The U.N. nuclear watchdog raised pressure on Iran to finally address suspicions that it has sought to design an atomic bomb, calling for swift inspector access to a military base where relevant explosives tests are believed to have been carried out.

• March 4, 2013

The February 26–27 round of the nuclear negotiations involving Iran and the P5+1 group (all five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany) in Almaty went as well as might have reasonably been expected.

• March 2, 2013

After two intense days of nuclear talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Tehran issued a statement that described negotiations as a positive step forward due to a "more realistic" position adopted by the "Iran six" nations that compromise the UN Security Council's permanent five members plus Germany.

• March 1, 2013

In the case of a military solution of the Iranian problem, the South Caucasus and Central Asia would inevitably be drawn into the conflict, director of the Caspian Cooperation Institute Sergey Mikheev believes.

• February 28, 2013

North Korea accused the United States on Wednesday of contributing to an "unpredictable" situation on the divided Korean peninsula and abusing its power in the U.N. Security Council to impose its "hostile policy" against Pyongyang.

• February 27, 2013

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem says Damascus is ready for dialogue with the opposition, including armed rebels who have been seeking to topple the regime for almost two years.

• February 26, 2013

A new round of talks between world powers and Iran over its controversial nuclear programme has opened in the Kazakh city of Almaty.

• February 26, 2013

Israel's Defense Ministry says it has successfully tested the upgraded Arrow antimissile system for the first time during a joint exercise with U.S. forces.

• February 25, 2013