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☆ China's quiet campaign to win over Middle Eastern countries has run into a problem Beijing isn't really ready to deal with
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Until recently, 2023 looked to be a major year for Chinese outreach in the Middle East. Until this month, 2023 looked to be a landmark year for China's outreach to the Middle East. Zhai, China's Middle East envoy, began a tour of the region last week, stopping in Qatar first on October 19. "It's the kind of role we've played for the last half-century in the Middle East. Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping, Bashar Assad, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kim Kyung, Yoav Gallant, Ariel Hermoni, Zhai Jun, Wang Yi, Chuck Schumer, Xi, Nicholas Burns, Burns, Michael Singh, Abraham, Singh, Mahmud Abbas, Jade Gao, Alexus Grynkewich, Grynkewich, Abu Dhabi, ATTA KENARE, it's, Zhai, we've, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, Initiative, Israeli, REUTERS, Saudi, UAE, Israeli Defense Ministry, Getty Images, Washington, The Washington Institute, White House, Israel, US Air Forces, Defense Writers, Huawei, Getty Locations: East, Beijing, Israel, China, Iran, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Anadolu, Getty Images Beijing, Saudi, Egypt, UAE, Jordan, Iraq, Abu, AFP, Qatar, Palestine

Biden administration officials insisted that the United States had not told Israel what to do and still supported the ground invasion. General Glynn, the official said, would not be on the ground in Israel if an incursion into Gaza begins. But on Sunday, a diplomat from the Israeli Embassy denied that the U.S. government was advising the Israelis to delay the ground invasion. In conversations with Israeli officials since the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, American officials said they have not yet seen an achievable plan of action. Like U.S. officials, Mr. Reed said he also still supports the ground invasion to destroy Hamas.

Persons: Biden, Yoav Gallant, Lloyd J, Austin III, James Glynn, General Glynn, Axios, Gallant, Austin, “, Mr, ” Mr, Patrick S, Ryder, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, we’ve, Michael Knights, Knights, Jack Reed, Reed, ”, Michael Crowley Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Biden, Pentagon, Israel, Embassy, Islamic, United States Central Command, ABC, American Marines, Associated Press, Islamic State, State, The Washington Institute, Hamas, Rhode Island Democrat, Armed Services Committee Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Washington, U.S, Mosul, Iraqi, Tel Aviv, Kurdish, Mosul —, British, Falluja, Iraq, Raqqa, Cairo, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, “, State

☆ Who's funding Hamas?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementFor Iran, Levitt said, funding Hamas ultimately offers a financially and politically inexpensive way to undermine Israel's stability and increase the pressure against their adversaries while maintaining an air of deniability regarding its involvement. Both Asal and Levitt told Insider the funds from that transaction had little to do with the latest escalation in the conflict between Hamas and Israel. As with many terrorist organizations that control swaths of land or trade routes, Hamas gets funding through taxation, extortion, smuggling, kidnapping, and robbery, Asal told Insider. Money laundering and cryptoTo move all its money around, Levitt said, Hamas relies largely on cryptocurrency transactions and trade-based money laundering to avoid being easily tracked. "And that also allows Hamas to divert money from providing for its people to support its war machine."

Persons: —, Victor Asal, France —, Matthew Levitt, they're, Levitt, Biden, Asal, Reinhard, it's, Alex Zerden Organizations: Hamas, International, Service, European Union, Israel, Center for Policy Research, University of Albany, State University of New, US Treasury, Department, Land Foundation for Relief, Development, Federal Bureau of, Washington Institute for Near East, State Department, US, Street Locations: Gaza, United States, State University of New York, Switzerland, Austria, Lebanon, France, Iran, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, East, North Africa

[1/3] In half a century of public life, U.S. President Joe Biden has demonstrated unwavering support for Israel. Biden, who is of Irish Catholic descent, has used similar words in the past to profess his affinity for Israel. U.S. and regional sources have expressed doubt that Israel, which vows to destroy Hamas, has yet crafted an endgame. As vice president, Biden often mediated the testy relationship between Obama and Netanyahu. "Whenever things were getting out of hand with Israel, Biden was the bridge," said Ross, now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Aaron David Miller, Barack, Golda Meir, Obama, Dennis Ross, Obama's, Ross, Israel, Lindsey Graham, Graham, Rashida Tlaib, Khaled Elgindy, Matt Spetalnick, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Patricia Zengerle, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Israeli, Hamas, U.S, Irish Catholic, Israel, Democratic, Republican, Reuters, Democratic Party, Nazi, U.S ., Senate, Washington Institute for Near, Republican U.S, Republicans, American, Younger, ., Middle East Institute, Thomson Locations: U.S, Israel, Tel Aviv, WASHINGTON, Gaza, Palestinian, Irish, East, East Jerusalem, Iran, America, Washington

CNN —When Hamas militants broke through the Gaza fence in this month’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the kibbutz of Mefalsim – less than two miles from the border – was on the front lines. That precision, local Israeli security personnel say, was no accident: The fighters seemed to have known exactly where they were headed. CNN has reviewed documents that Israeli officials say were Hamas attack plans, which suggest that the group collected remarkably granular detail on its targets. Two local Israeli security personnel told CNN they independently saw photos of the plan, and it closely matched the Hamas fighters’ tactics during the attack. But like in Mefalsim, Hamas did not successfully attack Sa’ad – no one died, according to the first responders group.

Persons: CNN —, Mefalsim, ”, Yarden, –, “, ” Reskin, Matthew Levitt, Hamas, ” Levitt, who’s, Reskin, Eli Levi, Levi, ” Levi, Colin P, Clarke, ” Clarke, Israel, Sa’ad, ’, Ilia Yefimovich, Sarah Pollack, ” Pollack, Pollack Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Toting AK, intel, Israel, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, AK, Wall Street Journal, NBC News, ” CNN, Getty, Gaza Locations: Gaza, Israel, Mefalsim, Hamas, Sa’ad, Arad

☆ Israel wants Palestinians to rise up against Hamas. One who did says that's now impossible.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Israeli President Isaac Herzog this week said Palestinians should have overthrown Hamas. AdvertisementAdvertisementNo one will "make any kind of revolution against Hamas under the Israeli missile," Aman told Insider in an interview. "They are creating more Hamas, more Hamas, more Hamas," he said — an entire new "generation" of people radicalized by Israeli bombardment and the propaganda of armed extremists claiming to defend them. "Most of the people in Gaza do not support Hamas," Aman said, characterizing the 2006 election as a protest vote against corruption and the failure of the peace process. "I believe that what is happening now, it will not destroy Hamas," Aman said.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Rami Aman, that's, —, Aman, — Aman, Benjamin Netanyahu, Fatah, Israel — Organizations: Service, Committee, Associated Press, West Bank, Washington Institute, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Gaza, Cairo, Gaza City, Israel, Palestine, Palestinian, Qatar, America, United States, Russia

☆ The Massive Challenges Ahead for an Israeli Ground Invasion of Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

“Such an invasion would be difficult for the Israeli military and devastating for Palestinian civilians,” experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote in an analysis . “In order to fully achieve the objective of destroying Hamas military capability in Gaza, ground forces will require weeks, if not months,” Spencer wrote in the analysis . Another strategy the Israeli military is likely anticipating is the use of human shields, which Hamas has been known to do. Israel is no stranger to international pressure, but it has the support of many nations in its pursuit to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities. The Israeli government would need to decide whether to potentially leave a weakened Hamas behind in Gaza or to overthrow its administration.

Persons: ”, Bill Roggio, ” Roggio, “ They're, John Spencer, ” Spencer, Spencer, Roggio, Israel, “, can’t Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Nations, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Modern War Institute, Experts, Hamas, Washington Institute for Near, National Intelligence Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Strongpoints, U.S

☆ Israel Gaza war: How goes Hamas get its weapons? A mix of ingenuity, tenacity, resourcefulness and a key mentor, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images/FILEThe Iran factor“Hamas acquires its weapons through smuggling or local construction and receives some military support from Iran,” the CIA’s World Factbook says. Video Ad Feedback Retired general explains why he thinks Iran helped support Hamas attacks 01:08 - Source: CNNBut Iran has been a mentor, too, analysts say. A senior Hamas official based in Lebanon gave details of the Hamas’ weapons manufacturing in an edited interview with Russia Today’s Arabic-news channel RTArabic published on their website on Sunday. And Tehran keeps the training of Hamas’ weapons makers current, he added. Gaza has none of the heavy industry that would support weapons production in most of the world.

Persons: It’s, –, Said Khatib, ”, Bilal Saab, Daniel Byman, Charles Lister, Byman, “, ” Ali Baraka, Mahmud Hams, Lister, ” Lister, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what’s, Alkhatib, Aaron Pilkington, Baraka, ” Pilkington Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Brigades, Getty, ’, Defense and Security, Middle East Institute, Transnational, Center for Strategic, International Studies, MEI, CSIS, Hamas National Relations, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas ’, CIA, Washington Institute for Near, Fikra, US Air Force, Middle, University of Denver Locations: Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Palestinian, AFP, Iran, Islamic Republic, Hamas, Washington, “ Iran, Lebanon, Russia, Kalashnikovs, Tehran, Iran’s, Saudi

☆ Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Mideast and US leaders tried to sweep the issue under the rug. That may not work anymore
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Abbas Al Lawati | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Palestinian issue, he said, is brought up “a lot less than you think” in negotiations with Arab states. “The international community no longer seems to care, and the Palestinians’ Arab allies are embracing the most right-wing government in Israeli history. (Netanyahu told CNN last month he believes that making peace with Saudi Arabia could eventually lead to peace with the Palestinians.) The plan was widely perceived as challenging China’s trade ambitions and would presumably have been activated after Saudi Arabia and Israel normalized ties. In the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, around three-quarters of their populations were opposed to normalizing with Israel, the poll found.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Netanyahu, Omar Rahman, Biden, Israel, Trump, “, Khaled Elgindy, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Elham, Donald, Joe, John Kirby, Mahmoud Abbas, Mohammed Al Yahya Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Saudi, Middle East Council, Global Affairs, United Arab, Abraham Accords, United, Israel, West Bank, Middle East Institute, Palestinian Affairs, Haaretz, London’s, House, National Security, Muslim Brotherhood, MBS, Palestinian, Washington Post, Washington Institute . Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, ”, Saudi, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, United States, UAE, Palestine, New York, Saudi Arabia, India, Europe, Riyadh, Washington

Washington CNN —The US and its allies are warning the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against escalating the conflict in Israel as the US prepositions military assets to deter a potential widening of the war, multiple US officials and people briefed on the discussions tell CNN. The US won’t officially engage with what has been designated a terrorist group, so Berri is one natural conduit. But current and former senior officials don’t believe Hezbollah is eager to join the war, largely because the risks for the group would outweigh any potential rewards. Analysts say Hezbollah support for Hamas has been symbolic so farHezbollah has congratulated Hamas on Saturday’s massive attack. “There’s this possibility that if Israel gets stuck in Gaza … then, at that point, we could see Lebanese Hezbollah get tempted,” said Knights.

Persons: Nabih Berri . Berri, Berri, “, ”, don’t, Defense Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Jonathan Conricus, Mike Knights, Norm Roule, Frank McKenzie, ” McKenzie, Hassan, Nasrallah, They’re, Roule, –, McKenzie, Israel, Gaza …, Knights, ‘ we’re, ’ Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, US, Defense, White, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Washington Institute, CIA, Knights, ” Knights Locations: Israel, Lebanese, Nabih Berri ., France, Western, Gaza, Don’t, Lebanon, Iran

☆ Israel vowed to blaze through Gaza and destroy Hamas — a task it may find impossible
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to destroy Hamas. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the wake of the devastating terror attacks by militant group Hamas in Israel, the country's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to destroy the group. And even if Israel succeeds in its assault, it is unlikely to completely destroy Hamas. Hamas could use the hostages as human shields, placing them at military and other sites likely to be targeted by the Israeli military. According to a 2017 study by RAND, Israel has sought to contain Hamas, but not outright destroy it.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, —, Netanyahu, Israel, Insider's Jake Epstein, Tobias Borck, It's, Israel didn't, Michael Eisenstadt, Daniel Byman, Vohra Organizations: Service, Hamas, Royal United Services Institute, NBC, RAND, Israel, Military and Security, Washington Institute for Near East, Georgetown University, Foreign Locations: Gaza, Israel, London, Hamas

“We have no evidence or proof” that Iran was behind the attack, Maj. Nir Dinar, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, told Politico on Monday. More recently, Tehran has stepped up the training assistance it provides Hamas inside Iran, according to a former Western defense official. Hamas received Iranian weapons and military technology, and learned from the Iranians about planning operations. “Everything we have seen in the last four days, we can’t say it’s an Iranian plan or an Iranian effort,” Milshtein said. “It’s a Hamas plan that got Iranian help.”Searching for a motivationUS intelligence officials are also working to understand Hamas’ immediate motivation for launching the attack.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, “, ” Sullivan, Privately, Sullivan, ”, “ We’ve, we’ve, Biden, Tehran doesn’t, –, Ismail Haniyeh, Frank McKenzie, Mahmud Hams, Zohar Palti, Nir, it’s, Israel —, Norm Roule, ” Roule, Amir Cohen, Mike Knights, Michael Milshtein, “ They’ve, Milshtein, ” Milshtein, ’, “ It’s, McKenzie, ” McKenzie Organizations: Washington CNN, Hamas, Biden, White, CNN, intel, State Department, US Central Command, Getty, Israel’s Ministry of Defense, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, CIA, Reuters, Washington Institute, ” Knights, Department, Palestinian Affairs, Knights, Hezbollah, Palestinian Authority, Gaza Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, Gaza, Gaza City, AFP, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Ashkelon, “, Yemen, Jihad, Lebanon

There is no security in the whole region as long as Palestinians are left outside of the equation." The Hamas attack launched from Gaza follows months of rising violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with stepped-up Israeli raids, Palestinian street attacks and assaults by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages. "Some (Arab states) unfortunately started imagining that Israel could be the gateway for America to defend their security." "I would say for certain Hamas, terrorist groups like Hamas, will not derail any such outcome. Tehran called Saturday's attack an act of self-defence by Palestinians.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Peacemaking, Laura Blumenfeld, Osama Hamdan, Netanyahu, Ali Baraka, Richard LeBaron, IRAN'S, Joe Biden's, Yahya Rahim Safavi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Dennis Ross, Samia Nakhoul, Nidal El Mughrabi, Laila Bassam, Matt Spetalnick, Edmund Blair Organizations: REUTERS, Saudi, Israel Saudi, Hamas, Iran, Israel, Al, West Bank, Reuters, Johns Hopkins School, International Studies, U.S . Middle, Atlantic Council, Islamic, Palestinian, Analysts, Washington Institute for Near, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Gaza, Sderot, Israel, DUBAI, GAZA, WASHINGTON, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Riyadh, Tehran, Iran, Al Jazeera, Lebanese, U.S, East, Lebanon, America, Kippur, Egypt, U.S . Middle East, Saudi, Israeli, normalisation, Islamic Jihad, Palestine, Jerusalem, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Yemeni, Dubai, Beirut

There is no security in the whole region as long as Palestinians are left outside of the equation." The Hamas attack launched from Gaza follows months of rising violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with stepped-up Israeli raids, Palestinian street attacks and assaults by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages. "I would say for certain Hamas, terrorist groups like Hamas, will not derail any such outcome. Tehran called Saturday's attack an act of self-defence by Palestinians. Dennis Ross, a former Middle East negotiator who is now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in Washington, said of Saturday's attack: "This is all about preventing the U.S.-Saudi-Israel breakthrough."

Persons: Ammar Awad, Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Peacemaking, Osama Hamdan, Netanyahu, Ali Baraka, Richard LeBaron, IRAN'S, Joe Biden's, Yahya Rahim Safavi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Dennis Ross, Samia Nakhoul, Nidal El Mughrabi, Laila Bassam, Matt Spetalnick, Edmund Blair Organizations: REUTERS, Saudi, Israel Saudi, Hamas, Iran, Israel, Al, West Bank, Reuters, U.S . Middle, Atlantic Council, Islamic, Palestinian, Analysts, Washington Institute for Near, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Gaza, Sderot, Israel, DUBAI, GAZA, WASHINGTON, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Riyadh, Tehran, Iran, Al Jazeera, Lebanese, U.S, Lebanon, America, Kippur, Egypt, U.S . Middle East, Saudi, Israeli, normalisation, Islamic Jihad, Palestine, Jerusalem, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Yemeni, Dubai, Beirut

☆ Analysis-In Surprise Attack, Hamas Strikes Israel and Regional Security Realignment
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

"Some (Arab states) unfortunately started imagining that Israel could be the gateway for America to defend their security." In the years since 1973, Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel and several other Arab states have also since normalised ties, including some Gulf Arab states next to Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu has previously said the Palestinians should not be allowed to veto any new Israeli peace deals with Arab states. Tehran called Saturday's attack an act of self-defence by Palestinians. Dennis Ross, a former Middle East negotiator who is now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in Washington, said of Saturday's attack: "This is all about preventing the U.S.-Saudi-Israel breakthrough."

Persons: Samia Nakhoul, Nidal, Matt Spetalnick, Laila Bassam, Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Peacemaking, Osama Hamdan, Netanyahu, Ali Baraka, Richard LeBaron, IRAN'S, Joe Biden's, Yahya Rahim Safavi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Dennis Ross, Nidal El Mughrabi, Edmund Blair Organizations: Hamas, Iran, Israel, Saudi, Al, West Bank, Reuters, U.S . Middle, Atlantic Council, Islamic, Palestinian, Analysts, Washington Institute for Near, U.S . Locations: Laila Bassam DUBAI, GAZA, WASHINGTON, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Riyadh, Tehran, Iran, Gaza, Al Jazeera, Lebanese, U.S, Lebanon, America, Kippur, Egypt, U.S . Middle East, Saudi, Israeli, normalisation, Islamic Jihad, Palestine, Jerusalem, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Yemeni, Dubai, Beirut

☆ Biden, Netanyahu to discuss Saudi normalization, Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden sits with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) before a dinner at the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem March 9, 2010. Netanyahu did not get a meeting in the early months of the Biden White House in 2021 and was then ousted from power. "The Saudi deal's enormous potential has left Biden & Netanyahu little choice but to meet despite differences," he said. There is still work to do," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Sept. 7. U.S. officials have not ruled out an eventual White House meeting between Biden and Netanyahu.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Baz Ratner, Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu's, Isaac Herzog, David Makovsky, Jake Sullivan, eventual White, Steve Holland, Leslie Adler Organizations: Israel's, REUTERS, Rights, Israeli, West Bank, White, General Assembly, New York ., Biden White House, Washington Institute for Near East, Biden, House, eventual, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Israel, Saudi, Iran, New York, New York . U.S, U.S, United States, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Riyadh

The deal removes a point of friction between the United States, which brands Tehran a sponsor of terrorism, and Iran, which calls Washington the "Great Satan". 'HUMANITARIAN ACTION'[1/9]Family members embrace freed American Emad Shargi after he and four fellow detainees were released in a prisoner swap deal between U.S and Iran, and arrived at Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was in New York for the annual U.N. General Assembly, called the swap a humanitarian action. Relations between the United States and Iran have been especially bitter since 2018 when then-President Donald Trump pulled out of a deal aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions and toughened U.S. sanctions. Washington suspects Iran's nuclear program may be aimed at developing nuclear arms, a charge Iran denies.

Persons: Babak Namazi, Siamak, Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, American Emad, Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden, Ebrahim Raisi, Biden, Michael McCaul, Donald Trump, Iran's, Antony Blinken, Henry Rome of, Andrew Mills, Humeyra Pamuk, Parisa, Edmund Blair, Arshad Mohammed, Gareth Jones, Jon Boyle, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Doha DOHA, NEW, Stripes, Qatari, Davison Army, REUTERS, Rights, General Assembly, Democrat, House Foreign, U.S, Washington Institute for Near, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Qatar, Iran, Doha, United States, U.S, Fort Belvoir , Virginia, South Korea, Switzerland, Tehran, Washington, Gulf and U.S, Emad Sharqi, British, American, New York

VIENNA (AP) — Britain, France and Germany announced Thursday they will keep their sanctions on Iran related to the Mideast country's atomic program and development of ballistic missiles. The measures were to expire in October under a timetable spelled out in the now defunct nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. The measures ban Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and bar anyone from buying, selling or transferring drones and missiles to and from Iran. Iran has violated the sanctions by developing and testing ballistic missiles and sending drones to Russia for its war on Ukraine. Political Cartoons View All 1160 ImagesThe 2015 nuclear deal meant to ensure that Iran could not develop atomic weapons.

Persons: Donald Trump, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Matthew Miller, Washington, ”, Rafael Mariano Grossi, ” Henry Rome, Matthew Lee Organizations: United Nations, . State Department, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Associated Press, U.S, Washington Institute for Near East Locations: VIENNA, Britain, France, Germany, Iran, Tehran, Russia, Ukraine, Tehran “, United States, China, South, Washington

☆ A fierce naval battle 35 years ago shows how destructive another US showdown with Iran could get
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

More than 50 IRGCN and Iranian Navy personnel were killed, while the US lost one SeaCobra helicopter and its two crew members. After all, Iran has made significant changes to its naval forces and tactics over the past 35 years, becoming "much more asymmetric," according to Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and expert on naval operations. Iran's naval force now consists of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, known as the IRGCN, and the regular Iranian Navy, Clark told Insider. The Iranian Navy still primarily consists of frigates and corvettes, which operate outside the Gulf, and is much more like other conventional navies. Iranian Navy warship Sahand in Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz in April 2019.

Persons: Biden, Earnest Will, Chance, Samuel B, Roberts, Bryan Clark, Clark, Nadimi, Abu Musa Island, IRGC, Morteza, Kyle Jia Iran's, weren't, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, US Navy, US, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, US Naval Forces Central Command, Fleet, SS, Iranian Navy, Hudson Institute, Washington Institute for Near East, Iran's Navy, REUTERS, Getty, US Marines, US Marine Corps Locations: Persian, Iran, Wall, Silicon, China, Marshall, Iranian, Gulf, Strait, Hormuz, Tehran, Iraq, SS Bridgeton, Abu Musa, Handout, Persian Gulf, Soviet Union, Lebanon, Bataan

"The move by Iran of the American hostages from Evin Prison ... is an important development," Genser said in a statement. Iran's mission to the United Nations, however, told Iranian state media the release of the dual nationals from prison was part of a U.S.-Iranian prisoner exchange deal. The five Americans will be allowed to leave Iran after $6 billion of Iranian funds in South Korea are unfrozen, a source told Reuters. Karim Sadjadpour, a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace analyst, said Iranian Americans should still avoid travel to Iran. "This deal will reinforce the view of (Iran's) Revolutionary Guards that hostage taking is a lucrative practice with minimal costs," he said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Tehran's, Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, Jared Genser, Genser, Adrienne Watson, Joe Biden, Henry Rome, Donald Trump, Karim Sadjadpour, Namazi, Tahbaz, Shargi, Arshad Mohammed, Parisa Hafezi, Humeyra Pamuk, Jeff Mason, Jasper Ward, Dan Whitcomb, Mark Porter, Lisa Shumaker, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S, Iranian, National Security, United Nations, Reuters, South, Democrat, Washington Institute for Near East, Republican, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Guards, Iran's, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Iran, South Korea, United States, U.S, Washington, Tehran, Qatar, IRAN, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Rome, Dubai

☆ Iran's drones could reach a new South American market as Bolivia expresses interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here's what's ahead for defense stocks "Latin American countries are of special significance in Iran's foreign and defense policy based on the importance of [the] very sensitive South American region," Iran's Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani was quoted as saying. Iran's drones have made "considerable impact on any battlefield they have appeared in," according to Farzin Nadimi, an arms expert at The Washington Institute said. The U.S.' concerns center on Iran's deepening foreign alliances and dissemination of its lethal drones, analysts say. It added that a former Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, "boasted in October 2022 that 22 countries — including Algeria, Armenia, Serbia, Tajikistan, and Venezuela — had submitted formal requests for Iranian drones." Iran has previously provided drones to African countries including Sudan and Ethiopia, which the latter used against Tigrayan rebels.

Persons: Oleksii Samsonov, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Edmundo Novillo, Novillo, Farzin, Nadimi, Novillo's, John Kirby, Biden, Ebrahim Raisi, Kirby, Annika Ganzeveld, Asad, Khomeini, Majid Asgaripour, Venezuela —, Raisi, ISW Organizations: Kyiv, Getty, Iran's, Bolivian, Bolivia's, CNBC, U.S . Defense Intelligence Agency, The Washington Institute, U.S . Institute for Peace, The U.S, U.S . National Security Council, Sepah, Anadolu Agency, American Enterprise Institute, Associated Press, U.S, Missiles, WANA, REUTERS, for, Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Russia, Kyiv, Ukraine, Iran, Washington, South America, Tehran, Fars, Bolivia, The, U.S, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia, America, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, U.S Ayn, REUTERS Washington, Algeria, Armenia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Iranian, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Ethiopia

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 18, 2023. Despite Washington’s longtime status as Israel’s top ally and biggest weapons supplier, Biden appears to have few good options. The White House, in a terse statement, called the Knesset vote "unfortunate" and urged work toward a broad consensus. But U.S. officials have yet to set a date or concur with Israeli statements that they would meet at the White House in September. One White House official said Biden, having known Netanyahu for decades, can be especially blunt with him in private.

Persons: Joe Biden, Isaac Herzog, Evelyn Hockstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, It's, Aaron David Miller, Mike Pence, Hugh Hewitt, Israel's, David Makovsky, Obama, Donald Trump, Herzog, Netanyahu’s, Tom Nides, Barack Obama, Miller, Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, Simon Lewis, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Israeli, Court, Israel, Democratic, Republican, Biden's Democratic Party, Washington Institute, West Bank, White House, U.S, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Israel, derailing, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Washington

Long before moving into the White House, President Biden compared the relationship between the United States and Israel to that of close friends. For months, Mr. Biden refused to invite Mr. Netanyahu to Washington, which prevented at least some meetings between lower-level officials. Despite recognizing Israel, Mr. Truman refused to sell the new state offensive arms, as did his two successors. Mr. Biden’s relationship with Mr. Netanyahu has been scratchy going back years. “I don’t think the Jewish American community needs to be overly involved in this,” she said.

Persons: Long, Biden, “, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Nathan J, Diament, Isaac Herzog, Robert B, Harry S, Truman, —, Israel —, Israel, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, State James A, Baker, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald J, Trump, Mr, “ Bibi, Biden’s, Netanyahu’s, Kamala Harris, ” —, Eli Cohen, Yair Lapid, Netanyahu “, Satloff, Thomas L, Friedman, Jake Sullivan, “ It’s, ” Mr, Sullivan, Chris Coons, James E, Diana Fersko, Rabbi Fersko Organizations: Israel, Orthodox Union, American Orthodox, Democratic, Washington Institute for Near East, State, State Department, Mr, New York Times, Aspen Security, Republican, Foreign Relations, Jewish, American Jewish, American Locations: United States, Israel, Washington, American, U.S, Egypt, Suez, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Manhattan

Long before moving into the White House, President Biden compared the relationship between the United States and Israel to that of close friends. For months, Mr. Biden refused to invite Mr. Netanyahu to Washington, which prevented at least some meetings between lower-level officials. Despite recognizing Israel, Mr. Truman refused to sell the new state offensive arms, as did his two successors. Mr. Biden urged Mr. Netanyahu “not to rush” his changes and “to seek the broadest possible consensus here.”Aides insist Mr. Biden is not trying to engineer a specific outcome in an ally’s internal politics. “I don’t think the Jewish American community needs to be overly involved in this,” she said.

Persons: Long, Biden, “, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Nathan J, Diament, Isaac Herzog, Robert B, Harry S, Truman, —, Israel —, Israel, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, State James A, Baker, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald J, Trump, Mr, “ Bibi, Biden’s, Netanyahu’s, Kamala Harris, ” —, Eli Cohen, Yair Lapid, Netanyahu “, Satloff, Thomas L, Friedman, . Biden, Jake Sullivan, “ It’s, ” Mr, Sullivan, Chris Coons, James E, Diana Fersko, Rabbi Fersko Organizations: Israel, Orthodox Union, American Orthodox, Democratic, Washington Institute for Near East, State, State Department, Mr, New York Times, Aspen Security, Republican, Foreign Relations, Jewish, American Jewish, American Locations: United States, Israel, Washington, American, U.S, Egypt, Suez, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Manhattan

Every president — even the most outspoken supporters of Israel — has quarreled with Israeli prime ministers at one point or another. Despite recognizing Israel, Mr. Truman refused to sell the new state offensive arms, as did his two successors. Mr. Netanyahu has been at the heart of many disputes in the last few decades. When he was deputy foreign minister, his public criticism of the United States in 1990 prompted an angry Secretary of State James A. Baker III to bar Mr. Netanyahu from the State Department. Once Mr. Netanyahu became prime minister, Bill Clinton was so turned off after their first meeting in 1996 that he asked aides afterward, “Who’s the superpower here?” using an expletive for emphasis.

Persons: Robert B, “, Harry S, Truman, —, Israel —, Israel, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, Netanyahu, State James A, Baker, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald J, Trump, Mr, Biden Organizations: Washington Institute for Near East, State, State Department, Mr Locations: Israel, United States, U.S, Egypt, Suez, Saudi Arabia, Iran

Search resuls for: "The Washington Institute"

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