Middle East At 'Breaking Point' Over Food Prices Caused By Russia-Ukraine War
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The World Food Program says soaring food costs are hurting people in the Middle East, where so much food must be imported. "The crisis is creating shock waves in the food markets that touch every home in this region. No one is spared."
That big Gulf conference on Yemen is focusing on both immediate and longer-range problems. The Houthis refuse to take part in the meeting, and they were accused of abducting an 80-year-old professor instead of abiding by an offered truce.
A prosecutor in Turkey, in a surprise move, wants to move a trial against suspects in the Jamal Khashoggi killing back to Saudi Arabia. The speaker of Tunisia's parliament says the president can't dissolve it, but 20 of his parliamentarians are called by an anti-terrorist body. The prime minister elected by Libya's parliament said he will go to the capital of Tripoli within days and take over the government without using force;. The opposing prime minister remains in office in Tripoli and has armed supporters.
And news from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and More.
Middle East countries are dependent on food imports, and soaring costs for staples are stretching people's pocketbooks to the breaking point. That's the warning from the World Food Program, which cited surging costs of flour and vegetable oil just ahead of Ramadan. "We are extremely concerned about the millions of people in this region who are already struggling to access enough food because of a toxic combination of conflict, climate change, and the economic aftermath of Covid 19," Corinne Fleischer, Middle East and North Africa regional director for the World Food Program, said. "This crisis is creating shock waves in the food markets that touch every home in this region. No one is spared."
Middle East Eye, Russia-Ukraine war: Middle East at 'breaking point' over food prices, says UN.
The Gulf Cooperation Council's peace talks on Yemen are focusing on opening corridors for humanitarian aid, medical help for the wounded, and removing road-blocking barricades.
The six-nation discussions in Riyadh, which started this week and will end on April 7, is bringing together hundreds of Yemeni politicians, tribal leaders, current and former military officers and security officials, non-governmental organizations and scholars. Yemen's Houthis have refused to take part in the meeting, which supports a Saudi-led coalition ceasefire for the month of Ramadan.
The Houthis, however, were reported continuing attacks in Yemen. Reports said an 80-year-old professor at Sanaa University had been abducted. Khaled Al-Ruwaishan, a former culture minister in the Yemen government, spoke of a proposed prisoner exchange and said "While we were waiting for you to release hundreds, you arrested a prominent academic who is over 80 years old."
Arab News, Yemen talks focus on aid, care for wounded and opening of roads.
Saudi Arabia has responded positively to a United Nations ceasefire in Yemen. The proposal from UN special envoy Hans Grundberg has received support, a Saudi official said. Grundberg said he is engaging with both sides of the warring parties in Yemen to reach a truce for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins this weekend.
Reuters, Saudi Arabia responded positively to U.N. truce for Yemen, says official.
Saudi Arabia added 25 to its terror list, saying they worked as an international network to destabilize Yemen. Saudi state security coordinated with the U.S. Treasury Department and designated 25 individuals and entities it said were helping finance Houthi forces in Yemen with support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi Arabia blacklists 25 people, entities over Houthi financing.
In an about-face, Turkey wants to move to Saudi Arabia a trial of suspects accused of involvement in the 2018 death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. A Turkish prosecutor said Saudi Arabia had asked that the trial be transferred, and a request has been made to halt the trial in Turkey. A Turkish court has referred the matter to Turkey's justice ministry.
Washington Post, Turkish prosecutor asks to move Khashoggi murder trial to Saudi Arabia.
The UAE airline Emirates said it will continue flights to Russia for as long as the government tells it to fly. "As long as the state, our owner, requires us to fly there, we will continue," President Tim Clark said. "We carry humanitarian goods in our holds. We've got NGOs traveling in and out of Russia. We're got the diplomatic community going in and out of Russia."
Business Insider, Emirates says it will continue flying to Russia as long as the Dubai government tells it to, weeks after major airlines suspended operations to the country.
Iraq's powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said he will step back fort 40 days and give opponents a chance to form a government. The surprise move by al-Sadr came after parliament failed for the third time to elect a president, a first step necessary for a new government. Parliament has been unable to get a quorum because al-Sadr's opposition has boycotted the sessions.
Al-Sadr now has instructed his followers, the largest group in parliament, not to interfere "neither positively nor negatively" with his rivals, the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Iran-backed militia parties, as they try to form a cabinet.
Associated Press, Iraqi cleric steps back, asks rivals to try to form government.
Iran said fresh sanctions by the United States against its defense manufacturers is "another indication of the U.S. government's ill intentions toward the Iranian nation." The spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry reacted after the U.S. levied punitive measures on Iranian missile developers. The sanctions targeted a network of firms tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and came as talks on a nuclear deal continue in Vienna.
Al-Monitor, Iran slams new US sanctions amid nuclear deal uncertainty.
The United States said a small number of outstanding issues remain on the table in the nuclear talks in Vienna and that the onus is on Iran to decide. The State Department spokesman, Ned Price, also said that Israel and the U.S. have "tactical differences" on Iran but no strategic disagreement. Israel has complained of not having a role in the Vienna talks, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel this past weekend.
Reuters, U.S. says small number of outstanding issues in Iran nuclear talks.
The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco want to buy Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. News reports said the three countries reiterated their requests for the system at the recent meeting in Israel of U.S., Israeli, and Arab leaders. The request isn't considered new and has been passed to Israel before through channels. Israel's defense ministry will decide on any sales of the system, and reports said the ministry is looking favorably on the proposals.
Middle East Monitor, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco apply to buy Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.
Kuwait says Iran is not a party to the Durra gas field. Kuwait's foreign minister is reported saying the rich field is wholly owned by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The minister, Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah said the two countries have exclusive rights to invest in and exploit the Durra field and have signed an agreement. His statement is expected to escalate a dispute with Iran, which calls the field Arash and says it has rights to the field.
Upstream, Deadlock: Iran is not a party to the Durra gas field, says Kuwaiti foreign minister.
The speaker of Tunisia's parliament has rejected President Kais Saied's dissolution of the assembly. "We consider that the parliament remains operational," Speaker Rached Ghannouchi said. "The president does not have the constitutional right to dissolve parliament."
AFP, Tunisia speaker rejects president's dissolution of parliament.
Tunisia's parliament speaker Rached Ghannouchi said at least 20 parliament members have been summoned for investigation by a government anti-terror unit. The parliamentarians took part in an online session challenging President Kais Saied's authority.
Reuters, Tunisia's Ghannouchi says 20 MPs under investigation after online session.
Libya's challenging prime minister, Fathi Bashagha, says he will go to Tripoli within a few days and take over the government without using force. Bashagha was chosen by Libya's parliament, sitting in Tobruk, but the interim prime minister in Tripoli, seat of the administrative government, said he won't surrender his office. Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah remains ensconced in the capital, backed by some armed groups.
Reuters, Libya's Bashagha says he will enter Tripoli peacefully within days.
Hundreds of Syrian mercenaries are en route to join Russian forces in Ukraine. One contingent has already arrived in Russia for training. It includes at least 300 soldiers from a Syrian army division that has worked closely with Russian officers who went to Syria to support the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
New York Times, Syrian mercenaries deploy to Russia en route to Ukrainian battlefields.
MORE: OPEC holds special meeting to ditch IEA data, Asharq Al-Awsat... IMF team visiting Lebanon to discuss economic developments, reform program - spokesperson, Reuters... Lebanon judge sets June hearing for c. bank governor graft probe - state media, Reuters... Palestinians hope for a calm Ramadan in Jerusalem amid tensions, Reuters... Egypt, Sudan agree to boost economic cooperation, Sudan Tribune... U.S. returns smuggled ancient artifacts to Libya, Associated Press.
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The United States may have to compromise with Saudi Arabia in order to get more oil on the world market and lower gas prices. For the Saudis, "it's probably a moment when they have leverage and get what they want from the American side." A trip by President Joe Biden to Saudi Arabia might move the needle, or an action such as re-designating the Houthis in Yemen as a terrorist organization.
NPR, Getting more oil from Saudi Arabia or the UAE could require U.S. concessions.
The war in Ukraine could give U.S. President Joe Biden more solid footing to restore the nuclear agreement with Iran. Potential sales of Iranian oil, now heavily sanctioned, could help mitigate the global oil crisis. "The problem with the Biden administration is that they are trying too hard to keep everyone happy. That's just not possible with Iran."
Al Jazeera, Ukraine war should not hinder Iran deal revival, US analysts say