‘Israel will defend itself,’ Netanyahu warns as Iran nuclear talks begin

Iran has steadily overstepped the accord’s limits on its nuclear program in response to Washington’s withdrawal from the accord in 2018. By LAHAV HARKOV, REUTERS APRIL 6, 2021 22:19 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke out against a return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, shortly after the Islamic Republic and world powers began talks […]

US and Iraq set to continue strategic dialogue

Iraq needs the US to balance Iran, but only in a quiet way. By SETH J. FRANTZMAN APRIL 7, 2021 10:13 The US and Iraq are supposed to continue strategic dialogue talks with a first round taking place today. The origin of the talks is the former US administration. Iraq sought strategic dialogue with the […]

White House quietly boosts aid to Palestinians as some in US Congress cry foul

Biden administration announces tens of millions in aid to Palestinians three times in past two weeks; some Republicans preparing to challenge move AgenciesToday, 4:45 am The Biden administration is moving again to increase US assistance to the Palestinians as it fires up a new Mideast policy that is directly opposite of the one pursued by […]

Israeli forces carried out strike on Iranian ship in Red Sea, NY Times reports

Jerusalem said to tell US it hit vessel in response to attacks on Israeli ships; official US report calls Saviz covert IRGC base; strike comes amid indirect US-Iran nuke deal talks TOI staffAgenciesToday, 6:32 am Israeli forces carried out a strike on an Iranian ship in the Red Sea in retaliation for previous strikes by […]

Iranian ship affiliated with IRGC attacked – initial report

Iranian ship affiliated with IRGC attacked – initial report Iranian and Israeli officials have largely remained silent on the reports. By TZVI JOFFRE APRIL 7, 2021 00:26 An Iranian cargo ship affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps was reportedly attacked off the coast of Eritrea in the Red Sea on Tuesday, according to the […]

Netanyahu to meet Bennett Thursday, vows to seek end to ‘cycle of elections’

Officially tasked with forming government, Likud leader reportedly trying to enlist ‘defectors;’ also said considering coalition backed from outside by both Smotrich, Abbas By Alexander Fulbright Today, 11:17 pm 0 Edit Having been formally tasked with assembling a government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set out Tuesday to secure an elusive ruling majority, scheduling a meeting […]

Netanyahu gets most support after Lapid, Bennett fail to close deal

Netanyahu gets most support after Lapid, Bennett fail to close deal Yamina, Yesh Atid banking on PM not building coalition By GIL HOFFMAN APRIL 5, 2021 23:24 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received more endorsements to form the next government than Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid on Monday, making it likely that he will receive the first mandate […]

Israel, in first comment, says troubled by US position ahead of Iran talks

US envoy to Iran Malley says goal is to return to nuclear deal, without calling to strengthen it. LAHAV HARKOV APRIL 5, 2021 18:23 Mixed messages from the Biden administration on the Iran nuclear deal days before indirect talks commence in Vienna between the sides are “very troubling,” senior Israel officials said Sunday. They expressed […]

EU-Iran confab in Vienna to “reinvigorate nuclear deal”

Apr 6, 2021 @ 11:00 Efforts to bring the United States back into the 2015 deal on Iran’s nuclear program are to step up on Tuesday when Iran and the five world powers remaining in the accord meet in Vienna. US officials will be on hand for indirect talks with Iran, which has refused a […]

US ducks question on whether east Jerusalem is Palestinian capital

“There has been no change on our position in Jerusalem, and, of course, Jerusalem is a final status issue that is to be negotiated by the two parties.” TOVAH LAZAROFF APRIL 6, 2021 10:48 United States State Department spokesman Ned Price ducked a question on whether the Biden administration considers east Jerusalem to be the […]

Erdoğan accuses former admirals of ‘political coup’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday accused 104 retired admirals of “hinting at a political coup” by criticizing his plans for a new canal linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, Agence France-Presse reported. Turkish prosecutors detained 10 of the admirals on Monday and ordered four others to turn themselves in after they published […]

Iran targets its Azeri areas for ‘Israeli spies’

Security services said the defendants were “engaged in fraud, forgery of documents, preparation and purchase and sale of illegal bank checks” and other offenses. SETH J. FRANTZMAN APRIL 6, 2021 09:51 Iran said that it had arrested “Israeli spies” in areas of east Azerbaijan province this week. It said that its security services in the […]

Has Jordan successfully managed the royal crisis?

No country in the region appears to have tried to fan the flames of the controversy or take advantage of it. SETH J. FRANTZMAN APRIL 6, 2021 07:50 The controversy in Jordan that unfolded over the weekend seems to have been successfully managed by the Kingdom. However, it may leave lasting questions about what took […]

Iran, US to hold indirect nuclear talks in Vienna

Iran has steadily overstepped the accord’s limits on its nuclear program in response to Washington’s withdrawal from the accord in 2018. REUTERS APRIL 6, 2021 09:39 Iran and the United States will hold indirect talks in Vienna on Tuesday aimed at bringing both countries back into full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal that Washington […]