Russia urged the European Union on Saturday to lift sanctions against Moscow and promised to waive its food embargo, but a top EU official rejected such a move as the bloc imposed fresh measures on Ukrainian rebels. The European Union and the United States imposed economic sanctions on Russia in late July, targeting the Russian […]
majority of Germans back tougher stance on Russia
Although Germans have been wary of sanctions against Russia, a new poll has found that support for the policy has increased lately – even though German exports have taken a hit in recent months. A majority of Germans approve of the European Union’s economic sanctions and of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s hardening stance on Russia over […]
Putin’s Loss of German Trust Seals the West’s Isolation of Russia
By: Simon Shuster Vladimir Putin has long had a soft spot for Germany. As an officer of the KGB in the late 1980s, he was stationed in the East German city of Dresden, where he developed a love of the language and, according to his memoirs, for the enormous steins of pilsner he drank at […]
Iran remains hopeful that Lebanon will accept its grant despite obstacles
Iranian envoy Mohammad Fathali expressed hope on Saturday that the Lebanese government could overcome obstacles to facilitate the arms transfer from Iran to Lebanon. “We want to develop ties in a way that does not embarrass the Lebanese government. We thought it was our duty to stand by Lebanon in these difficult circumstances,” Fathali told […]
US senators press EU on Iran sanctions
A bipartisan group of US senators on Monday pressed the EU to deny Iran access to its euro-denominated foreign exchange reserves, in a new push to tighten sanctions ahead of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran slams offer for easing gold sanctions
Iran criticized on Monday a reported plan by major powers to demand the closure of a uranium enrichment plant in return for an easing of sanctions on Tehran’s trade in gold and other precious metals, Iranian media reported. The Islamic Republic, which says its nuclear program is peaceful, started building the Fordow plant inside a […]
Iran unveils home-made ‘stealth’ fighter Qaher F313
Iran has unveiled a new home-made combat aircraft, which officials say can evade radar. The single-seat Qaher F313 (Dominant F313) is the latest design produced by Iran’s military since it launched the Azarakhsh (Lightning), in 2007.
Iran’s currency drops sharply to an all-time low
Iran’s currency plummeted to an all-time low on Saturday, registering a more than 21-percent drop in a span of two weeks against the U.S. dollar, currency tracking websites and money changers said. The rial was traded at between 39,000 and 40,000 per dollar on the open market on Saturday, down from about 33,000 two weeks […]
2 EU airlines halt flights to Iran
Two European airlines said on Saturday they were halting services to Iran, a sign of the crumbling purchasing power of Iranians as their economy buckles under the weight of Western sanctions.
Iran firms that shipped arms to Syria hit with U.N. sanctions
A U.N. Security Council committee on Thursday imposed sanctions on two Iranian firms that violated a U.N. arms embargo on Tehran by shipping weapons to the Syrian government. The move was welcomed