The Vicious Cycle of U.S.-Iran Tensions Continues in the Persian Gulf
This week, 2,000 U.S. Marines and three warships are joining recently deployed fighter jets and a naval destroyer aimed at countering Iran in the Persian Gulf. Why? Because the unilateral enforcement by the U.S. of sanctions beyond our borders has set off a dangerous tit for tat with Iran that amounts to a competition in […]
NIAC Statement on Latest Persian Gulf Tanker Attacks
Today, reports broke that for the second time this month two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz came under attack. U.S. officials were quick to blame Iran, while Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif seemed to deny the attacks and described them as “suspicious.”
Are Google “doodles” sanctioned?
Google recently created a special “doodle” to mark the 812th birthday of the polymath Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, and attributes him to every country in the Middle East except the one where he actually comes from–Iran. Doodles are commemorative changes in the Google homepage logo that are meant to celebrate an event or individual. In honoring al-Tusi, […]
Iran News Roundup: July 27, 2012
Iranian Increases Defense Capabilities in the Persian Gulf, Adds Anti-Ship Missiles Analysts say Iran has developed an arsenal of sophisticated anti-ship missiles in the Persian Gulf, and it has expanded its fleet of submarines and fast-attack boats to increase its defense capabilities (Washington Post 7/26). P5+1 Talks with Iran to Resume “Soon” EU foreign policy […]
A Wakeup Call in the Persian Gulf
Earlier this week, many in Washington held their breath after the U.S. Navy announced that the USNS Rappahannock had resorted to “lethal force” and fired on a small vessel in the Persian Gulf that had rapidly approached the U.S. ship. Although we subsequently learned that it was Indian fishermen – not Iranian sailors – who had been […]
Iran News Roundup: July 18, 2012
Netanyahu Blames Iran for Fatal Terrorist Attack in Bulgaria; Vows Retaliation Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for a fatal terror attack in Bulgaria, saying “Iran is responsible for the terror attack in Bulgaria, we will have a strong response against Iranian terror.” Panetta: U.S. Would Hold Iran “Directly Responsible” for any Hormuz Disruption […]
Iran News Roundup: July 3, 2012
US Increases Military Presence in the Persian Gulf In response to proposed legislation in the Iranian parliament to close the Strait of Hormuz, the United States has “quietly” moved additional fighter jets, minesweepers, stealth warplanes, and other military reinforcements into the region. Navy ships are in place patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, reportedly to ensure […]
Iran News Roundup: June 29, 2012
Shorter Range Missiles in the Persian Gulf In an apparent escalation in Iran’s standoff with the West, a Revolutionary Guards commander was quoted as saying Iran expects to equip its ships in the Strait of Hormuz with shorter-range missiles (Reuters 6/29). Dubai’s ENOC Affected by State Department Clarification U.S. State Department officials have clarified that […]
Iran News Roundup: June 28, 2012
Bush Advisor Calls for Naval Blockade of Iran President Bush’s former National Security Council director of international energy, Robert McNally, advocates for a U.S. naval blockade against Iran in today’s Financial Times. McNally acknowledges his recommendation would be an act of war under international law (Financial Times 6/27). China and Singapore Receive Sanctions Waivers The […]
Iran News Roundup: June 25, 2012
Escalation, Counter-Escalation, and Repeat The editor-in-chief of the hardline Iranian newspaper, Kayhan, argues that Iran can restrict oil tankers’ access to the Strait of Hormuz based on a “’right of retaliation’” under the 1958 Convention on the Territorial Sea after the implementation of an EU oil embargo. The paper’s editor, who is appointed by Iran’s […]
Tell Google: Stop playing Persian Gulf name games!
If you have visited Google Maps recently, you may have noticed that Google has removed the title of the Persian Gulf—leaving the body of water without a name. This follows Google’s 2008 decision to include the historically inaccurate and politically charged name “Arabian Gulf” alongside “Persian Gulf” in their Google Earth application. The name “Persian Gulf” is historically accurate, legally acknowledged, apolitical […]
NIAC Calls on Google to Reinstate Accurate Title for Persian Gulf
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) calls on Google to immediately reinstate the name “Persian Gulf” in its Google Maps application and to ensure all of its informational products include the historically accurate, internationally recognized, and politically neutral title for the Persian Gulf.