navy in the persian gulf. iran has developed some asemitic navel capabilities, has a lot of small fast boats, some decent anti-ship cruz missiles based on chinese technology that has also developed on its own. so it could impede traffic through the strait of hormuz for a short amount of time, most likely. can it close the strait of hormuz? no. >> what's the likelihood they're going to make good on their threat to attack a u.s. warship, especially a u.s. carrier because that would seem to be a poor choice on their part? >> iran doesn't want a direct conflict with the united united states. it wants a manageable state of attentions where oil prices go up, iran showed that it's strong to its domestic population, especially. look, we have a regime here that is facing upcoming parliamentary elections and presidential elections in 2013. and the regime is deeply worried that the population won't think of these elections as legitimate. if we remember in 2009, millions of iranians came out into the streets and protested

iran test paused long range missiles during a naval drills in the persian gulf says it's prepared to hit back if it's attacked becomes as western nations plan to impose further sanctions targeting its all of the financial sector as well tehran threatens to shut off oil supply in return. until he sends up a new eye in the sky satellite which could give the closeup images a security conscious israel first time country is being protected from close up pictures until. now one of the first promises made by president obama when he first came to power back in two thousand and eight was to close the controversial guantanamo bay detention center four years later it's still live and i want to talk to the senses a former chief military prosecutor who speaks of his huge disappointment. we're sitting down with morris davis a man of a very interesting career he was the chief prosecutor for the military tribunals or guantanamo bay in two thousand and seven he resigned over his objection to the use of evidence obtained by torture and to what he saw as growing political interference in those military

iran test fires a long range missiles during naval drills in the persian gulf and says it's prepared to hit back if it's attacked it comes as western nations plan to impose further sanctions targeting its oil financial sectors.

long range missiles on the last day of major naval exercises in the international waters of the persian gulf it comes amid mounting western pressure on the country of its nuclear ambitions to iran says it's ready to counter any it's not like countries like israel or the united states has reacted angrily to new u.s. sanctions targeting its central bank and the financial sector iran has been threatening to close the strait of hormuz the most important oil export route linking the persian gulf to the ija notion here is mostly an embargo on the purchase it will rain or zero with a decision on that expected before the end of the month and say mohamed el marandi from the university of tehran says a war with iran would engulf the whole region. it is really the americans that are being provocative they are trying to make ordinary iranians suffer at the same time you see senior american officials and politicians constantly calling for the assassination of iranian scientists of iranian military commanders of politicians and the constant threat of attacking and bombing the country so really the problem

link in the persian gulf to the indian ocean. is mulling an embargo on the purchase of grain in oil with a decision on that expected before the end of the month and say it mohammad marandi from the university of tehran says a war with iran wouldn't go the. it is really the americans that are being provocative they are trying to make ordinary iranians suffer at the same time we see senior american officials and politicians constantly calling for the assassination of iranian scientists of iranian military commanders of politicians and the constant threat of attacking and bombing the country so really the problem lies with the united states the maneuvers in the persian gulf are basically to show the united states that iran is strong and can attack themselves and it is basically the only way in which to force the united states to recognize that certain lines just simply shouldn't be crossed if the americans and its allies try to make the iranian economy suffocate the iranians will have no option but to respond in a sea of severe mann

iran testifies long range missiles during naval drills in the persian gulf and says it's prepared to hit back if it's attacked it comes as western nations plan to impose further sanctions targeting its oil and financial sectors while tehran threatens to shut off key oil supplies. plus the conflict in syria takes a new twist as arab league observers say the regime has pulled its forces back from flashpoint opposition strongholds has demanded the peace plan but league warns there's still the issue of snipers firing on protesters. as well the headlines up next the story of a catastrophic environmental disaster in our special report tom creek. will rogers once they had somebody asking about my and they said well i just don't make much of anymore and we need the lord intends for us to be good sturtz what he gave us and we did a terrible job here we have better terrible to. you nothing about pitcher i'd spent half of the football game in picher oklahoma back in one thousand nine hundred four it was dark didn't have the team to appreciate the scenic view that the pitcher offer.

the persian gulf monarchies and most of the developing world on the other side so it's a game of shadowsand syria is a pawn in this game even though of course people in syria are suffering people are being killed and their repression by the regime is heavy handed because it is a hard core political repressive police state in fact the only solution would be more or less what the assad government is trying to do amnesty let's try to sit down we don't deal with terrorists as they say because they are some sunni al-qaeda just had this to sort of terrorists infiltrated into the protests as well but it's also there are legitimate protests by the young generations in syria so the only solution would be from the part of the assad government a little bit of political acumen here let's sit down let's talk to some legitimate opposition and not of course the people who are killing syrian soldiers and syrian political offices bascom are live with us on the line from bangkok thank you very much for your analysis. well to get more news and perspective from syria you convinced of the blog of our interna

here on testifies long range missiles during a naval drills in the persian gulf and says it's prepared to hit back if it's attacked comes of western nations plan to pose further sanctions targeting its board of financial sectors around threatens to shut off or keep oil supply. the conflict in syria takes a new twist this arab league observers say that he has called its forces back flashpoint opposition strongholds and the peace plan b. one-step still the issue of snipers firing on protesters. now what changes can we expect in world politics and the world economy and twenty twelve a look at what's ahead now debate show cross talk next hurdle to. keep. it. low in welcoming people about what does the year two thousand and twelve hold for the world will be as trivial in just a year before fool said the trends who'll stay in power and who will fall for the protests that started around the world continue apace and will this year be just as violent as the year the just. ended.

the aircraft carrier "abraham lincoln" recently passed through and is now in the persian gulf. where merchants and politicians are concerned, this is the most significant waterway in the world. it's here in the persian gulf america and iran's resolve will be tested if they can't come to some sort of compromise. iranians are worried about war and feeling the bite of economic sanctions. we met some in a fish market on the strait of hormuz. "everything is more expensive," this fish monger says, and people are buying less. this man saw the american fifth fleet looking like a floating city and it scared him to death. not everybody is scared. this merchant, a veteran of the iran/iraq war says iran dealt with this kind of pressure before and will do so again. the pressure is growing as the strait of hormuz becomes the focus of a dangerous international tug of war. ali arouzi, nbc news, the persian gulf. >>> still ahead tonight as our broadcast continues, city hall, the library, even the cemetery for sale to the highest bidder. a once-thriving american city, birth place of an iconic am

iran test fires long range missiles during a naval drills in the persian gulf and says it's prepared to hit back if it's attacked comes with us today she has planted those for the sanctions targeting its board in financial sectors tehran threatens to shut.

here on testify as long range missiles naval drills in the persian gulf and says he's prepared to hit back if it's attacked comes a western nations turn to impose further sanctions targeting it's on the financial sector its own threatens to shut. down in turkey sends up a new sky a satellite which could give the world something which is security conscious in israel for the very first time a country has attempted to close up pictures until now. and one of the first promises made by president obama when he first came to power back in two thousand and eight was to close the controversial guantanamo bay detention center four years later it's still there now on talks to the center former chief military prosecutor who speaks of his huge disappointment. we're sitting down with morris davis a man of a very interesting career he was the chief prosecutor for the military tribunals a guantanamo bay in two thousand and seven he resigned over his objection to the use of evidence obtained by torture and to what he saw as growing political interference in those military tribunals now he says althoug

the report comes as we learn a floating naval base is preparing to head to the persian gulf.bc's david kerley on what this all means tonight. >> reporter: navy s.e.a.l.s are about to get a ship. a floating base. set to be retired weeks ago, tonight it's on a fast-track rebuild, to head to the persian gulf, searching for mines and adversaries. >> what it will be is a mothership for special operation forces, to deploy warriors to difficult parts of the world. >> reporter: the ponce is getting cranes to pull mine, ability to dock 12 small boats, place to dock helicopters, conference rooms. and on-board operations center. also, attention on another weapon, the megabomb known as the bunker-buster. the pentagon is going back to the drawing board and congress for more money. it turns out the 30,000 pound bomb, might not penetrate far enough to destroy iran's underground nuclear facilities. defense secretary leon panetta told the "wall street journal," we're still working on it. we're going to have that capability soon. >> this is true preparation? this isn't just sending a message t

and bombing the country so really the problem lies with the united states the maneuvers in the persian gulf are basically to show the united states that iran is strong and can protect themselves and it is basically the only way in which to force the united states to recognize that certain lines just simply shouldn't be crossed if the americans and its allies try to make the iranian economy suffocate the iranians will have no option but to respond in a sea of severe manner this is a region where an extraordinarily large amount of oil and gas. goes through and if there is insecurity in the region it's not just the strait of hormuz if there is a conflict in the persian gulf tankers who will be at risk that oil installations will be at risk war as hell and this instability will go beyond the persian gulf it will i think of oil exports and gas exports will be at risk in central asia and throughout the middle east and there will be a lot of backlash from the public throughout the region. well as a showdown in the gulf brews we're asking what you think you know states wants to get from a conflict

naval deployments in the persian gulf would continue, as they have for decades. and white house spokesperson jay carney said iran's warnings show that global sanctions are hurting. >> it reflects the fact that iran is in a position of weakness. it's the latest round of iranian threats. it's confirmation that tehran is under increasing pressure for its continued failures to live up to its international obligations. iran is isolated. and it's seeking to divert attention from its behavior and domestic problems. >> holman: iran's warnings to the west have escalated as it faces the possibility of curbs on its vital oil exports. a string of bombings struck southern afghanistan today, killing at least 13 people. three separate explosions erupted in the city of kandahar, one in the morning and the others in the evening. one of the bombs was onboard a motorcycle that blew up at a police checkpoint. four police officers and a child were among those killed. the other blasts went off within minutes of each other at a busy intersection. in egypt, prosecutors began to make the

and israel the exercises that iran was doing in the in the persian gulf we have sanctions in place with no diplomacy the only way that that is through confrontation back in september the u.s. actually provided israel with an advanced radar and for the first time actually deployed. permanently deployed u.s. troops to israel that was a small contingent of a couple hundred troops what we see now though is this much larger exercise not unprecedented but definitely something that is going to have an impact right now as we see this sort of tit for tat in confrontation between the u.s. and iran the idea is that we're there to be a massive war in the middle east presumably with iran that we would be ready to have a set of command within israel and actually have israel set up a command center in europe at the u.s. european command iranian officials have said this they're going to consider any strike by israel a strike by the united states. well now let's see what else is making the news this hour in world update have a look at some other international headlines now in turkey a former chief of st

if a specific aircraft carrier returned to the persian gulf. week ago another aircraft carrier entered the persian gulf and iranians have not protested its presence at all. >> thank you. >>> in syria this evening, new and difficult images as the regime escalates the crackdown on protester, more than 80 people have been killed in the last 72 hours. alex marquardt has the latest on some of the new victims, some of them children. again a warning, this is difficult to watch. >> reporter: disturbing images of a family, with several young children, reportedly killed by syrian security forces in the city of homs. "it's a genocide," a man says in this graphic video posted online by opposition activists. abc news cannot verify its authenticity. with the situation on the ground deteriorating, the arab league is pulling out its observers who have been in syria for the past month investigating the crisis. in december, the president denied responsibility for civilian deaths in an exclusive interview with barbara walters. >> nobody kill -- no government in t

the persian gulf was busy with oil tankers from all over the world. oman has facilities near the strait of hormuz. omany boats were on patrol. iran conducted naval exercises in the area late last month. iran has also test launched its missiles to show off. the united states has deployed a secondary craft carrier in the area. countries around the gulf have built up their forces in case of tension with iran. the united arab emirates signed a contract to buy the latest u.s. missile interceptors. saudi arabia signed a deal to buy more f-115 fighters from the united states. >> they're increasingly buying more arms as well as their recent experience in libya has taught them how to use air power effectively. so this is a nice combination of attributes to face off against iran. >> the big question is, how they will export oil if the strait of hormuz is closed. the uae is building a pipeline to bypass the strait, but the pipeline won't be finished for at least six months. >> translator: i'll do everything i can to keep oil production going. >> reporter: 0% of

in the persian gulf in the next always good to get your in for use william f. william angle sorry about that well thanks for being on the line from frankfurt there pretty like you like you. as a ram and the u.s. in gauging a political standoff america's mainstream media are being accused of fueling the fire sanctions over to rand's nuclear program and uncertainty in the gulf provided news outlets in the states a platform to speculate over the likelihood of war and its artie's got a teacher can reports next it's not the first time american viewers have been led to believe that conflict is inevitable. twenty two options bomb iran or let iran get the bomb with tension between iran and the west as high as ever for a host of hardline speakers on us mainstream media seem to be pushing the audience to believe that war is inevitable and the better way to prevent iran from getting nuclear weapons is to attack its nuclear weapons program directly although experts say war with iran is far from being inevitable i don't think that we are very get that is to say at the preci

presence in the persian gulf. "washington journal" is next. >> he says, i've got business experience. well, business experience doesn't necessarily match up with being the commander in chief of that country. the commander in chief is not a ceo, it's someone who has to lead. being a president is not the ceo you. can't direct members of congress or the senate on how to do things. >> i think people who spend their life in washington don't understand what happens out in the real economy. they think the people who start businesses are just managers. people who start as entrepreneurs to start a business from the ground up and get customers and investors and hire people to join them, those people are leaders. and the chance to lead in free enterprise is extraordinarily critical to also being able to lead a state like i led in massachusetts. >> well, there were at least some exchanges like this at last night's debate in new hampshire. but most of the writeups suggested swings at mitt romney and he eluded the attacks. agai

not to send an aircraft carrier back into the persian gulf. it may sound like an empty threat. but it's also clever propaganda. the "uss stennis" left the gulf last week headed for home and won't be back any time soon, so the iran can claim the "stennis" didn't dare return, but the two other carries, the "lincoln" and the "benson" are on the way to the region and one is scheduled to take part in exercises inside the gulf. as they have in the past, the iranians could harass the carrier with go fast boats as it is in the channel of the two-mile channel through the strait of hormuz. over the last two days, iran showed off antiship missiles and submarines and hydrofoils to back up a claim they surely don't believe. that closing the strait of hormuz to the super tankers that carry one-fifth of the world's oil would be, quote, easier than drink is a glass of water. but it makes them stop and think what would happen to their economies if a vital choke point in a middle east oil became a war zone? it's one of the few cards iran has to play to discourage the rest of the world tougher ec

the fleet is based in bahrain, which lies across the persian gulf from iran. last week, the u.s. navy deployed two nuclear power aircraft carriers near the strait in an apparent bid to keep iran in check. iran continues its nuclear development in the face of international pressure. western countries have been gradually tightening sanctions against iran. they're now trying to sever exports of crude oil from the country. last month the u.s. congress passed legislation aimed at preventing iran from shipping crude oil abroad. the european union also plans to impose an oil embargo against iran in the near future. iran relies on revenues from oil exports. if they plunge, the country will face domestic turmoil. early this month, the value of iran's rial slumped against other currencies, touching the lowest level since the 1979 islamic revolution in the nation. a local newspaper carried out this cartoon. it depicts iranians lining up to buy gold and dollars, which are more stable than real. we're here at a bazaar in iran where recent economic sanctions have greatly affected prices of bas

and sparks flying in the persian gulf the u.s. says it's ready for armed confrontation with iran with forces on standby in case to run decides to shop a key oil route.

says its warships will stick to their missions near a crucial oil lane out of the persian gulf despite warnings from iran to stay away the standoff continues to drive up oil prices and tension. their public and presidential candidate race gets underway in earnest but voters remain indecisive over just trying to put forward to capitalize the dissolution meant with barack obama. and the euro's woes flare up again after christmas wall. thousands now threatening to ditch the euro zone unless the e.u. and i.m.f. funnel more valid cash into its collapsing economy. and egyptians had back to the polling stations for the third and final round of their parliamentary election the first vote there since president mubarak was toppled in february last year. time now for the sports news here in r.t. . hello there welcome to the sport and these are the headlines three uneasy manch to city beat liverpool three nailed to race clear at the top of being leashed primarily. while title rivals manchester united have the chance to get level with a trip to newcastle. and basketball kings him off on the weekend

bring its aircraft carrier back to the persian gulf think it will continue its military presence off the iranian coast between the two sides are sparking fears of a looming military conflict. u.s. republicans have cast their vote in the first caucus to pick a single presidential nominee with former massachusetts governor mitt romney winning in iowa ron paul came in third with his antiwar view being blamed. not winning over and not party members. and curbing gang violence is now one of the top priorities for britain's leaders but analysts say the root causes need tackling first with deep seated poverty and abusive families drawing teams into street crime . nexus the latest sports with enter from. hello there welcome to the sport and these are the headlines three uneasy managed to city beat liverpool perineal to race clear at the top of being leashed premier league. while title rivals manchester united have the chance to get level with a trip to newcastle. and basketball kings him off on the weekend after a fourteen month winning streak in russia's top flight. but first russia have rea

says its warships will continue their missions in the persian gulf in response to iran's warning to keep the aircraft carriers one of the away from its waters but tensions rose as the u.s.s. john stennis passed through an area where iran that was holding ten days of naval wargames in the job began their realm threatened to block a key oil supply route if new u.s. sanctions hit its exports but later back the drill also saw a number tested which were some of the range of the russian military says iran cannot produce intercontinental ballistic missiles iran is under increasing pressure from western countries which believe it might be developing a nuclear weapon asia times correspondent. says the new sanctions adopted by the us over the to.

to the persian gulf continue its military presence on the iranian coast standoff between the two sides is sparking fears. that. u.s. republicans have cast their vote in the first caucus to pick a single presidential nominee former massachusetts governor mitt romney now only winning in iowa ron paul came in third with his. winning the green party members. curbing gang violence is now one of the top priorities for britain's leaders to analysts say the root causes of the first deep seated poverty the use of families one teaches them to speak. time now to check all the latest sports news. welcome to the. headlines. at the top of the. you know i did have the chance to get level with a trip to new castle. finally after a fourteen month winning streak in russia. but first russia have reached the finals of the under twenty world ice hockey championship speaking hosts canada six five and a real thriller in calgary the russians had been six one up. net self butt. house then stormed back with four thousand five minutes in the final period to set up a really tense finale however russia managed to

of the persian gulf despite. a way continues to drive up oil prices on tension. the republican presidential candidate race get some to weigh in. here as well as flare up again. now threatening to ditch the eurozone unless. the e.u. and i.m.f. bailout cash into its collapsing economy. and the gyptian is headed back to polling station for the third and final round of the parliamentary election the first vote there since president mubarak was toppled in february. and there are headlines now later spoke with andrew. hello there welcome to the sport and these are the headlines three uneasy managed to city beat liverpool perineal to race clear at the top of being list premier league. while title rivals manchester united have the chance to get level with a trip to newcastle. and basketball kings him off on the weekend after a fourteen month winning streak in russia's top frogs. but first russia have reached the finals of the under twenty world ice hockey championship speaking hosts canada six five and a real thriller in calgary the russians had been six one up after a h

over the persian gulf the critical trade route in the strait of hormuz washington says its war shipswill continue their missions in the region despite terrans warning that they should stay away iran threatened to block oil shipments through the strait of hormuz if the western sanctions hit its exports that threat came at the same time as a ten day long naval exercise which showcased new aircraft and medium range missiles the u.s. who ships are stationed in the area maintains that it won't tolerate any hindrance of passage iran's already suffering from four rounds of sanctions the latest bill signed by president obama on monday saw its national currency drop by ten percent to a record low earlier it's an expert on mideast affairs told me he thinks diplomacy is the only way out of the current stalemate they cause sanctions will down the.

not to bring it back to the persian gulf. disaster .its foreign policy is very distinct from the other candidates but republicans also understand this issue. of. the war advocate wrong paul is among the front runners in the first caucus to pick a republican presidential nominee but his views. on party members. while the democratic president barack obama appears to be dwindling even among. say they want to turn the streets. internationally as in comment twenty four hours a day this is r.t. the us says its war ships will continue their missions in the persian gulf responds to rounds of warning to keep aircraft carriers one away from its waters tensions rose as the u.s.s. john stennis passed through an area where iran was holding ten days of naval wargames when the drill began around threaten to block a key oil supply route if new u.s. sanctions hit its export led to back down drill through a number of missiles test which are said to be long range for the russian military since iran cannot produce intercontinental ballistic missiles iran i

in the persian gulf. and the world welcomes with fireworks celebration and toes as the holiday sweeps the globe north america was the latest thing you hear as hundreds of thousands packed new york's times square for the symbolic ball dropping at midnight. the headlines here ninety ender's here next to sports news. hello there thanks for watching the sports and these other headlines party poop is lonely black beat manchester united three two at old trafford on fergie's seventieth birthday. while foster more store and regular lanka turned his back on the n.b.a. to stay with his hometown club here to moscow. and eternal russia's mixed martial arts king you mean the name care for always judo chances to should be chic for an easy win in japan. but first an incredible win for blackburn rovers in the english premier league they beat manchester united three two at old trafford to lift themselves off the bottom of the table a result which also prevents or alex ferguson's men from going top at new year on his seven

says it wants more ships will stick to their missions near a crucial oil lane out of the persian gulf despite warnings from iran to stay away the standoff continues to drive up oil prices and tension. the republican presidential candidate race gets underway in earnest voters remain indecisive over just how to put forward the lies and disillusionment with barack obama. plus the rise of crime and gang culture among british youngsters from troubles families who say it's their only way of escaping violence at home. now it's time for a sports update with andrew farmer stay with us. color that welcome to the sport and these are the headlines three uneasy managed to city beat liverpool perineal to race clear at the top of being leashed premier league. while title rivals manchester united have the chance to get level with a trip to newcastle. and boss of all kings him off on the weekend after a fourteen month winning streak in russia's top frogs. but first russia have reached the finals of the under twenty world ice hockey championship speaking hosts canada six five and a real thriller in cal