Limited options to punish N. Korea rocket launch With North Korea seemingly intent on going ahead with its planned rocket launch, the international community must decide how it can punish a country that has proved largely impervious to past sanctions.
12 December 2012
UN sanctions Al-Qaeda linked Mali Islamists The UN Security Council on Wednesday ordered sanctions against an Al-Qaeda linked Islamist group in a new sign of the tougher line being taken with militants who have taken over much of the Mali.
06 December 2012
IAEA says key Iran nuclear site fully equipped Iran is ready to significantly boost output at its most controversial nuclear plant, a new UN nuclear agency report showed Friday, taking Tehran closer in theory to being able to develop a nuclear weapon.
19 November 2012
N. Korea shipped missile parts to Syria: media North Korea tried to export ballistic missile parts to Syria in May in violation of UN sanctions, Japanese media said Wednesday, citing diplomats who have seen a classified UN report.
US charges Iran with 'economic mismanagement' The US on Monday accused Iran of extreme economic mismanagement as biting sanctions wreak havoc on the Iranian economy, and the European Union agreed a new slew of moves against the regime.
US honors Suu Kyi, ends sanctions on Myanmar leaders The US lifted sanctions on two of Myanmar's top leaders on Wednesday, as the Congress hailed Aung San Suu Kyi as a hero of democracy in a lavish ceremony unthinkable only months ago.
21 September 2012
West seeks to pressure Iran at IAEAWestern countries will seek to turn the screw further on Iran at a meeting of UN atomic agency board of governors from Monday following the watchdog's latest damning report on Tehran's nuclear programme.
10 September 2012
IAEA report to detail Iranian nuclear advances A new UN atomic agency report due Thursday or Friday is expected to detail how Iran is continuing to expand its nuclear programme despite painful sanctions and talk of Israeli military action.
29 August 2012
Under-pressure but defiant Iran seeks elusive IAEA deal Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog were due in talks Friday to make a fresh push to patch up relations as Tehran feels the heat from sanctions and amid fevered speculation of imminent Israeli military action.
24 August 2012
Iraq says not helping Iran avoid sanctionsIraq insisted on Monday that its trade with neighbouring Iran was above board, and denied reports that it was helping the Islamic republic skirt sanctions by smuggling oil and secretly moving cash.
21 August 2012
Standard Chartered fined $340m over Iran deals Standard Chartered on Tuesday settled allegations that it helped Iranian clients dodge US sanctions, announcing a fine of $340 million from a New York banking watchdog.
17 August 2012
S. Korea firms in talks to resume Iran oil imports South Korean oil refiners are in talks with Iran to resume oil imports, officials said Thursday, potentially by using Iranian tankers as a way to circumvent EU sanctions.
09 August 2012
'This is war': Iran feels impact of sanctions Iran is being hit by a "war" on its economy, according to officials facing tightened US sanctions and renewed Israeli threats of imminent military action over Tehran's nuclear activities.
05 August 2012
US Congress approves new sanctions on IranThe US Congress Wednesday approved punishing new sanctions targeting Iran's energy and shipbuilding sectors, a day after President Barack Obama unveiled measures to cripple Tehran's nuclear drive.
03 August 2012
China hits back at new US sanctions over Iran Beijing reacted furiously Wednesday to new US sanctions imposed on a Chinese bank over transactions with Iran, urging Washington to revoke them and saying it would lodge an official protest.
01 August 2012
Annan, Ban call on UN Council to act on Syria UN chief Ban Ki-moon and international envoy Kofi Annan called on the UN Security Council to take strong action on the Syria conflict ahead of a vote Thursday on a western-backed resolution calling for sanctions.