The UN visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his multiple meetings and media appearances seem to have temporarily taken the steam out of U.S. efforts to isolate him. The start of the UN General Assembly session has been notable for the level of anti-American invective by speakers.

Afghanistan has long been the world’s chief supplier of opium. Yet poppy cultivation, much of which goes to finance Taliban insurgents, may jeopardize U.S.-led efforts to secure southern parts of the country.

A breakthrough in the impasse over Iran’s nuclear program may emerge if Tehran agrees to temporarily suspend its uranium-enrichment activities and Washington puts off its push for sanctions.

The August 31 deadline has passed with no agreement. Iran has remained steadfast in its pursuit of nuclear technology while the UN Security Council scrambles for a solution to the impasse.

Iran continues to flex its muscles ahead of the UN-imposed August 31 deadline to suspend its nuclear activities. With the UN secretary-general traveling to Tehran for talks, Iran has indicated it will not abide by the latest UN resolution.

One year after assuming office, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad looms large over the Middle East with his hard-line rhetoric, pursuit of nuclear technologies, and support for groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. At home, he has maintained pressure on human rights activists.

The UN Security Council has passed a resolution calling on Iran to suspend its uranium-enrichment activities or face sanctions. The vote comes amid deep suspicions about Iran's role in sparking the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

As Israel draws most of the world's criticism for the scope of its actions in Lebanon, the country says it will consider an international stabilization force on the border.

North Korea's recent missile tests and Iran's ongoing quest for nuclear weaponry illustrate the need for an effective strategy to prevent other rogue states from acquiring nuclear technology. A relatively new program to interdict suspect shipments on the high seas is gaining favor around the world.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, celebrating its five-year anniversary summit, has blossomed into a full-fledged security alliance, as well as a foil to U.S. influence in Central Asia.

As the UN's nuclear agency board meets this week, it considers a new report suggesting Iran continues to defy UN wishes and has stepped up its enrichment activity even as Washington tries to work out a route to direct negotiations.

The permanent UN Security Council members and Germany agree to a package of incentives to prod Iran into giving up its nuclear activities. Yet it remains unclear if Tehran will accept the offer.

The latest signals from Iran indicate a desire for direct talks with the United States to resolve the nuclear crisis. But Washington is wary and continues to prefer multilateral pressure on Iran to freeze its uranium-enrichment program.

There is a déjà vu aspect to the international talks over Iran's nuclear program. But there are also signs of hard lessons learned from the Iraq case on intelligence gathering and diplomacy.

The White House has dismissed a letter sent by President Ahmadinejad, the first formal contact between the leaders of the U.S. and Iran in over a quarter century.

Those grappling with Tehran's nuclear program rarely give mention to Iran's fragile economy. Some experts suggest economic incentives might prove attractive to Iran as part of a negotiated solution to the nuclear standoff.

The UN Security Council has taken up a resolution that could trigger sanctions against Iran for its refusal to freeze its nuclear activities. But resistance to sanctions among some permanent members of the Security Council promises a long, diplomatic road ahead on Iran.

Iranian foreign policy can be difficult to figure out. It requires more than just reading President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's lips.

The Arab world is watching nuclear developments in Iran closely. The outcome could disrupt the Middle East's balance of power or provoke a regional nuclear arms race.

Iran proclaims itself "a nuclear country" after declaring it has enriched uranium to a level used in power stations. The announcement comes amid reports that U.S. policymakers are weighing the option of using military force to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.