Iran Will Return To Nuclear Talks Only to Finalize Agreement, 'No New Negotiations'
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Iran and the United States blame each other for the stalled nuclear talks in Vienna, and Iran says it won't go back until a deal is ready to be finalized. And both sides are warning that time is running out.
Iran says it's ready to resume direct negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Yemen's president wants the Houthis to sit down for a dialogue and become a "Yemeni political component,” and the Houthis are accused of 44 violations of the new truce.
A Turkish court will rule on ending a trial for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and a source says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman remains focused on the Khashoggi case -- "He is obsessed with it. It is personal."
Kuwait’s government resigns, and news from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, and More.
Iran said it will return to Vienna and the nuclear talks not for new negotiations but only "to finalize the nuclear agreement." A spokesman said the last steps depend on the United States. "At the moment, we do not have a definitive answer from Washington," Saeed Khatibzadeh said. "If Washington answers the outstanding questions, we can go to Vienna as soon as possible."
New Arab, Iran nuclear deal: Tehran says will return to Vienna only to finalise agreement.
Iran blamed the United States for the stalled nuclear talks in Vienna. "America is responsible for the halt of these talks," spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said. "A deal is very much within reach. Washington should make political decision for the deal's revival," he said, and added that Tehran would "not wait forever."
Reuters, Iran blames U.S. for halt to Vienna nuclear talks.
Washington pushed back on Iran's accusations about slowing the nuclear peace talks. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price suggested it was Iran that was not giving way to make a deal possible. Price also warned that time is running out as Iran gets closer to the nuclear "breakout" point, reaching capacity to build a nuclear weapon. "Anyone involved in the talks knows who had made constructive proposals, who has introduced demands that are unrelated to the JCPOA, and how we reached this current moment," Price said.
AFP, US, Iran spar over stalled nuclear talks.
Iran said it's ready to resume direct negotiations with Saudi Arabia. "We are ready for the continuation of talks and for the settlement of differences," spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said. "We have submitted our views in written form to the Saudi side, and they should express their views." Iraq has hosted four rounds of the Iran-Saudi talks that are designed to help both sides overcome a political deadlock in relations. Iran announced in mid-March that it was suspending the talks.
BasNews, Iran ready to resume talks with Saudi Arabia: official.
Kuwait’s government resigns after only three months. The intensifying political crisis in the Gulf state led to the resignation and opened a new uncertainty for the future, as Kuwait wrestles with economic and social reforms.
Associated Press, Kuwait’s government resigns as political crisis intensifies.
Voice of America, Kuwait government resigns three months after formation.
A Turkish court is scheduled to rule this week on closing down legal proceedings on the murder of U.S.-based Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia is reported anxious to remove the case from Turkey, and a Turkish prosecutor asked the court to stop proceedings against the alleged killers, citing a lack of progress in apprehending suspects, Interpol red notices that weren't enforced, and the absence of testimonies from the suspects.
A source with knowledge of Saudi negotiations with Turkey said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS, is "obsessed" with the Khashoggi case. "For MBS, it's all about Khashoggi. He is obsessed by it. It's personal. He blames (Turkish president) Erdogan personally for getting America involved and for not shutting down the affair within the first few days." Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
There remains a second lawsuit in a U.S. federal court, and reports said Saudi Arabia is pressuring Turkey to convince the U.S. to have the case dropped. The case was filed by Khashoggi's fiancee and the U.S.-based Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), which Khashoggi established and ran before his death.
MIddle East Eye, Khashoggi: Saudi Arabia pressuring Turkey to shut down lawsuits.
Yemen's president called on the Houthi militants to come to the negotiating table and end the seven-year war. "Return as a Yemeni political component...and come to the dialogue table to make peace," Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said. "Our hands stretch out to you for reaching a just and comprehensive peace and rebuilding our country."
Xinhua, Yemen's president calls on Houthis for negotiations to end civil war.
Yemen's army accused the Houthi rebels of violating a new ceasefire 44 times in Marib, Taiz, and Hodeidah provinces. "As usual, the terrorist Houthi militias have met the truce with violations and reneging on pledges," military spokesman Abdo Majali said. He said the Yemen military succeeded in thwarting all Houthi attacks, and that the Yemeni army and the Saudi-led coalition were still committed to the ceasefire.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Yemen army accuses Houthis of violating UN truce in Marib, Taiz, Hodeidah.
The U.S. special envoy for Yemen defended military aid to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. "The U.S. has provided very strong assurances," Timothy Lenderking said. He cited "appropriate defensive military sales, and that should serve as a strong deterrent for further attacks from Yemen."
Bloomberg, U.S. committed to defense of Gulf allies, its Yemen envoy says.
The United Nations Security Council said it expects Yemen's Houthis to abide by the terms of the two-month truce. It condemned recent cross-border attacks into Saudi Arabia and underscored that the truce offers opportunity to ease the suffering of Yemenis.
Arab News, UN Security Council urges Houthis to abide by terms of truce.
Airbus revoked the contract for a third A350 long-haul jet ordered by Qatar Airways in the ongoing feud between seller and buyer. The dispute centers on damage to the surface of the planes, claimed by the Qatar carrier and denied by the European manufacturer Airbus. The total of A350s now grounded by the Qatar airline has reached 23, bringing the value of compensation sought by the airline to more than $1 billion.
Reuters, Airbus cancels third A350 as Qatar dispute tops $1 bln - sources.
Banks in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are relatively insulated from fallout of the Russia-Ukraine war, but not Egypt's banks. Egyptian banks remain exposed due to the country's significant reliance on staple food imports. Egyptian government support could be vital for the banks in order to mitigate damage to the economy.
Arabian Business, Saudi Arabian, UAE banks to remain 'relatively insulated' from fallout of Russia-Ukraine conflict: report.
Attention on prisoners in Iran has turned to a British-American conservationist, Morad Tahbaz, accused of spying on military installations when he was surveying Iran's Asiatic cheetahs. Hopes are expressed for Tahbaz's release following the recent freeing of two British-Iranian citizens. Tahbaz, a businessman and philanthropist, was part of a group of nine scientists and conservationists arrested in Iran in 2018. All nine were involved in a project using remote cameras to survey Iran's Asiatic cheetahs, a critically endangered subspecies of the African cheetah with a population that may be as low as 50. Following the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe and Anousheh Ashoori, Tahbaz was also expected to be freed, but he remains imprisoned.
BBC, Hopes dashed for release of British conservationist in Iran.
Iraq's oil revenues for February reached more than $11 billion, the highest in 50 years. With an average price surpassing $110 a barrel, oil exports for the month were 100,563,999 barrels, for an average of 3.244 million barrels a day.
Iraq-Business News, Iraq oil revenues hit 50-year high.
Lebanon's central bank governor denied that the bank was bankrupt. Earlier, the deputy prime minister had said both the state and the bank were bankrupt. Bank governor Riad Salameh said the institution was still going about its legally-mandated role, despite losses in the financial sector. Deputy prime minister Saade Chanmi had said Sunday that "the state is bankrupt, as is the central bank, so we have a problem." Salameh issued a statement saying "What is being circulated about the bankruptcy of the central bank is not true."
Reuters, Lebanon's central bank not bankrupt, governor says.
Turkey said it will keep a military presence in Libya's capital of Tripoli. The forces were first deployed in 2019. Libya's government is now divided, with interim prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah in office in Tripoli and saying he plans to stay, and a prime minister elected by parliament in Tobruk, Fathi Bashagha, reportedly on the way within a few days to take over the Tripoli government.
Asharq al-Awsat, Turkey stresses it will keep military presence in Libya's Tripoli.
Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shoukry said Arab countries can mediate the Russia-Ukraine war. Shoukry is part of an Arab League delegation visiting Moscow to discuss the war situation.
Reuters, Egypt says Arab countries are willing to mediate between Russia, Ukraine.
Syrian government forces shelled a rebel-held village and killed four students on their way to school. The shelling targeted the village of Maaret al-Naasan in Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria. The students who were killed were all boys and all under the age of 18.
Associated Press, Shelling of rebel village in northern Syria kills 4 students.
MORE: Egypt: Rights groups call on IMF to demand sweeping reforms over any new loan deal, Middle East Eye... Egypt's cotton exports record high revenues despite Russia-Ukraine war, Al-Monitor... Saudi Aramco's Luberef refinery unit plans $1 billion IPO, Bloomberg... Saudi Arabia approves loans worth 434 million riyals to boost agricultural sector, Reuters... Oman's economy seen growing 4% in 2022 as recovery picks up, Muscat Daily... S&P upgrades Oman's rating on higher oil prices and fiscal reforms, The National.
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