Iran+today

=Home= = Iran Today  =

What is happening in Iran in 2012? Please look for online news reports and make a summary of some of the news stories. Remember to link to the original text.

__Iran’s nuclear program__ Construction of Iran’s first nuclear reactor began in 2002. The UN immediately insisted to inspect the nuclear establishments to prove that they are were not developing nuclear weapons. In 2005, the IAEA (the UN’s nuclear watch program) accused Iran of violating Non-Proliferation Treat. When Iran had not suspended the program in 2007, the US imposed new sanctions on Iran to prevent further development of the program; the IAEA claimed that Iran could develop nuclear weapons in three to eight years if they wanted to. In November 2009, the IAEA condemned Iran for developing a secret uranium enrichment site. At the same time, Iran announced plans to create 10 more uranium enrichment facilities. The UN imposed further sanctions on Iran in 2010, while President Ahmadinejad claims that the nuclear program is peaceful. Iran continues to try to develop nuclear energy.

The relationship between Iran and the UN, the US and the EU grew tense in 2011 due to lack of progress on the nuclear issue. In January 2012, the EU announced a ban on Iranian oil imports, this can harm Iran greatly because oil is one of their main exports and the EU buys 20%. In response to this, Iran has threatened to close the Straits of Hormuz, where all the oil tankers from the Gulf pass through. Source: []

Who is who in Iran? BBC's webpage has a good, updated overview: []

BBC also has a good article on how Iran is ruled: []

And this country profile is also interesting: []

The Guardian, page with current news linked to Iran: []

Interesting commentary on the Iran nuclear bomb-situation, by Bill Keller, NY TImes: []

For those who really want to read background material - a page dedicated to the CIA in Iran: [|http://www.nytimes.com/library/world/mideast/041600iran-cia-index.htm]