Inside Story - Is Iran's show of force a real
threat?
This week saw a three-day Iranian military exercise in the
Gulf, in which the country's long and short range missile technology was on
display. The show of force came at the same time as a new European Union
(EU) ban on the import of Iranian crude came into effect. Sanctions are
being intensified as the EU together with the US continue to press demands
that Iran give total international access to its nuclear technology
programme - demands that Tehran sees as a direct attack on the country's
national sovereignty.
European oil embargo squeezes Iran
A new European Union oil embargo on Iran goes into effect
today, further tightening the screws on an economy and populace that has
suffered from years of sanctions led by the United States and Europe.
The West hopes that the deepest sanctions on Iran to date force the country
to make concessions on its nuclear energy program, which they believe is
aimed at preparing the country for building a weapon.
Many Iranians believe they are being unfairly targeted by the West, which
will find any excuse to constrain the country's power. Whether the new
sanctions are having any effect may be evident next week, when major powers
and Iran resume talks in Turkey.
