Iran Nuclear Talks On Verge Of Collapse, Written Messages Exchanged
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The Iran nuclear deal is considered near death, but the United States and Western countries still aren't ready to pull the plug. Iran blames the U.S. for halting the talks; the U.S. says the onus is on Iran, and the European Union's chief negotiator is ready to go to Tehran to try to salvage the deal.
The CIA director met with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince in an apparent effort to ease tensions between the U.S. and the kingdom. CIA Director William Burns was reported in Jeddah last month for the meeting, a rare session for an American representative, as the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, declines to engage with the U.S.
OPEC meets this week and is expected to keep its limited oil production plan. A new survey shows that Saudi Arabia and other countries aren't even meeting their own goals.
Qatar surpasses the United States in production of liquefied natural gas. Egypt, Morocco, and Syria pardon prisoners for Eid El-Fitr, and Tunisia's President Kais Saied plans a national dialogue but without his opponents.
And news from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, and More.
Western officials have largely lost hope -- but haven't completely given up -- for an Iran nuclear deal. "They are not yanking the IV out of the patient's arm, but I sense little expectation that there is a way forward," one source close to the negotiations said. An agreement seemed to be nearing a conclusion in March, but then Iran demanded that the United States remove its designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, which the Biden administration so far has refused to do.
Reuters, Analysis: Iran nuclear deal near death, but West not ready to pull plug.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Nuclear talks on verge of collapse, Europe counts on Iranian concessions.
Iran is blaming the United States for stopping the nuclear talks in Vienna. "America is responsible for the halt of these talks. A deal is very much within reach," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said. "Washington should make political decision for the deal's revival." The U.S., however, maintains there are a small number of outstanding issues, and that the onus is on Iran to make the decisions.
Reuters, Iran blames U.S. for halt to Vienna nuclear talks.
Iran's foreign minister said exchanges of messages are continuing in the nuclear negotiations. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said written messages continue to be sent through the European Union's chief negotiator and that "we urged the American side to be realistic."
Xinhua, Iranian FM says Vienna talks underway through exchange of written messages.
The European Union is offering to send its chief negotiator, Enrique Mora, to Tehran to salvage a nuclear agreement. Mora reportedly has told Iran that he is ready to return to the Iranian capital to open a path through the current deadlock in the Vienna talks. Diplomats said that Iran so far hasn't responded with an invitation to Mora.
Tehran Times, EU's Mora may return to Tehran in fresh push to resurrect nuclear deal.
The director of America's CIA met with the Saudi Arabian crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. News reports said that CIA Director William Burns met with the crown prince in April in the Saudi port city of Jeddah. There was no information on what was discussed, and the CIA declined to comment on the reports, but there are four outstanding issues for the two countries: Oil production, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Iran nuclear deal, and the war in Yemen.
Wall Street Journal, CIA chief met Saudi crown prince last month in push to mend ties.
The Hill, Biden's CIA chief met with Saudi crown prince in April: report.
The OPEC oil cartel still can't meet its own production goals, and this week's meeting is expected to stay with the established plan. Not only are OPEC countries and their allies refusing large increases in oil production as sought by the United States, the United Kingdom, and other fuel-consuming countries, but OPEC leader Saudi Arabia in April produced about 100,000 barrels of oil a day less than its goal. So did Libya and Nigeria, while Iraq made a substantial boost.
Bloomberg, OPEC fails to increase output amid capacity troubles.
Armed conflicts have caused Libya's oil production to fall to its lowest level since 2020. The North African country loaded 819,000 barrels a day in April, down from the 979,000 barrels a day in March. Armed clashes, damaged storage tanks, and ports closed because of protests have kept Libya's oil industry from earning needed revenue.
Bloomberg, Libya oil exports hit an 18-month low on port and field closures.
Nigeria's crude oil production fell by 1.2 million barrels. Production fell by 40,000 barrels a day, translating to 1.2 million barrels for the month of April. Along with other OPEC members, Nigeria is suffering from insufficient investments in the oil sector. Nigeria has been failing to meet is production quota for months, and a survey showed that it pumped 28.5 million barrels a day in April, short of the 254,000 barrel per day increase for the month that was called for under an OPEC agreement.
Punch, Nigeria's crude oil production crashed by 1.2 million barrels in April - OPEC.
Nigeria's oil minister said Russia is interested in investing in a proposed gas pipeline project between Nigeria and Morocco. The project has been in the cards since 2016, when Nigeria and Morocco first signed an agreement . Nigeria's oil minister, Timipre Sylva, said: "The Russians were with me in the office last week. They are very desirous to invest in this project." The proposed pipeline would move gas from Nigeria to Morocco where it would have access to the European market.
Reuters, Nigeria oil minister says Russia interested in gas pipeline to Morocco.
Iran said it is ready to negotiate with Kuwait over the al-Durra or Arash gas field. The Submerged Divided Zone field, called al-Durra by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and Arash by Iran, has an eastern boundary that Iran has challenged, but both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait maintain the field belongs to them. They have invited Iran, however, to hold discussions, and the Iranian ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammad Irani, said his country is ready to resume talks that started about a decade ago.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Iran ready to resume talks with Kuwait over al-Durra field
Qatar is the world's top natural gas exporter, surpassing the United States. Qatar in April exported 7.4 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as demand increased after Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused fuel price increases. Qatar shares the world's largest gas field, the North Field, with Iran, and has been under pressure from the European Union and the United Kingdom to ship more gas to Europe.
Middle East Eye, Qatar becomes world's top natural gas exporter, surpassing US.
The United States praised Saudi Arabia's improvement on intellectual property rights, but Turkey and Egypt remain on a watch list. The U.S. removed Saudi Arabia from the list after the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property took steps to crack down on infringement, although a new U.S. report questioned actions by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. The report said that in Turkey, counterfeiting of food and clothing continues, along with other violations, and that Egypt's penalties for violations are an insufficient deterrent.
Al-Monitor, US praises Saudi progress on intellectual property, notes issues in Egypt, Turkey.
Egypt's president pardoned 986 inmates. The Interior Ministry prepared the list for Eid El-Fitr, following release two weeks ago of 3,273 prisoners by presidential decree on Sinai Liberation Day. Egyptian presidents traditionally issue pardons several times a year on major holidays.
Ahram, President Sisi pardons 986 inmates on Eid El-Fitr: Egypt's interior ministry.
Morocco's King Mohammed VI pardoned 29 people jailed on terrorism or extremism charges. Morocco's justice ministry said the king's order frees 23 prisoners, while six others will have their sentences reduced for Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
AllAfrica, Morocco's king marks Eid Al-Fitr by pardoning 29 jailed on 'terrorism' charges.
Tens of thousands of detainees are expected to be released in Syria. A presidential decree for Eid Al-Fitr called for a general amnesty for terrorist crimes "except those leading to the death of a person." The new amnesty is considered the widest since Syria's conflict started in 2011.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Syrian authorities release prisoners in presidential amnesty.
The United States said a "thorough, credible" investigation is required in Egypt about the death of an Egyptian economic researcher. Ayman Hadhoud died in a Cairo psychiatric hospital after being detained by security services. Amnesty International said earlier that photos showed Hadhoud had been tortured before his death. In Washington, a State Department spokesman said: "The circumstances of his detention and his treatment and of his death we think require a thorough, transparent and credible investigation without delay."
Reuters, U.S. State Dept says death of Egyptian researcher requires investigation.
Opposition groups are excluded in a planned "national dialogue" by Tunisian president Kais Saied. The Ennahda party, an arch-rival, other political parties and civil society organizations won't be allowed to participate in the dialogue announced by Saied, who sacked Tunisia's parliament last year and rules by decree. The proposed talks would include four groups: the Tunisian General Labour Union, Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Tunisian Human Rights League, and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.
France 24, Tunisia announces 'national dialogue', excluding opposition groups.
MORE: Egypt sugar production to rise 2.5% in 2022-23, Dow Jones... Oil, gas shipments drive Suez Canal record-high revenues, Voice of America... Yazidis, displaced again, fear more strife in Iraqi homeland, Associated Press... New electricity interconnect being explored between Oman and Saudi Arabia, Oman Observer... Egypt kicks off campaign to remove violations on Nile River, Asharq Al-Awsat... Morocco moves to become maintenance hub for F-16s, C-130s, Breaking Defense.
News You Missed
Realpolitik is taking over the fractious Middle East. With the visit to Saudi Arabia by Turkey's president, old enemies and rivals are trying to find ways to accommodate rather than confront each other, David Ottaway writes.
Wilson Center, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel: The prospects for detente in the Middle East.
Algeria and Spain are in a boiling-point dispute over natural gas. Algeria is Spain's largest source for gas and has threatened to cancel its deal with Spain, fearing that Spain might direct some of it to Morocco. Morocco and Algeria have continuing tensions, mainly over Morocco's claim of Western Sahara.
Al-Monitor, Explainer: Algeria-Spain gas controversy.