Russia Says Iran Nuclear Deal Could Take Days Or Weeks
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Thursday, March 31, 2022!
The stream of forecasts on when Iran nuclear talks in Vienna will end keep shifting. The latest is an estimate by Russia's deputy prime minister that doesn't help much --in a few days, or maybe a few weeks, he says -- but it does show a final decision is still up in the air. The U.S. envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, is always more cautious and now says only that he can't be confident that a nuclear deal is imminent.
The United States sanctions a new section of Iran’s defenses, the companies that manufacture the missiles that attack Iraq and, with Yemen's Houthis, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the Saudis and the UAE are lobbying in Washington, quietly but aggressively, for a written document, a formal treaty that would guarantee the U.S. will defend the two oil-producing countries.
Truces conflict in Yemen as the Gulf Cooperation Council countries meet in Riyadh. Antony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, finishes meetings in the Middle East and North Africa by asking Algeria to limit its ties with Russia. Iraq's parliament fails for the third time to elect a new president, and the president of Tunisia dissolves parliament.
And news from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, and More.
Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov says it could take a few days or even weeks to reach agreement in the Vienna talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
A Russian news report quoted Ryabkov after European Union officials and others said the agreement was about to be concluded. Ryabkov's expectations were more in line with the United States envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, who said he is is not confident that a nuclear deal between Western powers and Iran is imminent.
Reuters, Iran nuclear deal could take days, maybe weeks, Russian official says.
The U.S. sanctioned Iranian defense companies after a series of missile attacks on targets in Iraq and the Gulf. The Treasury Department said that even as nuclear talks with Iran proceed in Vienna, it will keep up penalties against those involved in Iran's missile production. "We will also work with other partners in the region to hold Iran accountable for its actions, including gross violations of the sovereignty of its neighbors," Treasury undersecretary Brian Nelson said. The latest sanctions were aimed at those in Iran who manufacture the missiles and came after a strike on March 13 against Erbil, Iraq, and for repeated missile strikes into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates by Houthi forces in Yemen who are supported by Iran.
Associated Press, U.S.sanctions Iranians after ballistic missile strikes in Iraq and Gulf states.
Voice of America, US sanctions Iran's missile developers.
CNN, US imposes new sanctions against Iran's ballistic missile program.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates want a formal treaty with the United States for defense support. The two leading oil powers in the Gulf are working for a written guarantee after cross-border attacks by Yemen's Houthis that hit Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The UAE is reported to be citing a pact with France as a model for an agreement. After the Abu Dhabi attacks in January, France sent Rafale fighter jets to protect UAE airspace. The UAE also is reported to be asking Israel to help push its case in Washington.
Bloomberg, Gulf oil powers seek U.S. security treaty after Yemen strikes.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had an "excellent meeting" with the leader of the United Arab Emirates. Blinken met in Morocco with Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, discussing the war in Ukraine and other issues but not, Blinken said, focusing on energy. "We believe it's critical there be abundant supplies of energy on markets now and that there should be a steady supply, but as it happens we didn't focus on that issue specifically ." But a State Department officer said other U.S. officials engaged with their UAE counterparts on the need to increase oil supplies.
Reuters, Blinken calls talks with UAE leader 'excellent,' but did not focus on oil supply.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is having a deadly impact and threatening the security of the Arab world, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said as he completed the final leg of a Middle East trip. Blinken, in Morocco, said while the war in Ukraine seemed distant, it has already led the Arab world to "deadly consequences for citizens in the region," citing in particular spiraling wheat prices.
AFP, Ukraine war has 'deadly' impact on Arab region: US top diplomat Blinken.
The United Nations and the United States welcomed the unilateral peace moves by both sides in the Yemen war. Envoys for the UN and the U.S. said the moves were encouraging steps, while stressing the need for a more comprehensive ceasefire that would stop the fighting and help ease a humanitarian crisis in Yemen. With both Yemen's Houthis and the Saudi-backed coalition offering separate truce proposals, UN envoy Hans Grundberg and U.S. special envoy Tim Lenderking said the unilateral announcements were a step in the right direction.
Reuters, U.N., U.S. press for broader Yemen truce after unilateral moves.
Both the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi rebels said they would stop fighting, but further progress toward an end to the war in Yemen is uncertain. The coalition ceasefire for Ramadan overlapped for at least a day with the Houthis' separate three-day truce over the weekend. Diplomats involved in the process expressed hope that progress toward a broader truce could be made before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins Saturday.
New York Times, Warring parties in Yemen announce overlapping ceasefires.
Talks on the Yemen war started in the Saudi capital of Riyadh but without the Houthi rebels. The talks, hosted by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, came as the Saudi-led coalition said it would cease military operations in Yemen during Ramadan, which starts this weekend. The rebel Houthis are not attending the talks in Riyadh, but instead reiterated demands that a blockade on Yemen ports be removed. The Houthis said they reserved the right to take "political and military measures" if needed.
AFP, Saudi Arabia hosts talks on Yemen war, but without Houthi rebels.
As OPEC+ prepared to meet, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said the alliance's mission is to "stabilize the market." Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stressed that the focus is on balancing the oil markets and satisfying consumer needs. If the security of oil supplies is threatened, the world economy will suffer, he said. Asked about whether OPEC+ has a moral responsibility to expel Russia, Prince Abdulaziz replied: "Everybody leaves politics at the door" in OPEC+ meetings.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi Arabia, UAE say OPEC+ mission is to stabilize market
OPEC+ met Thursday for its regular monthly review of production policy, with no surprises. The OPEC cartel and its allies in the expanded OPEC+, which includes Russia, agreed to stick with their previously agreed plan of only modest monthly increases for oil production. After a quick meeting, the group said that the outlook was for a “well-balanced market” and that recent volatility in prices was “not caused by fundamentals, but by ongoing geopolitical developments,” apparently meaning the war in Ukraine.
New York Times, OPEC and Russia stick to a modest oil increase.
Iraq tried for the third time and failed to elect a president. An opposition group blocked a required quorum, and the Iraqi parliament adjourned until further notice, without setting a new date to meet again. Iraq's federal court has given lawmakers until April 6 to elect a president, the first step in forming a new government. If that deadline is missed, new elections might be called to break the deadlock.
AFP, Iraq MPs fail for third time to elect new president.
Saudi Arabia deposited $5 billion into Egypt's central bank. The funds were in recognition of the "deep-rooted relations between the two countries," a Saudi news report said. The deposit came after Egypt sought the support of the International Monetary Fund to help ease the impact of the war in Ukraine, causing foreign investors to flee emerging markets.
The National, Saudi Arabia deposits $5 bn in Egypt's central bank.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Israel's President Isaac Herzog met in a historic summit as violence spread ahead of Ramadan. Abdullah received Herzog in the Husseiniiya Palace in the first official visit by an Israeli head of state and said peace in the region was needed now because the conflict had "lasted too long."
Reuters, Jordan and Israeli leaders urge calm after historic meeting following spike in violence.
Tunisia's President Kais Saied announced he is dissolving parliament. He suspended the legislative body eight months ago, but it defied him and met online this week to repeal his presidential decrees that suspended the chamber. Saied then announced at a meeting of the National Security Council that the parliament was dissolved, denouncing what he called a "coup attempt."
Al Jazeera, Tunisia's president dissolves parliament, extending power grab.
The International Monetary Fund urged Tunisia to focus on budget-cutting and reforming state companies. The recommendations came after technical talks that could lead to support for the North African country. Tunisia's reform plan has been complicated by a political standoff between President Kais Saied and parliament, which he first suspended and now has dissolved.
Bloomberg, IMF cites progress in Tunisia talks, but political feud simmers.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Algeria to limit its ties with Russia. Ending a three-nation tour of the Middle East and North Africa, Blinken also appealed for Algeria to improve its relations with neighboring Morocco. "The international community must increase the pressure on Russia to end this unprovoked and unjustified war" against Ukraine, he said.
Voice of America, Blinken urges Algeria to rethink stands on Russia, Western Sahara.
Morocco called on Europe to support the country's initiative for the disputed Western Sahara region. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said there's widespread support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, and that European countries need to accept it as a solution. "It's time for Europe to get out of this comfort zone where people are just supporting the process," Bourita said. "And supporting a process doesn't mean supporting a solution."
Middle East Eye, Morocco calls on Europe to get 'out of comfort zone' over Western Sahara.
MORE: Egypt looks to India as alternative wheat source to Ukraine, Al Monitor... Jordan, Saudi sign agreements to boost trade cooperation, CanIndia.... Bust from the Met Museum, said to be looted, is returned to Libya, New York Times... New consultations over Nile dam inspire optimism in Sudan, Al=Monitor... Egypt's president meets Sudanese general in Cairo, Associated Press.
News You Missed
A profound realignment is taking place in the Middle East, and traditional allies of the United States like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel are hedging on Washington's fealty to old friends. The question is what to do, and the future of the region and of American influence rests on the answer.
American Enterprise Institute, The US can't just quit the Middle East.
Russia's private military company, the Wagner Group, is expected to deploy as many as 1,000 mercenaries into eastern Ukraine. Western officials, however, don't believe they can help Russia turn the tide in the Donbass region.
Business Insider, Russia's shift of mercenaries to Ukraine won't change the war but reveals Putin's 'desperation' - Western official.