Iran said that all activities at a fortified nuclear site, where it began enriching uranium drawing U.S. condemnation, are under the permanent supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Obama administration has had two major foreign policy events to deal with since mid-December. First there was Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which much of the world's crude oil supply travels. Then North Korea's Kim Jong-Il died and his youngest son was named his successor.

TEHRAN, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Iran Sunday reported success in testing a homemade uranium fuel rod at its Tehran nuclear reactor after much of the world refused to supply it.

The enrichment is at an underground site protected from possible airstrikes.

The preoccupation of the moment was the American invasion of Iraq, most especially for Adil Abdul-Mahdi, who would become a vice president in the new Iraqi government.

Israel need not choose between a nuclear Iran and war. A third alternative is a nuclear-free zone.

Saudi: Readiness to up oil output not tied to Iran CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Saudi Arabia's oil minister says the OPEC powerhouse's readiness to boost oil output is not linked to sanctions that could affect Iran's oil exports. The comments come as Iran's OPEC governor was quoted Sunday warning Arab oil producers against trying to compensate for any potential shortfall in his country's crude exports.

Iran warned Gulf Arab oil producers against boosting production to offset any potential drop in Tehran's crude exports in the event of an embargo affecting its oil sales, the latest salvo in the dispute between the West and the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

Iran began enriching uranium at a fortified nuclear site, the International Atomic Energy Agency said, a move that drew U.S. and France’s condemnation and may accelerate the imposition of stricter sanctions on the country.

BEIJING — Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner received no specific assurances here Wednesday in response to his request that China reduce its oil imports from Iran, but Chinese officials appeared more open to U.S. attempts to block Iranian access to international finance through Chinese banks. Read full article >>