The market is less confident today than it was a week ago that the Reserve Bank Board will cut the official interest rate when it meets tomorrow.
Iran
Political snippets: WIll the RBA cut the official interest rate?
Only faint hope for a deal with Iran on nukes
For a couple of months things have been looking pretty bleak on the Iranian front.
Essay: 
Cut the diplospeak and stop warmongering in the Middle East
Washington needs to normalize relations with Iran, openly repudiate the Israeli war drums, and finally accept the verdict of history in Iran adverse to its strategic ambitions, writes Richard A Falk.
‘Economic war’: Iran responds to EU ban
In the aftermath of a preliminary agreement from the European Union to ban oil from Iran in response to its nuclear program, Iran has blasted the EU while being careful not to encourage popular unrest. Aj Jazeera reports.
Gazing into the bloodied crystal ball: the wars of 2012
What conflicts are likely to escalate this year, with potentially devastating ramifications? Crisis in Syria, Iran/Israel and Afghanistan are at the top of the list, writes Louise Arbour.
When it comes to bombs in Iran, don’t believe the hype
Recently there has been much hype concerning Iran’s nuclear weaponisation. This speculation might actually feed into Iran’s hands and the notion that it is an international outcast, writes NAJ Taylor.
Remember, Tehran’s nuclear ambiguity was learnt from Israel
Iran is under a greater level of scrutiny for ten years of nuclear weapons development than Israel has been for possessing them for over 40 years, argues NAJ Taylor.
Did Iran work to ‘miniaturise’ nuclear weapons?
Recent intelligence from more than 10 countries claims Iran worked on developing new, smaller nuclear weapons until at least 2010, reports Jonathan Tirone.
Guy Rundle: Rundle: a little bit of the Cameron crew Fox off, hero to zero
You hardly knew where to look in London this week. The government didn’t fall, but a section of it sheared off, and fell into the sea.
War on the internet: the key fronts
A widespread and in many ways concerted series of attack by governments on the internet is underway, one that has increased in scope and complexity since WikiLeaks humiliated the US government and social media helped fuel the Arab Spring.
Media briefs: Carey’s Fairfax plea … journos turn on subs … SMH mistaken identity …
In today’s Media Briefs: Peter Carey’s message to Fairfax … Journos blame their subs — on Twitter … The Bryce ain’t right … Reporters in line for copyright windfall … and more
Ahmadinejad in the crosshairs of political assassination
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s dismissal of his intelligence minister has caused a high profile spat with supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Conservatives are seizing the opportunity to try and seal Ahmadinejad’s fate, writes Geneive Abdo.
Iran web virus created by a “government or well funded group”
According to new analysis from a US web security firm, a web virus Iran claims was targeted at its nuclear program was initiated by a highly organized outfit: either a government or a well resourced private group.
The benefits of Ahmadinejad
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gets a lot of — rightly deserved — flak from the Western media. But Esquire offers up five reasons why Ahmadinejad is good, like he could help stabilise Afghanistan and also serves as constant comedy fodder.
The master spinner from Iran
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spins a story better than most PR people. He sidesteps tricky questions by instead attacking the US, changes his answer depending on the audience and relies on a translator, making it easy to ignore interviewers’ questions.
Letter from...: Letter from Iran: nuts and riots aside, extreme kindness lives here
Over 30 days I interacted with the people of Iran like I’ve never interacted with the people of a foreign country before. Nowhere have I encountered a people so universally kind, friendly and generous.
Will Israel bomb Iran?
The idea of a nuclear Iran has both the US and Israel freaking out and an Israeli attack against Iran is becoming a genuine possibility. Jeffery Goldberg speculates how it would unfold.
Camping in the Kaluts
Waking to a desert sunrise and having a dip in a genuine oasis, Scott Bridges tells of his camping trip to Kaults, a formation of eroded rocks in Iran.
PHOTO GALLERY: A visit to Iran’s golden triangle
Full of must-see sights, the central-Iranian cities of Esfahan, Yazd and Shiraz form a golden triangle for tourists. Scott Bridges compiles some of his favourite travel snaps of this beautiful, historically rich part of the world.
Iran inching towards party politics
The role of factional politics is gradually diminishing in Iran, the nation moving towards an ideologically driven system and, eventually, the formation of disciplined political parties, writes Mahan Abedin.
First Iran-pressions
Scott Bridges has landed in Tehran, a city full of concrete in various states of disrepair, air conditioner units hanging out of every window at precarious angles and monolithic ’60s-era high-rises.
Washington, we have a problem
The space race is over and NASA now struggles to justify its existence. Instead of moon landings, diplomacy with Muslim majority countries has become of its main aims.
Iran bans the mullet
Ponytails, spiky hair and mullets don’t cut it in Iran, according to the government’s new style guide of men’s hair. Thankfully the quiff wasn’t labelled as a “decadent Western cut”.
The plan: the big trip 2.0
Scott Bridges finally unveils his latest travel plans: a few months solo travelling in Iran, Jordan and Egypt. Yes, it’s going to be quite the crazy adventure.
Iran explodes over UN inspectors
More conflict between Iran and the U.N. has ensued following the ban of two nuclear inspectors from Tehran. Iran officials allege the inspectors leaked false information about experiments conducted at a research laboratory.
