Talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Qatari emir aimed at discussing advancement of ties between Israel, Arab states, as well as renewal of ties between Gulf Cooperation Council and Qatar, US official says. Kushner to be joined by Middle East envoys Avi Berkowitz and Brian Hook, as well as Adam Boehler, chief executive of the US International Development Finance Corporation.
"This goes to the heart of speaking hard truths in the name of moving peace forward," says the former UN ambassador.
Former Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan calls the assassination of Iran's nuclear program chief Mohsen Fakhrizadeh "highly reckless."
If the United States refuses to re-enter the nuclear deal with no preconditions, Iran will “suspend” NPT and additional protocol says Iranian Expediency Council member Mohammad-Javad Larijani.
Iran maintains that it has never sought nuclear weapons and never would, but Western intelligence has proven that statement to be false.
"We will respond to the assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh in a proper time. The Iranian nation is smarter than falling into the trap of the Zionists. They are thinking to create chaos," President Hassan Rouhani threatens. UN called for restraint; EU condemned hit as a "criminal act."
If found guilty, four suspects – including Iranian poet Mehrdad Arefani – could face life in prison.
Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a specialist in Middle East politics at the University of Melbourne, was released from prison in exchange for three Iranians who had been detained abroad, Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported.
"Israel is a very strong partner" and the "best example of democracy and the American values that we have in the Middle East," says the Democrat, who tips his hat to the late Sen. Daniel Inouye.
Elliot Abrams says he expects a negotiation to take place with Iran next year and that he believes a deal will be struck under the Biden administration. "We will have next week, and the week after, and the week after - all through December and January, there will be sanctions that deal with arms, that deal with weapons of mass destruction, that deal with human rights," he says.
