Turkey cashes in on the Iran talks

By Jonathan Schanzer

You may have thought the Geneva deal struck last month between Iran and the P5+1 nations (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany) was a sweet one for Tehran — getting billions in sanctions relief in exchange for mere promises to halt its nuclear program.

But Turkey may be an even bigger winner. It just needs to open its doors and wait for Iranian funds to pour in.

Iran was Turkey’s third largest export market in 2012. In fact, Turkey is reportedly exporting more than 20,000 products to Iran right now; among them gold and silver. It turns out that the Geneva deal also loosened sanctions on precious metals.

White House bid to hold off Iran sanctions gains backing

BY PATRICIA ZENGERLE

Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) chairs the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on the collapse of MF Global in Washington April 24, 2012.

CREDIT: REUTERS/GARY CAMERON

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama's campaign for Congress to hold off on new sanctions over Iran's nuclear program won a key endorsement on Thursday when the chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee rejected tightening measures against Iran now.

Senator Tim Johnson, a Democrat, said he agrees with the Obama administration that such legislation could disrupt delicate negotiations seeking to curb Iran's nuclear program. The Banking Committee oversees sanctions legislation in the Senate.

Iran Marks a Watershed in the Middle East

Yes, it is tentative, temporary, and reversible, as the White House cautions us after unveiling its breakthrough understanding with Iran. The agreement could yet collapse as entrenched conservatives on both sides, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, condemn it. All these forces fear the ground is shifting beneath them--and it is. If the dialog continues to inch forward in the coming months, the longer range implications are huge.

Iran Nuke Talk Issues: Enrichment, Sanctions

GENEVA November 21, 2013 (AP)
By JOHN HEILPRIN and JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press

Iran nuclear talks entered a delicate phase Thursday as negotiators tried to fine-tune a draft agreement that would limit Tehran's atomic program in return for easing some sanctions. Iran's ability to produce nuclear fuel and relief for Iran's oil and banking sectors appeared to be among the sticking points.

Renewed opposition from influential members of the U.S. Congress to any deal they feel gives the Iranians too much for too little complicated the diplomatic maneuvering. The Democratic-led Senate signaled Thursday it would only give President Barack Obama until next month before pressing ahead with new Iran sanctions, and a key Republican introduced legislation to limit the president's future negotiating ability with Tehran.

Guli jewelry can be admired but not purchased

The New Bell Tower built in Tashkent in 2009 next to the old one especially for Gulnara Karimova © Uznews.net

The New Bell Tower shop that carries Guli jewelry produced by Gulnara Karimova is now a gallery. 

The shop reopened as a gallery in the city center near Amir Timur park on Tuesday. The Guli jewelry – made out of corrals, pearls, emeralds, white, yellow and pink gold – can be seen on display but cannot be purchased.

“You are only allowed to look at the jewelry,” tells the gallery assistant to surprised customers. 

The jewelry on display is not as luxurious as might seem at the first glance and there is a lot of empty space on the shelves. 

Afghan Election Season off to a Messy Start

KABUL, Afghanistan November 20, 2013 (AP)
By KATHY GANNON Associated Press

With Afghanistan's next presidential election just five months away, authorities say they are facing a possible repeat of the abuses that have discredited the country's efforts to build a democracy.

Election officials say they can only estimate how many voters are really on the rolls. Added to the confusion are millions of additional registration cards from the elections of the past. Taliban threats cast a further damper.

U.S. urges Karzai to sign Afghan pact before Afghan elections

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

WASHINGTON -- New discord surfaced between the U.S. and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday, with Karzai saying he would prefer his successor sign a new security pact with the United States, and Washington saying that no signatures by the end of 2013 could be a deal breaker.

Secretary of State John Kerry and Karzai agreed this week to language of a proposed bilateral security agreement that could allow thousands of U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan as trainers and advisers after 2014 when the NATO-led combat mission ends.