FEB. 1 – “According to the fat trade contracts current with Tehran, Italy would be more accurately described as ‘Iran’s biggest friend’ – at least, in Europe, where the Berlusconi government is also fighting to spare the Islamic Republic further sanctions,” reports Debka File.

JAN. 20 – “Despite the rapidly evolving situation on the ground in Iran, the [ U.S.] Senate is planning to move forward with its Iran sanctions legislation,” reports The Cable, citing multiple Hill sources.

JAN. 6 -  Zhang Yesui, the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, said in a press conference Tuesday that his country opposed tougher sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
“Sanctions themselves are not an end,” he said. According to a report in today’s New York Times, the Chinese buy about 15 percent of their oil from Iran.
“State-run companies like the [...]

JAN. 4 – Today’s Wall Street Journal, highlighting a recent report by the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, describes how Chinese firms have been evading U.S. sanctions imposed because of proliferation to Iran.