Writing in Denver’s Rocky Mountain News, Paul Campos projects a scary scenario where the military has to defy the Bush administration on Iran in order to save the republic: “This … [Keep reading >>]

“The governments of Saudi Arabia and the United States are working with other states in the Middle East region to sponsor covert action against Iran, according to a report in … [Keep reading >>]

The BBC’s Jonathan Beale assesses the Sharm el-Sheikh meetings and, despite a lack of dialogue with Iran, declares them modestly successful from the standpoint of US interests: “A number of … [Keep reading >>]

Update: The USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) has also left the Persian Gulf and is up in the Mediterranean somewhere. The Nimitz is said to be still in-transit, to join the … [Keep reading >>]

Several sources report that Robert Levinson, the ex FBI man, who was detained in Iran several weeks ago is about to be released. One site, picking up the sometimes … [Keep reading >>]

John C. Stennis Completes Operations with French Carrier Charles de Gaulle

The Stennis is staying in the North Arabian sea. No word on where the de Gaulle is going. … [Keep reading >>]

Writing in the Houston Chronicle, Brett Clanton reports on embattled Halliburton’s final business dealings in Iran: “Halliburton did its Iranian business through a foreign subsidiary known as Halliburton Products & … [Keep reading >>]

Writing for Reuters, Edmund Blair explains why UN inspectors are rushing back in to attempt to assess yet another controversial claim by Iran about its nuclear program: “Russia said it … [Keep reading >>]

The Guardian’s Ewen MacAskill, Julian Borger, Michael Howard and John Hooper have filed a joint report on the many factors and pressures that led to the sailors’ release, and the … [Keep reading >>]

Writing in the Guardian, Polly Toynbee responds to all the sexist rants that are criticizing Seaman Faye Turney for being on military deployment instead of at home with her … [Keep reading >>]

Writing in the Guardian, Abbas Edalat maintains that the lessons of diplomacy that got the sailors freed should guide US policymakers on Iran as well: “Yesterday’s welcome outcome should show … [Keep reading >>]

Iran president says to free British sailors [More at NY Times]

Iran’s official news agency said British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s adviser Nigel Sheinwald had spoken directly to Ali Larijani, … [Keep reading >>]

Debka (caveat emptor) has an interesting, unsigned, article from “secret” sources in Tehran.

London allowed the 15 sailors to admit they had trespassed into Iranian waters, while Tehran agreed to suspend … [Keep reading >>]

The always readable Juan Cole has his take on the Iran-UK nose-to-noser at Salon. (ad-view req)

Tehran’s hard-liners think they know how to play it. They are trying to use the … [Keep reading >>]

Writing in the Guardian, director Terry Jones tries to put the Iranian treatment of British sailors in some perspective: “It is also unacceptable that these British captives should be made … [Keep reading >>]

The BBC’s Paul Reynolds analyses Iranian and British options as the idea for a trial for the seized sailors is floated: “But reports from Iran also indicate a level of … [Keep reading >>]

The Guardian’s Robert Tait reminds readers that the current standoff between the UK and Iran is only the latest chapter in a long history of misunderstanding: “The British RAF personnel … [Keep reading >>]

” DUBAI: The US military denied reports yesterday that Iran fired a missile at a US ship in the Gulf.

The rumours of an attack had sent oil prices soaring, … [Keep reading >>]

Writing in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Gwynne Dyer comments on the ‘different cultures’ of response in the US and UK to the Iranian capture of sailors: “So there they are, eight … [Keep reading >>]

Just thought you’d like to know:

The USS Nimitz and its support ships will depart San Diego on Monday for the Persian Gulf to join another local aircraft carrier strike group … [Keep reading >>]