Topic: Persian Gulf
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Blast-off: 6 recent missile advances
Missiles have been prominent in the news with India’s successful test, North Korea’s failed one, and much talk of missile defense systems in Europe and the Persian Gulf. Here are six recent noteworthy missile-technology advances.
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Six reasons to keep America as No. 1 superpower
Many around the world say American decline would preserve global stability through a better balance of power. They’re wrong, says Steve Yetiv, a political science professor at Old Dominion University. It’s not that other countries or international institutions can’t play vital roles. They do. But they can't yet do what Washington does around the world, Yetiv says. Here he gives six examples.
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5 countries with the longest ongoing US sanctions
Sanctions are once again leading the news with trade embargoes tightening around Iran and debates over whether to loosen US restrictions on Cuba and Myanmar.
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Getting the Strait of Hormuz straight: an FAQ
Iran has caused a stir with its threat this week to close down the Strait of Hormuz if sanctions were imposed on Iranian oil exports. Here’s why this small body of water generates so much world attention.
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Iran nuclear program: 5 key sites
Iran’s nuclear program is the subject of constant scrutiny by the international community. Here are five of Iran's most important nuclear sites.
All Content
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Hillary Clinton recovering from fall, working from home
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has canceled work-related trips as well as a planned appearance before Congress to testify on the Benghazi attack. Clinton is working from home after she fainted last week.
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The Monitor's View: Are Americans ready to deal with Syria's chemical weapons?
On Monday, Obama strongly warned Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad not to use chemical weapons as rebels advance on Damascus. What is the national interest in threatening US action? Obama must sort out the moral purpose.
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Iran lawmaker affirms Tehran has US drone – from the CIA, perhaps?
The US Navy has denied it's missing any ScanEagle drones. But Iran claims to have evidence of the drone. An Iranian lawmaker suggests that maybe the CIA, instead of the Pentagon, is missing a spy drone.
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Covert US-Iran war bubbles over with claims of drone capture
Most of the actions in the US-Iran covert war remain mysterious and unclaimed – until one side sees an advantage in shining light on an incident. That’s what Iran has done with the drone capture.
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Cover Story
Inside the mind of Iran's Khamenei (+video)Why Iran's iron ayatollah distrusts the US and what that means for nuclear talks and the possibility of war with the West.
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Terrorism & Security
Did Iran just down a US drone by 'spoofing'? (+video)Iran claims it captured a US drone in its airspace, which the US denies. If true, Iran may have brought the drone down by jamming signals and reconfiguring its GPS coordinates.
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Energy Voices
US energy: What's oil production got to do with national security?National security and foreign policy planners can make some reasonable assumptions about what the American energy revolution and oil boom could mean for US interests, Rogers writes.
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Climate change talks: What are the goals in Qatar? (+video)
UN talks for a new pact to curb greenhouse emissions and slow climate change are underway in Qatar. Negotiators hope to extend the Kyoto Protocol. The concentration of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide has jumped 20 percent since 2000, according to a U.N. report released last week
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Backchannels
Prince of Blackwater heads to AfricaErik Prince, who made a fortune in Iraq thanks to his politically connected and controversial Blackwater military contractor, is leading a group of Chinese investors on a hunt for natural resources and investment opportunities in Africa.
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Iran confirms clash with US drone, claims it was in Iranian airspace (+video)
The US says the drone was flying in international airspace; last year, a CIA stealth drone was brought down deep inside Iran. The aerial confrontation comes as more nuclear talks loom.
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Opinion: Lack of US, Western intervention in Syria helps jihadists
Hillary Clinton heads to Doha, Qatar next week to push for a shakeup in the Syrian opposition. The West must step up its game by providing advanced weapons to Syrian rebels. Fears of such weapons aiding jihadist fighters are overblown, even as Western hesitancy strengthens jihadists.
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Energy Voices
Iran may force oil spill in effort to lift embargoIran could order an oil spill by possibly wrecking an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to disrupt key shipping lanes, according to OilPrice.com.
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Iran's currency: Why did the rial tumble so precipitously? (+video)
US sanctions played a role. However, Iranians aren't blaming the US, they're blaming their own government.
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Energy Voices
Qatar – rich and dangerous – eyes SyriaFaced with a glutted market for its liquefied natural gas, Qatar eyes development of Syrian gas fields as a huge opportunity, if Assad can be forced from power.
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Russian nuclear support for Iran limited by distrust
Russia has trained hundreds of Iranian nuclear scientists and blocked international action against Tehran. But beneath the surface, there is profound distrust.
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Global News Blog
Russia's Putin: 'Galley slave' or Persian Gulf monarch?Vladimir Putin once compared ruling Russia to being a 'galley slave,' but a new pamphlet critical of his state-owned wealth compares him to a Persian Gulf monarch.
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Backchannels
Is Israel trying to lead the US to war with Iran?That's what it's starting to look like. But looks can be deceiving.
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Keep Calm
Good Reads: What it means to be the "other" in AmericaThis week's better long form stories help us make sense of the deeper cultural issues behind Sunday's Sikh Temple shooting, as well as the immigrant experience in America.
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Syria: Despite prime minister's defection, Assad’s inner circle intact (+video)
On Monday, following the defection of Syria's Prime Minister Riad Hijab to Jordan fighting continued, particularly in Damascus and Aleppo. Though Hijab's departure was high-profile, it does not appear to be a threat to Assad's closest allies.
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Syria's rebels have a new villain: the United States
The US has stepped up its rhetoric against President Assad and is providing covert support to rebels. But for many fighting the Assad regime, it is not enough.
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Consumer Energy Report
Beijing flexes some muscle to protect energy interestsBeijing has boosted its military presence in the energy-rich South China Sea, despite disputed claims by Vietnam.
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Keep Calm
US Navy fires on fishing boat in sensitive Strait of HormuzFearful of a repeat of the bombing of the USS Cole, the US Navy says it fired only after giving warning to the Dubai-based, Indian-manned fishing boat.
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US quietly prepares for naval clash with Iran in Strait of Hormuz
Iran is ramping up its production of mini-submarines, which are 'a huge problem' for US naval power. The US has countered by sending minesweepers to the region.
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Details emerge on Iran's priorities in nuclear talks
Iran says it is willing to lower uranium enrichment levels to end sanctions. But it also set out red lines in PowerPoint presentation at recent Moscow talks.
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Stocks rise as oil prices, factory orders also climb
In an abbreviated holiday trading session energy stocks rose due to increased tension over Iran. The major stock indexes moved higher after the government reported that factory orders rose in May. The Dow Jones rose 72 points to close at 12,943.
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