Muscat talks raise realistic hopes after decades of delusion
https://arab.news/c8kp2
The Houthi youth cannot believe what he is reading. Positive messages have emerged from the Iranian-US meeting in Muscat. He had never expected that the supreme leader would allow Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to meet with Steve Witkoff, the envoy of the man who ordered the killing of Qassem Soleimani.
Yemen is going through some tough times. The American jet resembles a phantom and may even almost resemble fate. It roams the skies as it searches for the rockets and drones that were engineered by Soleimani and concealed in Yemen's mountains and valleys. The Houthi youth secretly acknowledges to himself that the US jets are not being shot down and the US fleet still stands, despite the excited statements of the armed forces spokesman.
The youth begins to have doubts. Is it time to set aside the Houthi arsenal and put an end to the Houthis' time in power? Will the rocket attacks on ships sailing the Red Sea come to a halt, or is this just time for a truce? Is there truth to the statements that said the proxies are mere fuel for the fire that needed to be lit to prepare for the negotiations? He cannot believe it.
The Lebanese youth can't believe his eyes. The Lebanese civil war erupted on April 13, 1975. The country that was deluded in believing that it was a player became an arena where several wars played out. Tough Lebanese and regional warriors fought it out in this small country. The flood of funerals started and has never really stopped. Lebanese groups made gambles and came up with delusions that were far greater than the fragile country could stand. The Lebanese turned to foreign allies that are more powerful than them and they ultimately became fighters in a battle that turned them into mere pawns, not partners.
Funerals, funerals, funerals.
Kamal Jumblatt was assassinated after committing miscalculations related to geography while Hafez Assad was in power in Syria. Jumblatt once told former secretary general of the Lebanese Communist Party George Hawi: 'It appears that we have launched a cause that is bigger than us.' Hawi would later tell me: 'If only we hadn't fired a single bullet.' The parties fought long and hard, and were defeated. They would later celebrate false victories.
The Lebanese gambled with their children and country
Ghassan Charbel
Bashir Gemayel also made miscalculations when he relied on regional forces to upend internal balances. A president-elect, he was killed before he even stepped foot in the presidential palace. Rene Moawad was killed for committing the sin of seeking to implement the Taif Accord on the basis of moderation, treating wounds and easing concerns. He was assassinated weeks into his presidency.
Rafik Hariri. The man who tried to help the country emerge from under the rubble, and who tried to restore Lebanon's standing as it grappled with the Assads in Syria and Iranian influence. He was assassinated in Beirut. He was killed for trying to steal Lebanon away from the feast of wars, roles, and sizes. He was killed on the regional front line.
Hassan Nasrallah was killed in the Israeli war on Lebanon after the US and Israel retaliated to the Oct. 7 attacks by destroying Iran's regional proxies.
Funerals, funerals, funerals.
The Lebanese youth browses the news. Dreams have turned into rubble. Lebanon is losing its youth and children. The Lebanese are either buried, in exile, or watching the region burn by the barbaric Israeli jets and living in anticipation of the full implementation of resolution 1701 and following Deputy US Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus' recommendations.
The youth wonders: Is it time for Hezbollah to retire its arsenal? Was sacrificing the proxies necessary to fuel the fire for the negotiations and improving Iran's conditions at the talks? What about those who have been killed and left behind scores of widows, orphans, and decimated villages? It has been 50 years since the eruption of the first of the Lebanese wars. What good was it for southern Lebanon to turn into a front for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? What good was it for southern Lebanon to turn into a front for the Iranian-Israeli conflict? The Israeli jet resembles a phantom; it may even resemble fate.
Trump is quick to remind everyone of America's might
Ghassan Charbel
The youth can barely believe his ears. Donald Trump says he wants Iran to become a 'great and happy nation.' But it can't be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. The youth knows that Trump's America is not like Obama or Biden's America. Trump may make soft statements, but he is quick to remind everyone of America's might if negotiations over the nuclear program fail.
The days are painful. The Lebanese gambled with their children and country. Did they learn the lesson? The Lebanese have no better home than Lebanon. It is the best home for Walid Jumblatt and his supporters, Samir Geagea and those counting on him, and Naim Qassem and the supporters of his party and sect. The same applies to those who continue to recall Rafik Hariri.
The Lebanese state alone can protect the Lebanese people. This is not about the success of Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam's terms in office. But it is about Lebanon coming back from wars, and focusing on achieving stability and peace. Lebanon is our last and only hope.
The Iraqi youth can't believe his eyes. The failure or success of the Muscat talks will have several implications for his country. Iran is not a charity. It is a serious state that knows how to flirt on the edge of war with the US without actually being dragged into conflict. Its primary concern is achieving its national interests. So, is it time to retire the arsenal of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq? Is it time for Iran to reduce its influence and clear the way for the US and its regional arrangements? How difficult it is for Iraq to walk the delicate line between Washington and Tehran. Is it time to trim the claws of the armed factions and their delusions?
The situation is bitter from Baghdad to Gaza. The only way to fend off Israel's barbarism lies in appeasing the Americans. The Israeli jet resembles a phantom, while the American influence resembles fate.
The painful journey has been long in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Gaza. A sea of blood and scores of missing people. Despair is everywhere. Have the wars deceived the fighters? Have our geographies been fuel for celebrations where the only role we can play is the victim? Will Iran abandon the major coup that it launched in the region back when the Khomeini revolution was victorious? When will the time come for the emergence of normal states whose only source of exhaustion is their dedication to achieving progress and development, and pursuing technological advancement? When will they emerge from the dark tunnels and head toward hopeful horizons?
This article first appeared in Asharq Al-Awsat.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
22 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran Says No Sanctions Relief in US Nuclear Proposal
Iran's parliament speaker said on Sunday that the latest US proposal for a nuclear deal does not include the lifting of sanctions, state media reported as negotiations appeared to have hit a roadblock. The two foes have held five rounds of Omani-mediated talks since April, seeking to replace a landmark agreement between Tehran and world powers that set restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, before US President Donald Trump abandoned the accord in 2018 during his first term, said AFP. In a video aired on Iranian state TV, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that "the US plan does not even mention the lifting of sanctions". He called it a sign of dishonesty, accusing the Americans of seeking to impose a "unilateral" agreement that Tehran would not accept. "The delusional US president should know better and change his approach if he is really looking for a deal," Ghalibaf said. On May 31, after the fifth round of talks, Iran said it had received "elements" of a US proposal, with officials later taking issue with "ambiguities" in the draft text. The US and its Western allies have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a charge Iran has consistently denied, insisting that its atomic program was solely for peaceful purposes. Key issues in the negotiations have been the removal of biting economic sanctions and uranium enrichment. Tehran says it has the right to enrich uranium under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while the Trump administration has called any Iranian enrichment a "red line". Trump, who has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions on Iran since taking office in January, has repeatedly said it will not be allowed any uranium enrichment under a potential deal. On Tuesday, Iran's top negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said the country "will not ask anyone for permission to continue enriching uranium". IAEA meeting According to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state in the world that enriches uranium up to 60 percent -- close to the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead. Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected the latest US proposal and said enrichment was "key" to Iran's nuclear program. The IAEA Board of Governors is scheduled to meet in Vienna starting Monday and discuss Iran's nuclear activities. On Sunday the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran warned it could reduce its level of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog if it adopts a resolution against it. "Certainly, the IAEA should not expect the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue its broad and friendly cooperation," the Iranian agency's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi told state TV. Araghchi on Friday accused European powers of "opting for malign action against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors", warning on X that "Iran will react strongly against any violation of its rights". A quarterly report from the IAEA issued last week cited a "general lack of cooperation" from Iran and raised concerns over undeclared nuclear material. Tehran has rejected the report as politically motivated and based on "forged documents" it said had been provided by its arch foe Israel.
Al Arabiya
17 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Iran says no sanctions relief in US nuclear proposal
Iran's parliament speaker said on Sunday that the latest US proposal for a nuclear deal does not include the lifting of sanctions, state media reported as negotiations appear to have hit a roadblock. The two foes have held five rounds of Omani-mediated talks since April, seeking to replace a landmark agreement between Tehran and world powers that set restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, before US President Donald Trump abandoned the accord during his first term in 2018. In a video aired on Iranian state TV, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that 'the US plan does not even mention the lifting of sanctions.' He called it a sign of dishonesty, accusing the Americans of seeking to impose a 'unilateral' agreement that Tehran would not accept. 'The delusional US president should know better and change his approach if he is really looking for a deal,' Ghalibaf said. On May 31, after the fifth round of talks, Iran said it had received 'elements' of a US proposal, with officials later taking issue with 'ambiguities' in the draft text. The US and its Western allies have long accused the Islamic Republic of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a charge Iran has consistently denied, insisting that its atomic program was solely for peaceful purposes. Key issues in the negotiations have been the removal of biting economic sanctions and uranium enrichment. Tehran says it has the right to enrich uranium under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while the Trump administration has called any Iranian enrichment a 'red line.' Trump, who has revived his 'maximum pressure' campaign of sanction on Iran since taking office in January, has repeatedly said it will not be allowed any uranium enrichment under a potential deal. On Tuesday, Iran's top negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said the country 'will not ask anyone for permission to continue enriching uranium.' According to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state in the world that enriches uranium up to 60 percent – still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected the latest US proposal and said enrichment was 'key' to Iran's nuclear program. The IAEA Board of Governors is scheduled to meet in Vienna later this month and discuss Iran's nuclear activities.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
US believes Russia response to Ukraine drone attack not over yet, expects multi-pronged strike
WASHINGTON: The United States believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin's threatened retaliation against Ukraine over its drone attack last weekend has not happened yet in earnest and is likely to be a significant, multi-pronged strike, US officials told Reuters. The timing of the full Russian response was unclear, with one source saying it was expected within days. A second US official said the retaliation was likely to include different kinds of air capabilities, including missiles and drones. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity. They did not detail Russia's expected targets nor elaborate on intelligence matters. The first official said Moscow's attack would be 'asymmetrical,' meaning that its approach and targeting would not mirror Ukraine's strike last weekend against Russian warplanes. • Putin's retaliation for Ukraine drone strike has yet to fully unfold, US officials say • Strikes expected to including missiles, drones, US officials say • Moscow's retaliation expected to be 'asymmetrical,' official says Russia launched an intense missile and drone barrage at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday and Russia's Defense Ministry said the strike on military and military-related targets was in response to what it called Ukrainian 'terrorist acts' against Russia. But the US officials believe the complete Russian response is yet to come. A Western diplomatic source said that while Russia's response may have started, it would likely intensify with strikes against symbolic Ukrainian targets like government buildings, in an effort to send a clear message to Kyiv. Another, senior, Western diplomat anticipated a further devastating assault by Moscow. 'It will be huge, vicious and unrelenting,' the diplomat said. 'But the Ukrainians are brave people.' The Russian and Ukrainian embassies in Washington and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Michael Kofman, a Russia expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said he expected Moscow might seek to punish Ukraine's domestic security agency, the SBU, for its role in last weekend's assault. To send a message, Russia could employ intermediate-range ballistic missiles for the attack, he said. 'Most likely, they will attempt to retaliate against (SBU) headquarters, or other regional intelligence administration buildings,' Kofman said, adding Russia could also target Ukrainian defense manufacturing centers. Still, Kofman suggested Russia's options for retaliation may be limited as it is already throwing a lot of its military might at Ukraine. 'In general, Russia's ability to substantially escalate strikes from what they are already doing — and attempting to do over the past month — is quite constrained,' he said. OPERATION 'SPIDER'S WEB' Kyiv says Sunday's audacious attack employed 117 unmanned aerial vehicles launched deep from within Russian territory in an operation code-named 'Spider's Web.' The United States assesses that up to 20 warplanes were hit — around half the number estimated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — and around 10 were destroyed. The Russian government on Thursday denied that any planes were destroyed and said the damage would be repaired, but Russian military bloggers have spoken of loss or serious damage to about a dozen planes, including those capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The strikes, prepared over 18 months and conducted by drones smuggled close to the bases in trucks, dealt a powerful symbolic blow to Russia, which throughout the Ukraine war has frequently reminded the world of its nuclear might. Putin told President Donald Trump in a telephone conversation on Wednesday that Moscow would have to respond to attack, Trump said in a social media post. Trump later told reporters that 'it's probably not going to be pretty.' 'I don't like it. I said: 'Don't do it. You shouldn't do it. You should stop it,'' Trump said of his conversation with Putin. 'But, again, there's a lot of hatred.'
