The Specials

Iran nuclear burden transferred to Russia

Obama's missile shield offer to Russian leaders may be welcome, although his speech could irritate rather than bring peace

ANALYSIS: Russia’s economic skills boost hopes

US finds value in strengthening relationship with Russia after World Bank praises Moscow’s response to worldwide downturn

Nuclear threat from Iran Israel's big dilemma

No easy options for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as Americans play it cool over pre-emptive strike against Tehran

Obama’s gamble may Middle East's last chance

President Obama himself is the biggest new factor bringing hope for peace in the Middle East

Germany can lead EU to a tougher line

Angela Merkel, the Chancellor, in Washington for talks with President Obama, will inevitably focus on Iran

Obama’s tough words silence critics for now

The post-election turmoil in Iran gives the US President more options, although his tools are the same, and none is powerful

Iran has more to lose in fight with Britain

The regime risks increasing the row to the point where Britain wants to call in the European Union and US

Mullahs can’t ignore Europe

The EU governments’ new tough talk will not change the outcome within Iran but they cannot be ignored

Same question remains: will Iran negotiate?

Britain and US may believe Ahmadinejad stole the election — but they will try to bring him to the negotiating table anyway

Russia leads Bric's search for common cause

Four find little common ground beyond shared self-interest in welcoming Ahmadinejad on his first foreign trip since election

Khameini and clerics call the shots in Iran

The role of Iran’s Supreme Leader has been described as 'part Pope, part commander-in-chief and one-man Supreme Court'

Two words from Netanyahu that could mean hope

When the Israeli Prime Minister uttered the words "Palestinian state" in his speech on Sunday, it was a real concession

Obama must raise diplomacy stakes with Iran

US should present President Ahmadinejad with an offer he cannot refuse to help to foment change in the pariah state

Netanyahu’s miscalculation over Obama

Did the Israeli leader think the US President would favour anything but a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue?

Analysis: Pakistan hotel truck bombing

The suicide blast was intended to sever some of Pakistan's links with the outside world. It will probably succeed

Obama faces opposition over healthcare plans

President Obama has taken on an ambitious project that has beaten his predecessors: providing healthcare to all Americans

Mockery of Iranian President is healthy

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s popular appeal may be waning but the real battle in the election campaign involves the economy

A ‘No’ from Britain could derail Lisbon treaty

Elections right across Europe will sho what people think of their politicians not the European Parliament

ANALYSIS: Obama evades democracy dilemma

The President is evading the problem left to him by George Bush by giving his address to the Muslim world in Egypt