Iran Nuclear Talks Will Start Again Dec. 27
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Thursday, December 23, 2021! The Iran nuclear talks are back on, set for December 27 (which is Monday, so everyone is hurrying back to Vienna)... Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, met with Israel's prime minister and outlined three scenarios for the talks: Iran either agrees to full compliance, or there's a freeze on its nuclear program, or no deal at all and back to sanctions and pressure... Israel's Prime Minister thinks his military awakens each day and talks about attacking Iran. Which is not Naftali Bennett's style. But then the new Air Force commander says he could strike Iran tomorrow if necessary... News from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, and More.
The Iran nuclear talks will resume in Vienna next Monday, December 27, during a holiday break, a decision that indicates a new seriousness, said. Russia's top envoy to the talks, Mikhail Ulyanov. "This is an indication that all negotiators don't want to waste time." The meeting will be attended by representatives of Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, and Iran. The United States takes part only indirectly but is a key player. Meanwhile, Iraq has called for direct talks between Iran and the U.S.
Reuters, Iran nuclear talks to resume on Dec. 27.
Agence France Presse, Iraq calls for direct talks between Iran and US.
The Biden administration's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, was in Jerusalem this week (he said he was sent by President Joe Biden) and laid out a three-part scenario to deal with Iran's nuclear program: 1) An early agreement that Iran will return to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, 2) a freeze to stop Iran from accelerating its nuclear program, and 3), no deal, with new sanctions and pressure on Iran. Sullivan met with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and called for a joint strategy by the two countries on the Iran nuclear talks. Israel isn't a party to the talks but has much at stake.
Axios, Jake Sullivan laid out three Iran deal scenarios in Israel meetings.
Reuters, Biden aide Sullivan says U.S., Israel need joint strategy amid Iran diplomacy.
Israel's military continues to threaten war on Iran if it's deemed necessary. The latest comes from the new Israeli Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, who said Israel could strike Iran's nuclear program tomorrow if necessary, and that he "has to assume it will happen in my time." Asked if Israel would be successful in destroying Iran's nuclear facilities, Bar said there is "no way I will return home without being able to say 'I competed the mission.'"
Jerusalem Post, Israel's incoming Air Force chief: We can attack Iran tomorrow if needed.
The Israeli military concedes that, in event of an attack on Iran, "Hezbollah would respond to an attack on its sponsor by letting fly everything it has in its arsenals" and start a new war with Israel.
Al-Monitor, The Takeaway: Israel fears Iran strike could ignite war with Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is frustrated with top Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officers "constant talk" about their ability to attack Iran. A diplomatic source said Bennett doesn't like it. "It's like everyone in the army wakes up in the morning and talks about Iran. It's like they're trolling. The prime minister doesn't like it. It's really not his style."
Jerusalem Post, Bennett frustrated at IDF top brass' pugnacious Iran talk.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Trump administration's withdrawal in 2018 from the Iran nuclear deal is "one of the worst decisions made in American foreign policy in the last decade." Blinken said instead of curbing Iran's behavior, the withdrawal from the nuclear accord led to "just the opposite."
CNSNews, Blinken: Exiting Iran Deal Among 'Worst Decisions Made in American Foreign Policy in the Last Decade'.
The spokesman for the Arab coalition fighting in Yemen has sharply criticized Iran's "defamatory" claims that the coalition delayed evacuation of Iran's ambassador to Yemen, who died from Covid 19. Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, had said earlier that Iran's efforts to get Ambassador Hassan Irlu on a flight to Tehran were delayed by Saudi officials. Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, the coalition spokesman, said "these defamatory statements" by Iranian officials are "hardly surprising" and that the coalition worked with Iraq to evacuate the ambassador "in less than 48 hours of reporting his health condition."
Al Arabiya News, Arab Coalition Slams Iran's 'defamatory' claim over Irlu's evacuation from Yemen.
Kurdistan 24, Iraq helped convince Saudi Arabia to allow Iranian envoy to be airlifted out of Yemen.
Saudi Arabia said it could receive flights for humanitarian aid to Yemen after the airport in Sanaa was attacked and closed by a Saudi strike. International aid organizations have called for the airport to be opened. Meanwhile, the World Food Program said it was cutting aid to Yemen because of lack of funding.
The National, Saudi Arabia ready to receive Yemen aid flights after Sanaa airport closure.
Middle East Eye, Yemen: Sanaa airport 'damaged and unsafe' following Saudi-led coalition bombing.
The World Food Program said it was forced to cut aid to Yemen because of a lack of funds and warned of a surge of hunger in the country. Starting in January, eight million people will receive reduced food rations, but five million considered at risk of famine will remain on a full ration.
Agence France Presse, UN agency says to cut food aid to Yemen for want of funds.
The World Bank has approved two grants for $170 million to restore critical urban services in Yemen and address food needs in rural areas by improving road access. The grants are from the International Development Association, the World Bank's fund for the poorest countries.
World Bank, World Bank approves US $170 Million in grant support for Yemen to restore critical services and support climate resilient rural road access.
The U.S. Navy has seized a cache of weapons in the North Arabian Sea on a route known to be used to supply weapons to Yemen's Houthi forces. The Fifth Fleet said the shipment included 1,400 AK 47 assault rifles and more than 200,000 rounds of ammunition. The Navy stopped the vessel in a routine flag verification "of a stateless ship in international waters." The vessel was assessed to have originated in Iran, and crew members aboard identified themselves as Yemeni nationals.
Middle East Eye, U.S. Navy seizes large arms shipment likely bound for Yemen.
The elections in LIbya planned for this week have been postponed, and the postponement risks further destabilizing the oil-rich country. The announcement from a parliamentary committee confirmed what virtually everyone knew, but it threatened to take simmering political tensions to a boil.
New York Times, A Tense Libya Delays Its Presidential Election.
Associated Press, Libya parliament says 'impossible' to hold presidential vote,
Agence France Presse, Libya delays long-awaited election seen as key to peace.
Oil Price.com, Libya's Election Chaos Threatens Oil Production And Exports.
The United Arab Emirates has announced a major oil discovery believed to have recoverable reserves of at least 480 million barrels, advancing the country's efforts to produce 5 million barrels a day by 2030. Current production is 4 million barrels a day.
Oil Price.com, Major Oil Find Brings UAE Closer To 5 Million Bpd Production Goal.
The UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAGA) on Wednesday announced a $3.6 billion project to reduce the carbon footprint of ADNOC's offshore production operations by more than 30%. The project will develop a subsea transmission system, replacing existing offshore gas turbine generators with more sustainable power available on the onshore power grid of Abu Dhabi.
Reuters, UAE's ADNOC, TAQA in $3.6 bln project to slash offshore carbon footprint.
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) says it's made steady progress on the Barakah project. The last two units, Units 3 and 4, are in the final stages of commissioning and ready to serve the United Arab Emirates with nuclear power. Development of the Barakah plant as a whole is now more than 96 percent complete.
Trade Arabia, UAE nuclear plant in final stages of commissioning.
Bahrain's shale oil project is on track. A field evaluation phase is progressing as the country works to develop its extensive Khaleej Al Bahrain reservoir off the west coast. The reservoir is expected to contain about 80 billion barrels of tight oil and is Bahrain's largest oil discovery.
Daily Tribune, Shale Oil Project in Bahrain Is On Track.
Total Energies and Shell will establish an integrated company to develop energy projects in Oman. Plans include natural gas production with a view toward subsequent development of a low-carbon liquefied natural gas plant that would be powered by solar electricity and produce LNG for bunker fuel.
Petrol Plaza, Oman: TotalEnergies and Shell to produce natural gas in Block 10 site.
The United Nations secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, says Lebanon's financial collapse was caused by "something similar to a Ponzi scheme." He said such a scheme, together with corruption and "probably" forms of stealing, collapsed the country's financial system. The crash has caused the Lebanese pound to lose more than 90 percent of its value.
Al Arabiya, UN chief says 'Ponzi scheme' crashed Lebanon's finances: Video.
Lebanon's talks to get funding from the International Monetary Fund are progressing and should wrap up in the first months of 2022, the country's energy minister, Walid Fayad, said. He said an electricity deal also could be signed with Jordan by the end of the year.
Reuters, Lebanon says talks on securing World Bank funding will wrap up in early 2022.
Iran wants to increase its population and has passed a law prohibiting free distribution of condoms. The move has raised fears of a black market and unwanted pregnancies.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Farda, Iran Condom Ban Sparks Fears of Disease, Unwanted Pregnancies, And a Black Market.
Saudi Arabia's top religious authority said the kingdom categorically rejects homosexuality. His statement came after the Saudi ambassador to the United Nations opposed text in a draft on democracy that included the terms "sexual orientation and gender identity." Grand Mufti Abdulaziz al-Sheikh said "homosexuality is one of the most heinous crimes."
Agence France Presse, Top Saudi religious figure slams 'heinous' homosexuality.
Qatar's Fund for Development has signed an $8 million agreement with the the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to support the agency's humanitarian efforts in 2021-2022. "This flexible funding will support UNHCR's efforts to respond to the growing needs and emergencies around the world," UN commissioner Khalifa bin Jassem Al-Kuwari said.
Doha News, Qatar signs $8 mn agreement with UN refugee agency.
Qatar's World Cup has suffered an "awful lead-in" since obtaining the 2022 showcase event, with accusations of corrupt bidding and exploiting migrant workers. But the jamboree could still be a success, not only for Qatar but for the Gulf region.
Reuters, Qatar's World Cup will pay Gulf-wide dividends.
Morocco has received its first batteries of Chinese-made surface-to-air missile systems. Deliveries were made to a military base near the city of Sidi Yahya El Gharb.
Defense News, Morocco takes delivery of Chinese FD-2000B surface-to-air defense missile system.
A Tunisian court has issued a verdict in absentia against former president Moncef Marzouki. The court sentenced him to four years in prison after he criticized Tunisia's president, Kais Saied, and called for protests. Marzouki lives in Paris.
Reuters, Tunisia court sentences ex-president Marzouki to prison in absentia.
MORE: Blinken raised Israel normalization with Indonesia, Axios... Morocco, Israel mark anniversary of renewed ties, Agence France Presse... Egypt reopens ports after weather improves, Reuters... New scams target online money transfer networks in Bahrain, Daily Tribune... Rolls-Royce claims UK SMR nuclear arm 'fully funded' after 85m lb Qatar backing, Business Green... Jordan needs to support its airline like other nations, CEO says, Reuters.
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