Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Leaked recording of Iran’s top diplomat offers blunt talk
President Biden's effort to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran may be in jeopardy after a leaked tape exposed deep divisions between military leaders and diplomats inside Iran, with the credibility of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif now in doubt at a crucial moment in negotiations. Published April 26, 2021
Turkey summons U.S. ambassador after Biden declaration on Armenian genocide
The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. ambassador in Ankara to protest President Biden's recognition over the weekend that the former Ottoman Empire's mass killing of Armenians was a genocide. Published April 25, 2021
EU joins U.S. in criticizing China provocations to the Philippines
The European Union joined in U.S. criticism of China's ongoing maritime provocations toward the Philippines in the South China Sea over the weekend, with Brussels accusing Beijing of making waves that "endanger peace and stability in the region." Published April 25, 2021
North Korean propaganda spike suggests looming challenge to Biden, U.S.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been uncharacteristically quiet as the new Biden administration weighs its policy for the divided Korean peninsula, but there are signs that's about to change. Published April 22, 2021
Timothy Lenderking, U.S. special envoy: Iran is still fueling Yemen conflict
A top U.S. diplomat painted a dark picture of Iran's meddling in Yemen on Wednesday, telling a congressional hearing that Tehran continues to provide "lethal" support for Houthi fighters even after the Biden administration eased pressure on the rebel group by removing them from the State Department's foreign terrorist list. Published April 21, 2021
China, neighbors weigh options and hedge bets as Biden prepares Afghan exit
China is eying Afghanistan's natural gas and precious metal deposits. Russia and Iran are cultivating ties with both the Afghan government and the Taliban insurgents, with the goal of wielding influence no matter who ends up in control of Kabul. Published April 21, 2021
Putin threatens ‘harsh’ punishment if West crosses ‘red lines’
Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened on Wednesday to respond with "asymmetrical, swift and harsh" punishment if America and its allies cross "red lines" the Kremlin has set with regard to friction points between Russia and the West. Published April 21, 2021
Russian envoy says ‘no famine’ in North Korea, describes ‘extra-harsh’ COVID-19 restrictions
Russia's top diplomat in North Korea is downplaying claims by Kim Jong-un that the North Korean economic situation has become so dire it now compares to the 1990s famine that killed hundreds of thousands in the isolated nation. Published April 16, 2021
White House claims ‘indirect’ Iran talks are on for Thursday, despite setbacks
Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday slammed the latest U.S. offer for renewed nuclear diplomacy, but the White House was undeterred, with officials saying they are preparing for "a long process," even as Tehran ramps up its uranium enrichment to near bomb-grade levels. Published April 14, 2021
Joe Biden urges Russia to ‘de-escalate tensions’ with Ukraine, proposes summit
NATO leaders and Russia traded sharp threats Tuesday over a military standoff in Ukraine, with President Biden pressing the Kremlin to de-escalate the situation and suggesting it was time for him and Russian President Vladimir Putin to have a face-to-face talk about Russian provocations. Published April 13, 2021
Russian provocations surging as Blinken and Austin huddle with NATO allies
The threat of a new Russian invasion of Ukraine will top the agenda as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin attend meetings with their counterparts at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday. Published April 13, 2021
Attack on Iran Natanz uranium enrichment plant threatens diplomacy
The Biden administration on Monday distanced itself from what Iranian officials claim was an Israeli sabotage operation that cut electricity to Iran's top nuclear facility over the weekend -- moving quickly to try to keep the incident from blowing up the White House's push for direct nuclear diplomacy with Tehran. Published April 12, 2021
Iran vows ‘revenge’ against Israel for Natanz attack
Iran vowed Monday to "take revenge" against Israel for what Tehran claims was an Israeli operation that briefly cut electricity to the Islamic republic's preeminent uranium enrichment facility over the weekend. Published April 12, 2021
Lloyd Austin, Pentagon chief, to visit Israel amid spike in Iran ‘shadow war’ attacks
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will make the Biden administration's first high-level visit to Israel over the coming days to meet with Israeli leaders at a delicate moment in the White House's push to revive American diplomacy with Israel's archenemy Iran. Published April 9, 2021
Biden admin bristles as China accuses U.S. of ‘intimidation’ tactics, claims ownership of Taiwan
Tensions between the U.S. and China are escalating over the pro-democracy island of Taiwan, with Beijing accusing Washington of engaging in "intimidation and coercion" by sailing American military ships through the Taiwan Strait. Published April 8, 2021
U.S. backtracks as China expresses fury over possible Beijing Winter Olympics boycott
The Biden administration sought Wednesday to tamp down speculation it is considering a boycott of next year's Winter Olympics in China, amid growing pressure from human rights groups and the threat of a "forceful" response from Beijing if Washington tries to rally countries to pull out of the Games. Published April 7, 2021
Vladimir Putin, Russia test Biden with ‘hybrid warfare’ operations in Ukraine, Arctic
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been ramping up "hybrid warfare" operations in Ukraine and the Arctic in recent weeks in an early test of President Biden's resolve, a build-up that many see as a way for the Russian leader to score points abroad while shoring up sagging polls at home. Published April 6, 2021
Antony Blinken offers mixed message on Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration is committed to imposing sanctions to block Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Western Europe. Published March 28, 2021
U.S.-China sanctions battle escalating under Biden with focus on Xinjiang abuses
A tit-for-tat sanctions battle between the Biden administration and China has reached new heights in recent days, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken accusing Beijing of attempting to "intimidate and silence" U.S. officials who speak out for human rights around the world. Published March 28, 2021
China flouts Iran sanctions on oil as Trump-era pressure campaign crumbles
The Biden administration claims to be upholding the Trump-era pressure campaign on Iran, but there are clear signs sanctions are crumbling as China dramatically increases its purchases of embargoed Iranian crude oil. Published March 25, 2021