guler both stepped down on Wednesday, despite denying any wrongdoing. (Photo credit: AP)

Erdogan replaces 10 ministers amid corruption scandal

Turkish PM, who has labeled police probe shaking up government a ‘dirty operation,’ facing worst crisis in 11-year tenure

By AP and Times of Israel staff

December 22, 2013
4:52 am

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, second left, and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, third right, are pictured during talks last year over Iran's nuclear program in Geneva, Switzerland (photo credit: AP/Fabrice Coffrini)

Iran ‘pessimistic’ on Geneva nuclear talks

Negotiations on implementing the interim Geneva agreement have been ‘making progress but slowly,’ Iranian deputy FM says