Morning Brief, Monday, March 26

Timothy A. Clary/AFP Middle East Iran rejected new U.N. sanctions as illegal and suspended cooperation with nuclear inspectors. Iran has already payed a steep financial price for its defiance, the Washington Post reports. And for now, the country is hanging on to 15 captured British sailors. Outgoing U.S. ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad held talks ...

603054_070326_un_05.jpg
603054_070326_un_05.jpg

Timothy A. Clary/AFP

Timothy A. Clary/AFP

Middle East

Iran rejected new U.N. sanctions as illegal and suspended cooperation with nuclear inspectors. Iran has already payed a steep financial price for its defiance, the Washington Post reports. And for now, the country is hanging on to 15 captured British sailors.

Outgoing U.S. ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad held talks with insurgent leaders from early 2006. (Whatever the details of the discussions, they haven’t helped Baghdad’s devastated Sunni neighborhoods.)

Egypt votes today on highly dubious constitutional amendments. U.S. Secretary of State Condi Rice commented, “The process of reform is one that is difficult.” Get the grim details here.

2008

Is New York’s billionaire mayor running for U.S. president?

Europe 

Nicolas Sarkozy resigned as France’s interior minister to concentrate on his presidential run, not long after rival Ségolène Royal began attacking him for his job performance. Strangely, Royal thinks now is an auspicious moment to back Turkey’s bid to join the EU.

Germany’s Angela Merkel marked Europe’s 50th birthday party by calling for a new constitutional treaty. Writing for FP, Alan Sked argues that ordinary Europeans see the EU celebrations as “a sick joke” and the constitution as anti-democratic.

Today’s the deadline for Northern Ireland’s political leaders to agree on a power-sharing formula.

Asia 

Hong Kong’s newly elected leader is Beijing’s man.

China’s Hu Jintao is looking for energy love in all the right places. Today, he’s in Moscow, where he’ll also talk with Russian leaders about Iran. 

Just now, Japan’s prime minister apologized for his country’s use of sex slaves during World War II.

New protests, new arrests in Pakistan as the political crisis continues in that country.

Elsewhere

Venezuela, hoping to double its output, is selling oil bonds to finance new investment. Also, President Hugo Chávez announced new farm seizures.

Sri Lanka’s rebel Tamil Tigers flexed their muscle with a bombing raid on the country’s international airport.

More from Foreign Policy

Keri Russell as Kate Wyler walks by a State Department Seal from a scene in The Diplomat, a new Netflix show about the foreign service.
Keri Russell as Kate Wyler walks by a State Department Seal from a scene in The Diplomat, a new Netflix show about the foreign service.

At Long Last, the Foreign Service Gets the Netflix Treatment

Keri Russell gets Drexel furniture but no Senate confirmation hearing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron speak in the garden of the governor of Guangdong's residence in Guangzhou, China, on April 7.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron speak in the garden of the governor of Guangdong's residence in Guangzhou, China, on April 7.

How Macron Is Blocking EU Strategy on Russia and China

As a strategic consensus emerges in Europe, France is in the way.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin greets U.S. President George W. Bush prior to a meeting of APEC leaders in 2001.
Chinese President Jiang Zemin greets U.S. President George W. Bush prior to a meeting of APEC leaders in 2001.

What the Bush-Obama China Memos Reveal

Newly declassified documents contain important lessons for U.S. China policy.

A girl stands atop a destroyed Russian tank.
A girl stands atop a destroyed Russian tank.

Russia’s Boom Business Goes Bust

Moscow’s arms exports have fallen to levels not seen since the Soviet Union’s collapse.