Russia Says 'Main Body' Of Iran Sanctions Will Be Lifted Through Vienna Nuclear Talks
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Thursday, January 13, 2022! Russia's ambassador to the Vienna nuclear talks says sanctions will be removed, but note that he was in Iran when he spoke, and Mikhail Ulyanov is one of the more optimistic participants. The United States says there's only modest progress, and that isn't sufficient. Meanwhile, Iran makes clear it wants a permanent nuclear agreement in any new deal, remembering that Donald Trump cancelled the last one.
United Nations officials said they viewed the hijacked UAE ship Rwabee from a distance and (somehow) spoke to the captured crew. The scene was a Red Sea port the UN patrols weekly, and no further details. The UAE ambassador to the United Nations addressed the UN Security Council about the Rwabee, the first speech the UAE has made to the body since it was elected to a two-year term on the council.
Iran is losing its voting rights at the UN because it can't pay its dues, blaming United States sanctions. And Iran released a British arts worker from prison but reincarcerated a French-Iranian woman who teaches in Paris. France is "astonished" and is demanding her release.
Oil prices increase, and one analyst says they can go over $100 a barrel soon. Then the bank JPMorgan went big, saying oil will sell at $125 a barrel this year and $150 next year.
News from Saudi Arabia, Hezbollah, China, Israel, Iraq, the U.S Congress, and More.
"The main body of anti-Iran sanctions will be lifted." Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's representative at the Vienna nuclear talks, told an Iranian newspaper that the sanctions removal will include "the most important areas" such as oil and trade. He said Iran's concern is that any new agreement will stay valid in the future. "The problem is that it will remain valid as long as Mr. Biden stays in the White House," he said, and negotiators are trying to find additional guarantees. "We are doing our best, and this work is not yet completed."
The National, 'Main body' of sanctions on Iran to be lifted, Russia's negotiator says.
An Iranian parliamentary leader said Iran's negotiators in Vienna want a permanent and maximal nuclear agreement. Vahid Jalalzadeh said the West must take steps with Iran to build confidence .and that any agreement must "resolve created distrust." The 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran was signed when Barack Obama was U.S. president, but his successor, Donald Trump, withdrew the United States from the agreement.
Vestnik Kavkaza, 'Permanent agreement' Iran's priority in Vienna talks - MP.
Gulf countries are feeling better about being heard at the Vienna nuclear talks after a meeting with U.S. special envoy Robert Malley. In the meeting with Malley, arranged by Saudi diplomat Prince Abdullah bin Khalid Al-Saud for representatives of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Malley reviewed the talks and the Gulf officials emphasized worries about Iran's nuclear capabilities and its interventions in the region. Gulf countries have long been demanding a seat at the negotiating table but remain on the sidelines.
Al Arabiya, Coordination with Gulf increases as US, world powers align focus on Iran nuclear deal.
Diplomats say the United States and Iran aren't displaying flexibiity in the Vienna nuclear talks, raising questions about whether a compromise is possible. A former Iranian official said Iran is "certain that their uncompromising, maximalist approach will give results," but in Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price cited only modest progress. "Modest progress is also not sufficient if we are going to" revive the 2015 nuclear agreement. Earlier, France said despite some progress, Iran and world powers were still far away from a deal.
Reuters, Iran, US lock horns over sanctions relief, nuclear curbs in Vienna talks.
Iran is losing its voting rights at the United Nations because it hasn't paid minimum dues of $18 million. Last year Iran paid the minimum of $16 million and regained its vote.
Iran's ambassador to the UN said then that U.S. sanctions had kept Iran from paying it dues. Seven other countries, including Sudan, are also being suspended. The suspensions take effect immediately.
Newsweek, Iran again loses U.N. voting rights over $18M in unpaid dues, 7 other nations also owe.
The United States for the first time explicitly connected Iran's intelligence ministry to a hacker espionage group known as MuddyWater. The group is prolific and tries to siphon data from telecom firms and other organizations across the Middle East. The U.S. military's Cyber Command said the Iran ministry uses multiple hacking tools against computer networks around the world.
CNN, US military links prolific hacking group to Iranian intelligence.
United Nations officers say they saw the seized UAE vessel Rwabee from a distance at a Houthii-controlled port in Yemen and spoke to its crew members. The UN Mission supporting the Hudaiyah agreement said the contact came when it conducted a routine weekly patrol and visited Al-Salif port.
Reuters, U.N. mission says it spoke to crew members from Emirati vessel seized by Houthis.
The United Nations needs $3.9 billion this year to help people in Yemen. Humanitarian official Ramesh Rajasingham called on the UN Security Council for "all donors to sustain and, if possible, increase their support this year." He said last year's response was only 58% for funding, and that the UN World Food Program had cut its assistance to 8 million people.
Al Jazeera, UN says $3.9 bn needed for help in Yemen as conflict escalates.
The United Arab Emirates urged the UN Security Council to take a "firm position" against the Yemen Houthi's seizure of the UAE-flagged ship Rwabee. UAE ambassador to the UN Lana Nusseibeh said the Houthi group committed an "act of piracy" when it hijacked the vessel in waters of the Red Sea off the port city of Hodeidah.
"The Houthis have repeatedly used explosive-laden speedboats and sea mines to threaten the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandeb strait," she told the 15-member council. Her comments marked the first time the UAE addressed the council since taking its two-year member seat on January 1. Earlier, Ms. Nusseibeh had written to the council about the seizure.
The National, UN must take 'firm position' on Houthi ship seizure, says UAE envoy.
JPMorgan is forecasting oil prices to rise as high as $125 a barrel this year and $150 a barrel in 2023. The bank said it expects OPEC's spare capacity to drop through 2022, driving a higher risk premium to oil prices.
Reuters, JP Morgan sees OPEC spare capacity falling through 2022.
Oil analysts are predicting that world prices could go above $100 a barrel in the first quarter of this year, "possibly sooner." Oil was trading above $84 this week, and analyst Jeffrey Halley said: Assuming China doesn't suffer a sharp slowdown, Omicron fading and OPEC's production increases remain limited, "I see no reason why Brent crude cannot move toward $100 in Q1, possibly sooner."
Reuters, Oil prices could hit $100 as demand outstrips supply, analysts say.
Saudi Arabia's energy minister said transition away from fossil fuels toward clean energy is complicated and the world needs to be flexible. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud said the kingdom will use its vast uranium resources to develop a nuclear power program, but that he is still worried about the energy transition and that it needed to be thought through carefully. "We should not forfeit energy security for the sake of a publicity stunt," he said.
Reuters, Saudi Arabia calls for flexibility in energy transition.
Saudi Arabia's wealth fund plans to invest $10 billion more into listed stock this year. The Public Investment Fund has a goal of more than doubling its assets by 2025.and it's expected to focus on e-commerce and renewables. Spending on stocks is in addition to the fund's direct investment in international companies and local deals. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is chairman of the fund.
Bloomberg, Saudi wealth fund plans to buy $10 billion in stocks in 2022.
Saudi Arabia is targeting $3 trillion of investments into the kingdom in the next nine years. The kingdom is striving to be "the most investor-friendly" destination and to achieve its goal, is working to draft a new investment law, investment minister Khalid Al Falih said.
The National, Saudi Arabia aims to attract $3 tn of investment over next nine years, minister says.
Saudi Arabia will build 14,000 km (8,700 miles) of railway across the country. "New rail that will criss-cross the kingdom and add to the network we already have, Khalid Al Falih, the Saudi investment minister, said.
Reuters, Saudi Arabia to build 14,000 km of railway, enact new investment law.
China is drawing comparisons with the United States in its meetings this week with foreign ministers of Gulf countries. Officials are pointing out each country's support for China's policies on Taiwan, human rights, and other issues that have drawn criticism from the U.S.
South China Morning Post, China's meetings with Middle East ministers sets the scene for Beijing to step up in the region.
Pakistan Today, China, Kuwait to intensify efforts for five-year cooperation plan.
Iran has put a French-Iranian academic back in jail after she had been under house arrest for more than a year. The French foreign ministry voiced "astonishment" at Iran's decision to reincarcerate Fariba Adelkhah, a researcher at Paris's elite Sciences Po university. She was arrested in 2019 at Tehran's airport, charged with conspiring against national security, and given a five-year sentence, but she had been allowed to live under house arrest since 2020. France said Iran's decision came with "no explanation or preliminary warning."
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, France warns of 'negative consequences' after Iran puts dual national academic back in prison.
An employee of a British cultural organization has been acquitted of espionage charges in Iran and is back in Britain after spending more than three years in prison.
The woman, Aras Amiri, was arrested in 2018 along with other Iranians with British connections. Ms. Amiri is an Iranian citizen who had lived in Britain for about 10 years before she was detained in Iran. She is an art student employed by the British Council and returned to Britain this week.
New York Times, Woman jailed in Iran has returned to U.K.
In a landmark ruling, a German court today convicted a former Syrian intelligence officer of crimes against humanity. Anwar Raslan, 58, was found guilty for his role in state-sponsored murder and torture under Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's government. A court in Koblenz upheld charges that Raslan had overseen the murder of 27 people at a detention center in Damascus. Raslan had denied the charges. He and another defendant, junior officer Eyad al-Gharib, were put on trial in 2020. Gharib was sentenced to four and one-half years in prison last year. The trials were the first to address state-led torture during Syria's civil war.
Voice of America, German court convicts former Syrian intelligence officer of crimes against humanity.
Israel's security agency, Shin Bet, foiled an Iranian attempt to recruit Israeli Jewish women to spy for Iran. The agency said an Iranian agent used a false identity and approached the women through Facebook and Instagram. He wanted the women to take photos of the U.S. embassies in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Shin Bet and Israeli police intercepted the plan, and three women, all immigrants from Iran, and one man were indicted and charged with making contact with a foreign operative.
Yahoo News, Israeli security agency foiled an Iranian attempt to recruit Israeli Jewish women to spy for Iran.
Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah hosted a conference for Saudi opposition figures in a defiant gesture sure to anger Saudi Arabia. At a time when the Lebanese government is trying to mend relations with Saudi Arabia, a top Hezbollah official, Hashem Safieddine, said the Saudis should stop "bullying" and interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs.
The conference was held in Hezbollah's stronghold south of Beirut and was attended by Saudi opposition figures and members of Yemen's Houthi rebel movement.
Associated Press, Hezbollah hosts conference in Beirut for Saudi opposition.
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has called on President Joe Biden to prevent Syria's Assad regime from reintegrating into the international community. A letter signed by senior members of both House and Senate foreign relations committees expressed concern that "a number of our Arab partners" are increasing relationships with Assad.
Middle East Eye, US lawmakers urge Biden to prevent Arab normalization with Syria.
European archaeologists are making an enthusiastic return to Iraq in search of ancient cultural treasures. War and insurgency have kept the scholars away from Iraq for decades, and only since Baghdad declared victory against the Islamic State have the archaeologists been able to visit.
AFP, European archaeologists back in Iraq after years of war.
MORE: Algeria reopens consulate in Libya after eight-year absence, Al Monitor... Tunisia's Ennahda party calls for protests, defying a decision to ban gatherings, Reuters... Egypt plans first accredited gold refinery, Reuters... UAE: Enec set to produce 85% of Abu Dhabi clean electricity by 2025, Menafn... Qatar's economy grows b 2.6% in Q3, 2021, lifted by non-hydrocarbon sector, Reuters... Saudi to introduce minerals reserve auction process, minister says, Reuters... GCC banks will benefit from economic recovery in 2022, S&P says, The National.... UAE astronauts Mohammad Al Mulla and Nora Al Matrooshi start training at NASA, Khaleej Times.
News You Missed
Yemen's pro-government force, the Giants Brigades, has just gained one of the most significant victories of the Yemen war, rolling back the Houthi opposition from the oil-rich southeastern province of Shabwah. The Giants Brigades, known as al-Amaliqa in Arabic, are backed by the United Arab Emirates and are proving crucial in the Yemen government's advances.
Middle East Eye, Yemen: Who are the UAE-backed Giants Brigades?
The United Arab Emirates is known as a popular business destination but has conservative laws, such as jailing foreigners for kissing in public. Tourists have received long prison sentences, and business people have been locked away for a bounced check. Now, the UAE wants to change its image and is overhauling its laws.
NPR, Why United Arab Emirates is relaxing laws on sex, marriage, liquor, vapes and more.