Iran

12:59 PM, Dec 21, 2012 • By DANIEL HALPER

John Kerry, who will be nominated later today to be the next secretary of state, is the richest member of the U.S. Senate. His estimated net worth is, at minimum, $198.65 million, according to disclosure forms.

Kerry's disclosure forms also reveal that he has invested in companies accused of doing business with Iran.

Is Hezbollah up to its old tricks again in kidnapping Western journalists?

2:01 PM, Dec 19, 2012 • By LEE SMITH

NBC’s Middle East correspondent Richard Engel was released yesterday after being held for five days in Syria. When his kidnappers came to a rebel checkpoint, they were engaged in a firefight with a Free Syrian Army unit that allowed Engel and his colleagues to go free. NBC’s statement said he was taken by an “unknown group,” but Engel himself said he has a “very good idea” that the kidnappers are members of the shabbiha.

7:43 AM, Dec 17, 2012 • By DANIEL HALPER

Iranian state press, Press TV, is praising President Barack Obama's likely defense nominee as "anti-Israel," according to a piece published on the propaganda outlet's website. The piece is titled, "Obama expected to nominate anti-Israel Hagel as secretary of defense."

The piece begins, "US President Barack Obama is expected to nominate former Senator Chuck Hagel, an outspoken critic of Israel, as the next Pentagon chief."

10:35 AM, Dec 12, 2012 • By DANIEL HALPER

In response to North Korea successfully launching a rocket earlier today, the Iranian regime sends its congratulations.

Mark Kirk didn’t let a stroke slow his campaign for Iran sanctions.

Dec 17, 2012, Vol. 18, No. 14 • By ALANA GOODMAN

Since suffering a near-fatal stroke last January, two tasks have obsessed Senator Mark Kirk from his encampment at a Chicago rehabilitation center: relearning how to walk, and expanding the economic war the Illinois Republican has been leading against the Islamic Republic of Iran for the past decade.

Mark Kirk didn’t let a stroke slow his campaign for Iran sanctions.

Dec 17, 2012, Vol. 18, No. 14 • By ALANA GOODMAN

Since suffering a near-fatal stroke last January, two tasks have obsessed Senator Mark Kirk from his encampment at a Chicago rehabilitation center: relearning how to walk, and expanding the economic war the Illinois Republican has been leading against the Islamic Republic of Iran for the past decade.

5:16 PM, Dec 6, 2012 • By DANIEL HALPER

The Wall Street Journal editors write:

8:55 AM, Dec 5, 2012 • By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL and EMANUELE OTTOLENGHI

Germany appeared over the past several months to have finally fallen in line behind European Union efforts to stiffen economic sanctions against Iran. But in late October a group of German parliamentarians dealt a blow to the campaign to isolate Iran’s rulers. Bundestag Members Bijan Djir-Sarai of the Free Democratic Party, Thomas Feist of the Christian Democrats and Angelika Graf of the Social Democratic Party traveled to Tehran for a five-day visit.

7:19 AM, Dec 4, 2012 • By DANIEL HALPER

Iran is claiming to have successfully "hunted" an American drone, according to a piece in the regime organ Fars News Agency. The propaganda outlet claims that this is the first time Iran has shot down an American drone.