Financial sanctions have become a key tool of U.S. foreign policy. Measures taken against Iran and North Korea make clear that this new financial statecraft can be effective, but true success will require persuading global banks to accept a shared sense of risk.

The EU's oil embargo is part of a larger Western effort to pressure Iran to reengage over its disputed nuclear program, but some debate the merits of intensified diplomacy with the regime in Tehran.

There is growing support in the U.S. Congress to sanction Iran's central bank in response to new nuclear revelations. Some experts say such a move could backfire and help the regime.

New sanctions have revived hopes that non-military action can cripple Iran's nuclear program. But some analysts say these efforts could be undermined by Asian investment in Iran as well as the regime's intransigence.

President-elect Barack Obama has expressed willingness to have direct talks with Cuba, the latest step in what experts still view as a long road toward normalizing U.S.-Cuban relations.

Fidel Castro—thorn in the side of the U.S. government, icon for many of the impoverished of Latin America—has resigned, leaving Cuba’s immediate fate in the hands of his brother Raul.

Following a turbulent week of rhetoric over Iran, the UN Security Council agreed to delay action on further sanctions until November.

A dispute over the seizure of fifteen British naval personnel by Iran's government threatens to further erode relations between Tehran and the West.

Six-Party Talks stall, despite a U.S. policy shift involving the release of frozen North Korean funds from a bank in Macao.

A second round of UN sanctions is expected against Iran, including a possible arms embargo. Yet experts disagree whether more sanctions will make Tehran buckle.

Amid reports Tehran may soften its nuclear stance, Washington has squeezed Iran to signal it will not allow the country to dominate the region.

With Iran’s economy struggling and the conservative camp split, President Ahmadinejad may find himself increasingly marginalized on foreign policy matters. 

Leslie H. Gelb says Israeli threats undercut prospects for a settlement with Iran.

Ray Takeyh and Suzanne Maloney say that despite decades of struggling under punitive financial measures, Iran has persisted with its objectionable policies, ranging from terrorism to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Walter Russell Mead says that Turkey and Brazil's rejection of UN sanctions against Iran revealed that neither country had mastered the challenges of operating in the international system.

International efforts to ease Syria's crisis have been limited by divisions in the UN Security Council and a wariness about a military response, explains this Backgrounder.

Despite a spotty record of effectiveness, Western states continue to promote UN sanctions in cases ranging from North Korea to Iran. But the UN Security Council is more divided than ever about implementing these coercive measures.

As UN Security Council members mull sanctions against Tehran, experts say such a move, even with climbing oil prices, could deal a devastating blow to Iran's economy.

The UN Security Council is debating how to restrict Iran's nuclear program. Western states seek a firm statement and the threat of eventual sanctions if Iran does not suspend its uranium enrichment work. But Russia and China oppose sanctions, leading to talk about economic penalties outside the United Nations' authority.

Buttressed by input from scholars, diplomats, and observers with an intimate knowledge of U.S. foreign policy, Honey and Vinegar examines "engagement"—strategies that primarily involve the use of positive incentives.