Middle East/North Africa

There is more public support than opposition for U.S. military action in Syria if the reports of chemical weapons are confirmed, according to a new poll from Pew Research.

The survey found 45 percent of respondents supported military action against Syria, while 31 percent were opposed. Nearly a quarter of respondents, 23 percent, did not have an opinion or did not know.

President Obama has warned that the used of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar Assad would be a “game changer,” although Obama has proceeded cautiously after the White House said there was some evidence a chemical attack occurred.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Monday that the Obama administration was still assessing the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, echoing the caution President Obama has expressed about a possible U.S. response.

“I think we should wait to get the facts before we get any judgments about what actions, if any, should be taken, and what kind of action,” Hagel said at a joint Pentagon press conference with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera.

The White House’s disclosure last week that it believes Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces have used chemical weapons sparked a flurry of calls for action, including the possibility of a no-fly zone and providing arms to rebel groups.

Last week, administration officials said initial intelligence indicated that the Assad regime had likely used the nerve gas sarin.

An high-ranking Israeli minister shot down allegations that his government is pressuring Obama to respond aggressively in Syria.

Iran's crude oil exports hit a 26-year low last year because of U.S. and international sanctions, the government's independent energy information agency said.

The latest round of sanctions cut the country's net estimated oil export revenue down to only $69 billion in 2012, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) – 27 percent less than in 2011. Oil exports account for more than half of government revenue.

“Sanctions affecting investment in Iran's oil sector have also been tightened, resulting in cancellation of new projects by several foreign companies; they also negatively affected existing projects,” the EIA concluded. “Following the implementation of sanctions in late-2011 and mid-2012, Iranian oil production dropped dramatically.”

"They cannot fall into the hands of the jihadists," warned Sen. John McCain on Sunday.

“Obviously we don’t want to do that unless it’s absolutely necessary,” said McCaskill.

McCain called for an international coalition of troops to secure the country's chemical weapons stockpiles.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said on Sunday that the United States needs to take against the Syrian regime after evidence surfaced that it used chemical weapons against its own people.

But the president cautioned that more “direct evidence” is needed to confirm a chemical weapons attack.