The United Nations nuclear agency has curbed almost half its aid projects in Iran to uphold U.N. sanctions imposed on Tehran over its disputed atomic energy program, according to a report obtained by Reuters.

Iran is storing at least 14 million barrels of crude on supertankers in the Gulf, a tanker industry source said on Wednesday, in a strong sign Tehran was complying with an OPEC pledge to cut supply.

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a House panel yesterday that the United States should know in a few months if the Iraqi government is making progress toward peace and whether the United States “is going to have to look at other alternatives and consequences.”