Rubio and Iraqi PM speak about Iran, energy, US business investments
'The two agreed on the need for Iraq to become energy independent, to quickly reopen the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline, and to honor contractual terms for US companies working in Iraq to attract additional investment,' State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
The two 'also discussed reducing Iran's malign influence and continuing efforts to prevent ISIS from resurging and destabilizing the broader region,' the spokesperson said.
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Saudi Gazette
3 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
US and 3 European allies split over UN peacekeepers in Lebanon ahead of critical vote
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is pushing to end the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, a move strongly opposed by key European allies, raising tensions ahead of a critical vote at the U.N. Security Council later this month. At stake is the future of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, a multinational force that has monitored hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah since 1978. Its mandate expires at the end of August and must be renewed by the Security Council for operations to continue. The U.S. administration, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, views the mission as ineffective and costly, arguing that UNIFIL has failed to disarm Hezbollah and restore full Lebanese government control in the south. According to administration officials and congressional aides, Rubio signed off last week on a plan to shut down the force within six months. The decision follows a broader Trump-era foreign policy shift to reduce U.S. funding and engagement in multilateral institutions. Washington has already slashed contributions to UN peacekeeping operations and withdrawn from several U.N. agencies. France, Italy, and Britain — whose troops contribute significantly to UNIFIL — are urging a one-year extension, arguing that an abrupt end would create a dangerous security vacuum. With Lebanon's military still under-resourced and stretched thin, European diplomats warn that Hezbollah could swiftly exploit any withdrawal. Israel, which has long criticized the peacekeepers' effectiveness, reluctantly agreed to the one-year extension, according to U.S. and European officials. The debate comes amid growing friction between Washington and its European allies over foreign policy issues ranging from Israel's war in Gaza to the war in Ukraine and international trade. France's latest draft resolution, seen by The Associated Press, extends UNIFIL's mandate by a year without a firm end date — a key U.S. demand. The draft mentions the Council's 'intention to work on a withdrawal,' language that U.S. officials say is too vague. Even if the mandate is renewed, officials say the mission may face reductions due to financial pressures. A U.N. official familiar with the talks said one compromise under discussion is scaling back troop numbers while expanding UNIFIL's technological surveillance capabilities. There are currently around 10,000 U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army, which also patrols the area, has approximately 6,000 soldiers there, with plans to reach 10,000. UNIFIL has been criticized by Hezbollah supporters, who accuse it of cooperating with Israel, and by Israel, which claims the force has ignored Hezbollah's growing arsenal. During and after last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah, several Hezbollah weapons caches and tunnels were discovered near UNIFIL bases. Sarit Zehavi, a former Israeli intelligence officer, said the peacekeepers had 'damaged the mission to disarm Hezbollah.' She cited weapons finds near UNIFIL positions as evidence. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed that unauthorized rocket launchers and explosives had been discovered again this week and reported to Lebanese authorities. Lebanese officials have urged that the mission be extended, citing the country's ongoing economic and political crises and the military's limited capacity. Retired Gen. Khalil Helou said that ending the mission now would force troops to be pulled from other vulnerable areas. 'UNIFIL is maybe not fulfilling 100% of what the West or Israel want,' he said. 'But for Lebanon, their presence is important.' U.N. spokesman Dujarric said the mission remains vital to regional stability. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti added that the decision is up to the Security Council: 'We are here to assist the parties in implementation of the mission's mandate and we're waiting for the final decision.' — Agencies
Arab News
16 hours ago
- Arab News
US suspends visas for Gazans after far-right influencer posts
WASHINGTON: The US government said Saturday it is suspending visitor visas for Gazans after a far-right influencer with the ear of President Donald Trump complained that wounded Palestinians had been allowed to seek medical treatment in the United States. The announcement came one day after a series of furious social media posts by Laura Loomer, who is known for promoting racist conspiracy theories and claiming that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job. 'All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days,' the State Department, which is led by Marco Rubio, wrote on X. In a series of posts on X Friday, Loomer called on the State Department to stop giving visas to Palestinians from Gaza who she said were 'pro-HAMAS... affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and funded by Qatar,' without providing evidence. Loomer's target was the US-based charity HEAL Palestine, which said last week it had helped 11 critically wounded Gazan children — as well as their caregivers and siblings — arrive safely in the US for medical treatment. It was 'the largest single medical evacuation of injured children from Gaza to the US,' the charity said on its website. 'Truly unacceptable,' Loomer wrote in another X post. 'Someone needs to be fired at @StateDept when @marcorubio figures out who approved the visas.' 'Qatar transported these GAZANS into the US via @qatarairways,' she said. Qatar is 'literally flooding our country with jihadis,' she added. Loomer said she had spoken to the staff of Republican Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, adding that they were 'also looking into how these GAZANS got visas to come into the US.' Republican Congressman Randy Fine explicitly commended Loomer after the visa change was announced, in a sign of her sway over some US policy. 'Massive credit needs to be given to @LauraLoomer for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura,' Fine wrote on X. The Palestine Children's Relief Fund, a US-based charity, called on the Trump administration to 'reverse this dangerous and inhumane decision.' Over the last 30 years the charity has evacuated thousands of Palestinian children to the US for medical care, it said a statement. 'Medical evacuations are a lifeline for the children of Gaza who would otherwise face unimaginable suffering or death due to the collapse of medical infrastructure in Gaza.' Though Loomer holds no official position, she wields significant power, and is reported to have successfully pushed for the dismissal of several senior US security officials she deemed disloyal to Trump. In July, Loomer took aim at a job offer made to a highly qualified Biden-era official for a prestigious position at the West Point military academy. The Pentagon rescinded the offer one day later. Trump also fired the head of the highly sensitive National Security Agency, Timothy Haugh, and his deputy Wendy Noble in April at the apparent urging of Loomer, after she met with the president at the White House. 'No other content creator or journalist has gotten as many Biden holdovers fired from the Trump admin!' Loomer posted on X Saturday.
Leaders
a day ago
- Leaders
China Rejects European Sanctions over Iran's Nuclear Program
China said on Friday it 'opposes invoking' sanctions on Iranian Nuclear Program and 'believes that it does not help parties build trust and bridge differences,' according to AFP. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated that imposing sanctions 'is not conducive to the diplomatic effort for the early resumption of talks.' On Thursday, Iran announced it was working with both China and Russia to stop the snapback of European sanctions. This move came after the foreign ministers from the E3 group — Britain, France and Germany, told the United Nations that they would reimpose them if Iran does not reach a diplomatic solution by the end of August. 'We will try to prevent it,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state TV on Thursday. No Moral or Legal Ground to Reactivate Snapback Sanctions In July, Araqchi told his European counterparts that they have no moral or legal grounds for reactivating UN sanctions, according to Al Arabiya. Araqchi's remarks come after Europeans threatened to do so in coming months if there is no progress in nuclear talks. 'If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the 'snap-back' for which they (have) absolutely no moral (or) legal grounds,' Araghchi said on X. He also noted Tehran is ready for a new round of talks if the other side is willing to reach 'a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear deal.' In June, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the Europeans would be 'justified' in pursuing a snapback of UN sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers. The speculation about Tehran's nuclear program has been increasing since Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13. The US became directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran on June 22 after launching airstrikes on the Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. Related Topics: IAEA to Visit Iran Within Next Two Weeks Iran Says Any Future Talks Should Hold US Accountable for Nuclear Site Attacks US Has Bank of Potential Military Targets in Iran: Col. Dahouk Short link : Post Views: 4
