midnight here in moscow welcome you watching r t with me kevin owen and the top story two u.s. warships invented an area around is using for large scale naval war games further escalating tension between the two nations the maneuvers are taking place in neutral waters close to the crucial strait of hormuz oil supply route which iran's threaten to block washington says the vessels are on a routine mission artie's garniture cans following the latest developments. day after day we see the degree of tension rising iranian and american warships kind of brushed shoulders earlier as u.s. ships passed the area where terror on is holding a ten day military exercise the u.s. fifth fleet said they crossed the strait of hormuz unhindered and that he was a routine passage iran's right in to cut off the strait of hormuz which is the major golf oil artery forty percent of the world's tanker shipped oil passes

through that strait the u.s. said they would not tolerate any disruption of supplies which suggests that if you ran goes through with their threats we might see a military showdown there but now based on the statements that we hear washington seems to think that iran is bluffing but right now you can find itself in a situation where its main source of livelihood namely oil export is in danger because of the looming sanctions and the threats that are coming from iran indicate that it's ready to take action to protect its interests if attacked it's almost sure to retaliate right now with iran is flexing its muscle showing off its capabilities doing their naval military exercises and as part of the exercise on saturday they'll fire long range missiles capable of reaching this world by the way the touching upon some of the latest decisions the u.s. congress passed a bill that would dramatically complicate transactions through rennes central bank european and asian nations iranian oil and use its central bank for the

transactions president obama has yet to sign the bill and that's going to be a severe blow to the uranium economy around eighty percent of its revenues depend on crude sales e.u. ministers a. decision on whether or not to boycott the iranian oil will be made in coming weeks the west says all the rand has to do to avoid sanctions is to give up their nuclear program iran says they are not doing anything wrong by pursuing a peaceful nuclear program for civilian purposes some experts believe cornering iran like that by sanctions creates a powder keg which could blow up at a slightest spark and the potential confrontation over the strait of hormuz can be that spark. part of the washington d.c. the go. back to washington d.c. now we're joined by. the research director of the national radio and american council thanks for being with us now this isn't the first time the rands threaten to close the strait of hormuz despite the little cripple to runs over the oil

industry do you think this time though the pressure has built up sufficiently for it to carry its threats through i don't think we've reached a point yet where the iranian government will act on threats that it's made for the better part of three decades with regards to closing the strait of hormuz closing the strait of hormuz for the iranian government would be the equivalent of cutting off its nose to spite its face it's heavily heavily reliant on its on its income from oil exports the vast majority of which go through the strait that being said just because it's something that the iranian government doesn't want to do it doesn't necessarily mean that it's something that it's want to have pressure increases to the point where iran is backed into a corner just remind us what is the main stumbling block here i mean this is going on for such a long time there isn't with agreement between iran and the u.s. for decades and. i think the main stumbling block is you have two governments that have been communicating for over three decades and when you don't have direct channels of communication that increases the likelihood of miscalculations and

misperceptions and it reinforces a cycle of escalation and conflict and institutionalize and that he between these two countries where if you're not communicating that again it increases the likelihood that you can you can take actions that might not be in accordance even with your own interests and rather than governments controlling the conflict the conflict begins to control the governments and we end up with an outcome that i think both parties independently would seek to avoid gross you touched on this just now we've heard opinions ranging from it all being a bigger radio bluff to world peace big stake really big deal hope volatile do you really think the situation is now and indeed may be a mistake that kicks it all off if the worst. well i do think that it would be a mistake if something were to kick it off because neither side is looking for a war right now you have a president in the united states that's up for reelection and you have an iranian government that's increasingly unpopular at home and that really doesn't do well when it has multiple issues on its plate that it has to deal with but again that

being said when you have two sides the u.s. and iran that have developed over the better part of three decades an institutionalized. conflict can oftentimes spiral out of control because you don't have any lovers to release the pressure you don't have any dialogue to communicate with one another and so a situation of increasing the conflict the situation of trading barbs eventually takes on a life of its own and i think that's where we are now so if we don't put in place these kinds of mechanisms to deescalate tensions then it could very well spiral out of control but what is your prognosis i mean the u.s. is heading into the election year do you think you president if there is one could make a breakthrough. as we've been saying going on for decades. i don't think that political parties in the united states dictate the range of options that are available to an american president and recent history demonstrates that for us president obama's iran policy as it stands now really isn't that different than what. policy of

president bush was when he left office that being said creating political space and having the political will to pursue diplomacy which obama did in the beginning of this administration isn't necessarily in place now and i think that's part of what causes this conflict to reach the point that it has now that being said there are also issues on the iranian side that have brought this conflict to the stages of really unprecedented heights and the iranian government's not doing anything to make the situation any better either and arguably it's made the biggest mistake which was the contested elections in two thousand and nine and the subsequent human rights abuses that have taken place that in turn took away obama's political maneuverability that was already limited to begin with so it becomes a reinforcing cycle where both sides are poisoning the well and backing themselves into a corner and they don't have a lot of political maneuverability to get out right now so it's going to take somebody really brave both in teheran and washington to take a stand for peace and i hope the adults in the room both in washington teheran will

do exactly that thanks very much for your thoughts reza marashi research director of the national radio. now on our website too we're asking what you think about this big story this is what you've been telling us the question is do you think the strait of hormuz deadlock will evolve which way do you think it's going to go this is what you've been telling us so far that we go forty five percent of you just under half of you voted so far think the u.s. will use the standoff as a pretext to attack iran but a third of us saying a world of media consequence is just the latest move in a long game fourteen percent of you think that ramble to the west last if you go through while you are telling all vital supplies six percent believe we'll achieve the goal of preventing sanctions and the task you over still i don't see the. egyptian rights groups have accused the military rulers of using what they describe

as mubarak era tools of repression that's after soldiers and police raided the offices of ten non-governmental organizations including some foreign ones. is just across the sea in turkey she's got more. thursday gyp carried out unprecedented armed raids on at least seventeen high profile human rights and pro-democracy organizations all across the country and it's been done in a very brutal and very unpleasant way policemen and soldiers swept into office into a gated people didn't let anybody you know out didn't actually let the people make calls to their relatives and eventually seized computers and documents from the offices among those targeted organizations were the u.s. government funded national democratic institute the international republican institute whose chairman is now republican senator john mccain and freedom house so as you can see. sponsored from abroad especially for america has been targeted washington whose military aid to egypt amounts at one point three billion dollars

has been very quick to react expressing its. disappointment with what happened in egypt on thursday call it highly provocative and calling only dip to try to resolve it as soon as possible and to return the stuff that has been taken from the in jos employees the organizations themselves have also responded they've condemned the raids carried out in egypt. claiming it reminded them about tough times and egypt's former dictator hosni mubarak egypt is going through tough times of course these days clashes between demonstrators and police and soldiers still continued all across the country continuing claim lives just last week it ended in the dust of cleaved at least fifteen people and these days a supreme council of military forces egypt's new authority is often criticized for being too slow and too and determined in promised democratic reforms are struggling to cling to power very sensitive about any influence especially from abroad and

very sensitive about control and they're trying to keep power and to control everything and of course as part of this for a new military government might even suspect these organizations n.g.o.s sponsored from abroad of support and of sponsoring protesters all across egypt. let's talk more about this now go to pennsylvania then lawrence davidson he's a professor of middle east history at west chester university lawrence high why is the military leadership launch this raid do you think what what threat did these organizations do these organizations pose to its authority well i see it three power centers evolving in egypt one is of course didn't know terry sees themselves their offices or sees themselves as the founders of modern modern egypt another power center a large power center is the is romanists who worked on very well in the elections and sort of minor but still important power center is these

is the secular kind of liberal party or a that has a has potential. i think these raids were directed at this third element. and the and the alleged outside sources that that support this liberal secular element that would imply if i'm correct that would imply that the military and the islamics are used have reached some sort of. written or not written agreement as to how the future of egypt is going to go. out i'm guessing without these groups as well that are being targeted that be less people to actually report on what was really going on inside the country correct that's true but also. the liberal element is the most adamant element when it

comes to the egyptian army turning over power to a civilian government least so far they're the most adamant and the egyptian army. does not want to do that it has a great prestige stake. and there's it has a great economic stake in this the officer corps and i don't see them turning over complete control of the civilian government and my guess is that the islamicists groups have somehow made in the coming days shin with that reality that present reality. this is far from over yet but the end of the year of course is always a good time to look at the revolution started back in february after which the army took control we all know this it was hailed by many then in the west including the us do you think the attitude to post mubarak egypt changed now oh yeah well mubarak

was the face of the army and that face wore thin ok and it became the mistake here was that the focus of all those demonstrations were on one man rather than on a system now that the. demonstrators or that element of the population that has been consistently demonstrating has learned a lesson that it's not want to be on but it's a system that they have to go after the problem for them however is that the rest of egypt a little including the business sector and the rural rural population and cetera and the islamist don't seem ready to push them back to push the protesters back the protests this is one of the protests this is a point just dragging the system and rebuilding a new way of. looking external relations the muslim brotherhood's growth in egypt put israel on alert according to media there how much does israel in reality

have to fear now well as long as the as long as the military stays in control of the borders. and a foreign foreign affairs if you will i don't think that israel has very much to worry. if first if at some point the military has influence sufficiently by say there's an army of. were accommodation is being made there then things may change that at the after border. and in terms of the gas pipeline and more heavily but i don't think there's going to be another war ok lawrence davidson professor of middle east history at west chester university in pennsylvania thank you thank you. very much is a being held across syria that's made fresh reports of violent crackdowns against protesters there to visit yesterday over one hundred people have been killed by

security forces since change day when the arab began the fact finding mission in syria's flashpoint but it's very hard to verify the information coming from the country clashes began in march between government forces and protesters from both sides being as both a journalist ramzy baroda used to work in the region he told me the conflict being managed things from the outside this is a real worry we do not know what the americans are cooking right now obviously they are they are thinking of a much greater political context than syria the eye thinking iran they are thinking the stability of iraq in the post american withdrawal and they are also and most importantly they are thinking now how will the political vacuum if such a vacuum is created in damascus the fact israel israel's security and the northern border particularly the golan heights front israel cannot afford another security nightmare from their point of view forced to be added to that of south

lebanon and gaza and this is really mostly what the americans are very worried about they are worried about. israel security very little concern about democracy or human rights in syria or anywhere else in the middle east i think that americans are yet to find. a formula that would assure them that in the absence of assad there will be a political rejean that they can trust and i think this is what the americans are trying to ensure right now this is our more our website and our t. dot com.

hello and welcome to the program on this weeks moscow out special will be looking over the highlights of the past year twenty eleven has been an exciting year for the world of russian culture and indeed for the moscow out so over the next twelve minutes we'll be really introducing you to some of the best bits from culture news and shows we've produced over the past twelve months and first up what had to be the most exciting events of the whole year the reopening of the boss or theatre. as the main cultural symbol of russia twenty eleven saw the bolshoi theatre finally returned to its former glory striking day or night illuminated exterior now shines proud after years of being covered by scaffolding canvas and building materials.

the reconstruction took six years and cost billions of rubles but now the fall of space is open to the public it can continue to nurture and showcase the present and future of russian and international talent. it's a once in a lifetime experience or for me it's. going out on to the stage and seeing really the. how big it is and how grand it is and how beautiful the restoration has been it's it's really once in a lifetime. next up on one of my favorite moscow shows of the year was film the stasi the cosmonaut training facility originally a secret apple space to ventured off to russia's only school for cosmonauts and then i was put through a whole range of training procedures underwater weightlessness zero gravity and being spun around inside a centrifuge. and

really pushed me to my limits. the program also highlighted how american astronauts from she calls we know it's now what you call missions so she's the international space station project. to celebrities in twenty eleven now and many a list just around the world have made their way to the russian capital to film premieres concerts and private parties must go see as many of the world's top acts is saying it's impossible to come here every week. pushing crowds love them and they and can't seem to be impressed with the city honestly there's an energy in the city. even more than when i was here two and a half years ago. very vibrant a kind of this is under the surface you feel. a really positive energy.

where anything can happen the possibility is there we went to the museum that houses the faberge eggs and the coronation dresses and. and perhaps the most exciting part of yesterday in some ways was going instead it outside the bolshoi theater it's been a dream of mine it's been great the people have been really welcoming and i've enjoyed my brief time here so far and i hope i get to see some of the city this time but i'll definitely come back i got to come in summer and i got to figure by dates out here but it's you know it was very it was colder last time that so many tourists come here that get the christmas eve. it's beautiful there's a beautiful city going you know seeing the christmas trees exclusive interviews there are moving on and working capital is a totally different place during the summer months open the terraces dominate the restaurant scene and people can enjoy a whole range of sun filled activities including some bathing swimming and water sports temperatures are high and so is the entity of the capital's entertainment scene let's take a look at some of the shows we produced during the summer highlighting popular

tourist destinations logs and hot and happening activities and excursions. in the capital heats up tens of thousands of sun worshippers had to moscow's forests seventy board is an island surrounded by an artificial lake and waterways are some a show in the area i took to a jet ski to prove how much fun metropolis in the summer being. the temperatures are that is the trip to one of the beaches is the perfect way to cool down. next stop and as the oxford street or fifth avenue of the russian capital the street first sky has unquestionably been the city's most important parish for centuries if you see the street has fundamentally changed over the centuries through a narrow medieval wooden surface road to today's slightly a lonely eight lane highway. or some show on the famous street highlighted that

from various statues to modern day sushi cafes this diverse berry will impress the most diehard of tourists. how weekly and salmon share an arctic spores every aspect of arts and culture we also explore cities outside of moscow in the summer so me in the team travel to st petersburg to discover the exciting attractions surrounding the white's knights also known as the venice of the north and the eighteenth century it was a piece of the great stream to create a window to europe and with a vast canal network breathtaking architecture and palaces that were built to rival their european counterparts his vision has been. well achieved. a series of some of programs in twenty eleven looked at the city's homeschools restaurants small to ways attractions and various some activities for visitors to enjoy. a city of palaces and museums who would avenues and winding canals simply to space history has provided the city with a well foggy textural i'm autistic treasures. oh the best time to be here is the

summer for sure i just definitely love it it's brilliant i love all the beautiful buildings the architecture everything the people there are so happy in the summer time this goes far beyond all my expectations is incredible is something. that you can only dream about one of the episodes was about the hermitage museum and the spectacular fountains appeasers off rivaling such will be seems as the loser in paris and the metropolitan in new york damage truly is a cultural wonder. and peterhof which is often referred to as the russian beside is one of the most breathtaking sights and popular tourist destinations in russia. now one thing i love about my job here at our tails the crazy adrenaline filled activities i'm constantly asked to try out speedboats planes jumping heights being

set on fire the list goes on for many shows we produce and try to give you an insight into the real russia from the food they eat the music they enjoy developing pastimes to adrenaline filled sports so with that in mind here's a small selection of moscow toughness from twenty eleven and me in action. program on the subject of flight was my experience i will never forget invited to take to the skies in a young airplane to experience aerobatics it was a stomach churning roller coaster at ten thousand feet as we banked to an incredible sixty degrees and experience great weightlessness. not for the fainthearted to be any pain this experience what zero g. feels like to battle times under the loops the views from above are impressive but it felt very different to a typical commercial flight paths for

a short. programme called moscow nine one one for the most county expo the police fire and ambulance emergency services in the machine capital we saw how such facilities are constantly at the ready twenty four hours a day. and of course such a program involved lots of action sequences. water. finally be action sequences full action sequences you know represent about filmmaking in modern day moscow explore the most film studios and we're invited to set up a new country and should result in more drama called white tiger. the programme finished off the stunts must go well i was asked. i would like to participate. and take shots i was given the instructions

a bomb was placed on my head and i'm just one of the cream was applied to my face with everything ready for my back and legs of my suit and the flame was. not. to be tried. as an efficiently run program it's already prepared the students to safely undertake to define feats the world of russian cinema and t.v. but by now. i lived to tell the tale i lied to them both in one take well it's long been known that london is a magnet for many russians today the said to be almost half a million russian speakers in britain many jochen called the capital london grab as the ever changing multicultural city becomes a melting pot for new russians so early in the year the must go out to the british

and french capitals russian influence and connections abroad. you'll find just how much russian culture is imbedded into many aspects of western society. for sure promoting football clubs to major newspapers russians are certainly making their mark on the british capital. moving south into a series of russians have also been fascinated with french culture for centuries shows showcase how much christians do the social scene in paris and as we proved the modern day french capital is scripted with russian connections and cultural aspects. well. that we have a small selection from the dozens of shows we produce for you goodbye twenty eleven how many people i meet in the u.k.

for example have no idea about the cultural diversity of this country has to offer and from palm trees in the south of volcanoes in the east i think russia is one of the most misunderstood destinations moscow st petersburg offer two of the most spectacular cultural scenes in the world but if you haven't explored them well you don't know what you are missing the most who our team has a whole range of exciting programs planned for next year so stay tuned and watch out for more cultural excursions in twenty twelve that's hard flies in the mean time best wishes from the moscow team and a very happy here. around

the world from central moscow this is r t and these are all top stories of the gulf is on edge to us so close to a rainy a naval exercise right next to a crucial oil room to rand's been threatening to block. also headlining egypt's ruling generals are accused of terror and he has raids a staged against the offices of foreign human rights groups that the military says is stirring up trouble. and major opposition marches are being held in syria with activists suggesting more than thirty.