By William Tucker

The UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has released their quarterly report on the Iranian nuclear program. The widely anticipated report stated that Iran had doubled the number of centrifuges used to enrich uranium at the Parchin site. Although the centrifuges are not yet operating, the increase in capacity will help Iran enrich uranium more rapidly.

By William Tucker

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency filed a lawsuit against the Lebanese Canadian Bank in December 2011 following allegations that the bank was laundering money for Hezbollah. The Lebanese terrorist group was using the banks to hide proceeds from drug trafficking and the sales of U.S. manufactured vehicles in Western Africa. Eventually the money made its way to Lebanon and was used to support the group’s activities.

By William Tucker

In a show of solidarity with Syrian president Bashir al-Assad, Saeed Jalili, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated that, “Iran will never allow the resistance axis – of which Syria is an essential pillar – to break.” While many media outlets have correctly stated that the axis refers to Iran, Syria, and the Lebanese Hezbollah, what they fail to mention is how vital Syria is to Iran.

By William Tucker

In December 2011, I wrote an article on the influence of Cuba and Iran in Venezuela. Although Iran has some interests in using Venezuela to increase its footprint in Latin America, it is Cuba that has staked much of its economic welfare, indeed even its political fortunes, to the Chavez regime. In the time since that article was posted, Chavez’s health is still uncertain – despite his claims.

By William Tucker

A suicide bomber struck a police academy in Sana’a Yemen killing eight and wounding another 15. As of this writing al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack; however AQAP has made numerous threats against the Yemeni government in response to the counterterrorism operations that have been ongoing since May. Furthermore, the tactics and target of today’s attack strongly suggest that AQAP was involved.

By William Tucker

The Obama administration notified Congress today that it was extending the declared National Emergency in regards to the Syrian situation. In addition to the notification, President Obama stated Syria poses an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and diplomatic goals. Complimenting the President’s tone was U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland who stated that a recent roadside blast that hit troops escorting the U.N. monitors.

By William Tucker

Over the past few months the U.S. military has placed numerous assets across the Persian Gulf region. Among the deployments are the regular positioning of two aircraft carriers, a doubling of minesweeping vessels, new missile systems, and now the deployment of F-22 and F-15C fighter aircraft to the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The announcement of the F-22 deployment set off a firestorm of speculation.

By William Tucker

In the next few hours the UN ceasefire to which Syrian President Bashir al-Assad agreed is supposed to be implemented. Following with past forecasts here at IHS, the violence has simply intensified rather than abated. Syrian troops have launched raids into neighboring Lebanon and have fired at civilians refugees across the border in Turkey. Turkey has loudly condemned this latest action, however they have not responded beyond rhetoric.

By William Tucker

A recent report in Time magazine claims that Israel has scaled back covert efforts to undermine Iran’s nuclear program. The article quotes unnamed senior Israeli officials as the source for the story, then claims that the decision has caused increasing dissatisfaction within Mossad. Whether or not this story is accurate is difficult to verify, but it is certainly possible.