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

Matthew Levitt, an expert on terrorism financing, applauds efforts by U.S. officials to "think outside the box" and apply financial pressure against Iranian banks.

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. 

Bruce Jentleson examines the prospects for using sanctions against Iran in this paper for the Century Foundation. He argues that UN-mandated sanctions are a "crucial element" in preventing Iran from further developing its nuclear program.

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.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control states, "This fact sheet provides general information about the Iranian sanctions programs under the Iranian Transactions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 560, and the Iranian Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 535. These sanctions are administered by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control."

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 president of the American Council on Germany sees a "definite improvement" in U.S.-German relations since Angela Merkel became chancellor five months ago. Ahead of Merkel's second visit to Washington this year, William Drozdiak says that a key issue for Merkel and President Bush is what to do about Iran's nuclear program.

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.

Oxfam details flaws in the UN arms embargo system that lead to widespread violations. The report urges improved monitoring and verification to combat the problem.