Brian Murphy

Read the latest stories and analysis from Brian Murphy.

Iran bans ‘luxury’ imports as sanctions bite

Brian Murphy, Nasser Karimi · November 8, 2012 5:00 am

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, members of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra rehearse at the Roudaki hall in Tehran, Iran. Iran's national symphony orchestra has been disbanded for lack of funds, musicians said, another sign of the effects of Western economic sanctions. Orchestra members told the semiofficial ILNA news agency Monday Oct 29 2012 that they have not rehearsed together and have not been paid for three months(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iran orchestra finale rings of hard-line pressure

Brian Murphy, Nasser Karimi · October 30, 2012 4:00 am

Iran seeks renewed talks with familiar demands

Brian Murphy · October 21, 2012 4:00 am

Iranian carpet sellers wait for customers at Tehran's old main bazaar in downtown Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. Iran's parliament on Sunday abandoned its planned impeachment of a Cabinet minister over the free-fall of the country's currency, opting instead to look for more effective economic measures, like cutting spending. The aborted move to impeach the minister reflects unease over the severe drop in the value of the Iranian rial, mostly because of Western sanctions over Iran's suspect nuclear program. On Sunday the parliament approved outlines of a bill to restrict the government's use of different exchange rates for its foreign revenue and requiring the return of some funds to the treasury. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iran rulers eye currency mess from protected perch

Brian Murphy · October 7, 2012 4:00 am

FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 file photo, Iranian women use computers at an Internet cafe in central Tehran. Iran's cyber monitors often tout their efforts to fight the West's 'soft war' of influence through the web, but trying to ban Google's popular Gmail may have gone too far with complaints coming even from email-starved parliament members. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)

Iran swipe at Web brings angry reply

Brian Murphy, Nasser Karimi · September 30, 2012 4:00 am

Iran’s president leaves trail of guesses on future

Brian Murphy · September 26, 2012 5:45 pm

FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 file photo, masked Palestinians throw stones towards Israeli security forces, not pictured, during clashes that erupted after a demonstration against an anti-Islam film called "Innocence of Muslims" that ridicules Islam's Prophet Muhammad, in Shuafat refugee camp, Jerusalem. U.S.-funded ads on Pakistani television include President Barack Obama extolling America's religious tolerance. To many in the Muslim world, this misses the mark in efforts to calm the outrage over a film mocking the Prophet Muhammad. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

Free speech ‘red lines’ feed Muslim film rage

Brian Murphy · September 24, 2012 4:00 am

This photo released by the official website of the Iranian supreme leader's office, shows opening session of the Nonaligned Movement, NAM, summit, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Egypt's new president described the Syrian regime as "oppressive" and called for it to transfer power to a democratic system during a visit to Syria's key regional ally Iran on Thursday. (AP Photo/Office of the Supreme Leader)

Egypt leader in Iran: World must back Syria rebels

Brian Murphy, Nasser Karimi · August 30, 2012 4:00 am

Two delegates take pictures of some participants of the Non-Aligned Movement ministers meeting in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Iran is currently hosting a weeklong gathering of the 51-year-old movement, which ends Friday. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iran agenda faces ‘realities’ at world gathering

Brian Murphy · August 28, 2012 4:00 am

Syria’s conflict stirs unrest in fragile Lebanon

Brian Murphy · August 15, 2012 8:07 pm

Riad Hijab, Syria's defected former prime minister arrives to a press conference at the Hyatt Hotel, in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. Hijab is the highest-ranking political figure to defect from Assad's regime and in his first public comments since leaving his post and fleeing to Jordan he said Tuesday that the regime was near collapse and urged other political and military leaders to tip the scales and join the rebel side. (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)

Syrian rebels seek new leverage with abductions

Brian Murphy · August 15, 2012 4:00 am

This image made from amateur video released by the Shaam News Network purports to show Syrian Pilot Colonel Rafik Mohammed Suleiman being interrogated by rebel officers after his Soviet-made MiG warplane was apparently hit by ground fire over Deir el-Zour province, an area near the Iraqi border, Syria, Monday Aug. 13, 2012. If the rebel claim of the downing proves true, it could mark a significant jump in their ability to combat widening air attacks from President Bashar Assad's forces. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS HANDOUT PHOTO

Rebel video claims to show captured Syrian pilot

Brian Murphy · August 13, 2012 4:00 am