Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Iran

OPEC Head Blames Tough Talk On Iran For Record Oil Price

Iran's oil refinery on Lavan Island (file photo) (AFP)

April 18, 2006 -- The president of the oil exporting cartel OPEC said today that oil would retreat from its record high price if Iran's opponents stop talking up the threat of action against its nuclear program.

TEXT SIZE - +

April 18, 2006

Edmund Daukoru, who is also Nigeria's oil minister, said that the threats are unsettling the market.

He added that increased tension between Israel and the Palestinians is not helping matters.

World oil prices hit a new high today. In Asian trading, U.S. oil futures hit $70.88 a barrel, up from an April 18 high of $70.78. Oil prices have soared more than 16 percent over the past four weeks.

(Reuters)

Many Iranians have been claiming that their access to social networks and Internet-based e-mail sites has been blocked in recent days.

Iran Tightens Internet Control

Iranians are reporting that their access to Facebook and Internet-based e-mail sites like Gmail has been blocked, without any explanation from the government. Not even the strongest antifiltering programs have penetrated the firewall, they say. Some speculate the move is related to Iran's plan to launch a national internet, which might sever Iranians' ability to access the World Wide Web. More

Web-savvy Iranian oppositionists are renowned for their ability to use proxies and other means to circumvent Tehran

Explainer: Iran's National Internet

Reports that Iran has stepped up its Internet censorship in recent days -- as evidenced by a general slowdown of the web, Internet blackouts, and the blocking of sites such as Google -- has raised speculation that the country might be testing its controversial "national Internet." More

A cardboard Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini arrives in Tehran to mark the 33rd anniversary of his triumphant return to Iran following the Islamic Revolution.

Iran's 'Cardboard Khomeini' Faces Criticism, Condemnation

Iran's "Cardboard Khomeini" is fueling a firestorm of criticism in the Middle Eastern country after cutouts of the Islamic republic's founder appeared at a number of events, and photos mocking the mock-up went viral. More