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☆ Iranian forces dangerously flashed a laser at a US Marine Corps attack helicopter
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Iranian naval ships repeatedly shined a laser at a US Marine Corps helicopter on Wednesday. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementIranian naval forces repeatedly flashed a laser at a US Marine Corps attack helicopter flying above Middle Eastern waters, the US Navy said on Thursday, as tensions between the two countries remain high across the region. This unsafe, unprofessional, and irresponsible behavior by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy risks US and partner nation lives and needs to cease immediately," Cmdr. "US naval forces remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows while promoting regional maritime security."

Persons: —, NAVCENT, It's, Cmdr, Rick Chernitzer, Trump, Michael Kurilla, Washington's, John Kirby, there's, Kirby Organizations: US Marine Corps, US Navy, Service, US Naval Forces Central Command, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Iran's Guard Corps, Pentagon, US Central Command, Bataan, Ready, Guard Corps, National Security Locations: Iran, Arabian, Bataan, Iraq, Syria, Tehran

☆ AI deals give investment banks a glimmer of hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

About a third of all M&A deals in the first half of 2023 were technology deals, and a lot of that was related to AI, said Berlin. The success of these deals mean more M&A is likely on the horizon, said Dan Ives, a tech analyst at Wedbush. Costco members now have access to $29 online health care visitsCostco is known for its giant tubs of mac and cheese, cheap hotdogs and more-for-less warehouse deals. The retailer is offering the new service in partnership with Sesame, a direct-to-consumer health care marketplace that connects medical providers nationwide with consumers. Costco is among several retailers, including Amazon, CVS and Walgreens, who are directly providing health care to customers as the demand booms for urgent care access outside of a traditional hospital setting.

Persons: CNN —, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, ” Goldman, David Solomon, Instacart’s, ”, Mitch Berlin, “ You’re, Dan Ives, ” Ives, Taavon Naja, Ramishah Maruf, Parija Kavilanz, Sesame Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, CNN, Wall, Companies, Renaissance, Nasdaq, Cisco, Wedbush, of Foreign, Control, Costco, Costco Pharmacy’s, Amazon, CVS, Walgreens Locations: Americas, Berlin, Iran, Switzerland, United States, PFAS, New York

☆ 3M agrees to pay almost $10 million to settle apparent Iran sanctions violations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —3M has agreed to pay almost $10 million to settle apparent violations of Iranian sanctions, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control said last week. The agency said 3M had 54 apparent violations of OFAC sanctions on Iran. One US person employed by 3M Gulf, a subsidiary in Dubai, was “closely involved” in the sale, OFAC said. OFAC notes Iranian law enforcement stands accused of human rights violations both in Iran and Syria. 3M voluntarily self-disclosed the apparent violations after discovering the sale hadn’t been authorized, according to OFAC.

Persons: Taavon Naja, OFAC, ” OFAC, “ Organizations: CNN, of Foreign, Control, 3M, Law Enforcement Forces, “ Locations: Iran, Switzerland, Dubai, Syria, United States, PFAS

☆ Saudi Arabia and the UAE are battling to become the Middle East's economic superpower
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Saudi Arabia's crown prince is shaking up his economy in a move escalating its UAE rivalry. In March, Saudi Arabia unveiled Riyadh Air , a new airline serving as an alternative to the UAE's Emirates and Etihad Airways. If you want to do business with Saudi Arabia or Saudi state-owned entities, you've got to base your regional HQ in Saudi Arabia." "Saudi Arabia sees the separation project in Yemen as a way to let the Houthis control the north and therefore have a more-threatening border at the south of Saudi Arabia." Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERSHow far the rivalry between the two nations goes largely depends on Saudi Arabia's actions.

Persons: Saudi Arabia's, Mohammed bin Salman, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, MBZ, Obama, You've, Kristian Ulrichsen, Rice, Sheikh Mohamed, Prince Mohammed, Sheikh Mohamed —, —, Leon Neal, Shaybah, Ulrichsen, Sheikh Zayed, Sultan Al Nahyan, Abu, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Neom, Abishur Prakash, Jorg Greuel, Abdullah Alaoudh, Prakash, you've, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed, Ludovic Marin, Mohammed's, Jamal Khashoggi, Biden, Baker Institute's Ulrichsen, Alaoudh, wouldn't Organizations: United Arab Emirates, UAE, Service, Baker Institute, Saudi, UAE —, Qatar, Dubai, United, Freedom Initiative, UAE's Emirates, Etihad Airways, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle United FC, English Premier League, Manchester City, Saudi Crown, Getty, Ritz Carlton, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Saudi Aramco, United Nations Locations: Saudi, Wall, Silicon, Saudi Arabia, East, Washington, London, UAE, Persian, Al Ain, British, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Riyadh, Manchester City . Saudi Arabia, New Delhi, Istanbul, Yemen, Iran, Saudi Arabia's, Bandar, Ukraine

☆ Iran's Raisi Says Israeli 'Normalization' Deals Will Fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said in a U.S. television interview on Sunday that U.S.-sponsored efforts to normalize Israeli relations with Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, "will see no success". In an interview with CNN, Raisi also said Iran had not said it does not want nuclear inspectors from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog in the country. Raisi has said Iran has no issue with the U.N. nuclear watchdog's inspection of its nuclear sites, days after Tehran barred multiple inspectors assigned to the country. Israel has moved closer to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco following a U.S.-driven diplomatic initiative in 2020 which pushed for normalization of relations. Commenting on Iran's nuclear programme, Raisi said:"We have announced time and time again that the use of nuclear weapons, the use of weapons of mass destruction in general, do not have a place.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Raisi, Islamic Republic of Iran hasn't, Rami Ayyub, Peter Graff, David Holmes Organizations: WASHINGTON, CNN, United Nations, United Arab, Israel, Islamic Locations: U.S, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tehran, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco, Islamic Republic of Iran

☆ Opinion: The 2,000-year-old advice for coping in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. A surprising number claimed to think about the ancient empire as often as ‘every day’ or least every week or two. It became a meme (are you even in a relationship if she hasn’t asked you about the Roman Empire? They marvel at their absolute dominion, their mastery of every strand of civilisation — and then how that power suddenly slipped away. Biden on Wednesday took steps to speed up the ability of Venezuelans in the US to obtain work permits.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Seneca, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Bobby McFerrin’s musing, David M, Perry, hasn’t, Jo Ellison, —, Marcus Aurelius, that’s, David Perry, “ There’s, ” Perry, Paula M, Krebs, “, Donald Trump’s, Ron DeSantis, Trump, …, ’, ” Cupp, Roe, Wade, Cupp, he’s, Dean Obeidallah, Trump’s, Patrick T, Brown, Bill Bramhall, Content Agency Rupert Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, David Zurawik, Rupert, Murdoch, Roger Ailes, Richard Nixon, ” Murdoch “, Walt Handelsman, Kevin McCarthy, Max Burns, Donald Trump, today’s MAGA, ” Clay Jones, Chuck Schumer, Elena Sheppard, Sen, John Fetterman, baring, Fetterman, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Kim Yo Jong, Sung, Yoon Lee, “ Kim Yo Jong, Kim, Kim Jong, ” “, Hunter Biden isn’t, Alexis Coe, George Washington’s, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, Hunter, … Hunter, Joe Biden, Biden, Peter Bergen, Mike Pence, … Biden, Bergen, ” Lisa Benson, Martin Sheen, Melissa Fitzgerald, Gurney, John F, Melissa, Andy, Michael Bociurkiw, ” Bociurkiw, Volodymyr Zelensky “, Zelensky, Lanhee J, Chen, ” Chen, Keir Giles, It’ll, Jennifer Wexton, Barbara Comstock, Alex Brandon, Jill Filipovic, Democrat “, ” Wexteon “, Eric Adams, Julian Zelizer . Biden, ” Don’t, David Horsey, Agency Frida Ghitis, Agatha Christie, China Adam H, Sobel, Holly Thomas, Russell Brand, Akanksha, Dan Perry, Gilead, Netanyahu government’s, Gene Seymour, Jann, Reggie B, Maren Morris, Matt Winkelmeyer, ” Maren Morris, Nicole Hemmer, Morris ’, Morris, Jason Aldean’s “, Oliver Anthony’s “ Rich, Richmond ”, “ Rich, ” Hemmer, Anthony himself, ‘, Hemmer Organizations: CNN, Financial Times, West Virginia University, Modern Language Association, WVU, West Virginia, Republican, Press, Florida Gov, White, Content Agency, Content Agency Rupert Murdoch Media, Fox News, Capitol, Agency, Democratic, fied Republican Party, Republican Party, Justice Department, Qatari, Amnesty International, Kennedy Center, UN, Assembly, CBS, Ukraine’s, Republicans, Democrat, Progressive Supra, GOP, Walton, Mobile, North, Richmond Locations: Rome, Ukraine, TikTok, Roman, Roman Republic, Washington, ”, Korean, North Korea, Iran, Qatar, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Dulles , Virginia, Virginia, New York City, United States, China, Las Vegas , Nevada

☆ Iran's Raisi says Israeli 'normalization' deals will fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a press conference concluding his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said in a U.S. television interview on Sunday that U.S.-sponsored efforts to normalize Israeli relations with Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, "will see no success". In an interview with CNN, Raisi also said Iran had not said it does not want nuclear inspectors from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog in the country. Raisi has said Iran has no issue with the U.N. nuclear watchdog's inspection of its nuclear sites, days after Tehran barred multiple inspectors assigned to the country. Commenting on Iran's nuclear programme, Raisi said:"We have announced time and time again that the use of nuclear weapons, the use of weapons of mass destruction in general, do not have a place.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Shannon Stapleton, Raisi, Islamic Republic of Iran hasn't, Rami Ayyub, Peter Graff, David Holmes Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, CNN, United Nations, United Arab, Israel, Islamic, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tehran, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco, Islamic Republic of Iran

☆ Iran’s president defends uranium enrichment after Europeans ‘trampled on their commitments’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

They (European states) trampled upon their commitments,” Raisi told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this week. Nuclear power, which Iran says is the purpose of its nuclear program, requires uranium to be enriched to 3% to 5%. There is also concern that if Iran’s nuclear program is not kept in check, it could lead to further nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. The agreement capped Iranian uranium enrichment at 3.67% in exchange for sanctions relief. “Now, you see that the Iranians and the Americans have reached an understanding that has toned down Iran’s nuclear program, in which Europe played no role,” Vaez said.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, ” Raisi, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Donald Trump, Ali Vaez, ” Vaez, Iran hasn’t, “, ” Organizations: CNN, “, UN, Assembly, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Reuters, Saudi Arabia’s Crown, European Union, US, Group, Tehran, ”, Iran’s, Agency, Crisis Locations: New York, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran, Natanz, Tehran, Israel, East, United States, Washington, …, “, Islamic Republic, ” Tehran, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Europe, Qatar

CNN —A journalist was attacked on Wednesday evening in New York City by an official who was part of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s camp, a news channel has alleged. Iran International correspondent Kian Amani was filming outside the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza Hotel and reporting on Raisi’s “entourage” leaving when the incident happened, the Iran International news channel said in a statement Thursday. “The entourage of Iran’s president attacked, harassed and insulted Iran International journalists covering Ebrahim Raisi’s stay in New York,” Iran International alleged. Iran International is a Persian-language news channel that broadcasts from Washington, D.C. Founded in 2017, Iran International has previously come under scrutiny by the Iranian government.

Persons: CNN —, Ebrahim Raisi’s, Kian Amani, ”, “, Amani, I’m, Abram Paley, ” Paley Organizations: CNN, Iran International, Millennium Hilton New York, UN, Hotel, Amani, Iranian Foreign Ministry, State, Twitter, Washington , D.C Locations: New York City, Iran, New York, Amani, Persian, Washington ,

☆ Saudi Arabia's crown prince warned that if Iran gets a nuke 'we have to get one' too
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was interviewed on Fox News. He said if Iran gets a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia will need one too. Biden is trying to restart the 2015 Iran deal amid fears of an arms race in the region. In a rare interview conducted in English with Fox News' Bret Baier on Wednesday, the Saudi ruler addressed the likely consequences of Iran - Saudi Arabia's longtime regional foe - obtaining a nuclear weapon. The 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which was negotiated by the Obama administration, led to Iran agreeing to limits on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions being lifted.

Persons: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Biden, Bret Baier, Crown Prince Mohammed, Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Ebrahim Raisi Organizations: Saudi, Crown, Fox News, Service, ., Iran's, Associated Press Locations: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Wall, Silicon, Saudi, Hiroshima, Israel, Tehran

The prisoner swap was all arranged, or so the American negotiators thought. After years of painstaking negotiations with Iran, secretly mediated by Persian Gulf nations, top aides to President Biden had finally struck a deal on June 6 that would free four Americans held in one of Iran’s most notorious prisons. In exchange, the United States would unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue and drop charges against Iranians accused of violating U.S. sanctions. The U.S. negotiators knew there could still be last-minute hiccups, but things were moving forward. that Iran had seized another American citizen, a retired woman from California who was doing aid work in Afghanistan.

Persons: Biden Organizations: U.S, White Locations: Iran, Persian Gulf, United States, Tehran, California, Afghanistan

☆ This storm chaser captures stunning photographs of extreme weather
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Nadia Leigh-Hewitson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Ad FeedbackThough she is an accountant by trade, Sarah Hasan Al-Sayegh calls herself the first Kuwaiti-Arab female storm chaser. “Storm chasing made me see the world more,” she says. Al-Sayegh recalls that on May 31, 2016, she and fellow storm chaser Mike Olbinski came across a huge storm structure near Lamesa, Texas. She now hopes to expand her meteorological knowledge and raise awareness around climate change. “I just hope to be able to put that message to everybody through my photography and through my storm chasing,” Al-Sayegh says.

Persons: Sarah Hasan Al, Sayegh, ”, “, sandstorms, Storm Daniel, Mike Olbinski, “ Don’t, ” Al Organizations: CNN, UN, United Arab, Kuwait City Locations: Kuwaiti, Kuwait, East, North Africa, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Dubai, Libya, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Al, Lamesa , Texas, Gulf

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a rare interview with Fox News on Wednesday that negotiations over Israel means the prospects of normalized relations between both countries “get closer" every day, but that treatment of Palestinians remains a “very important” issue to be resolved. Saudi Arabia is discussing a major agreement with the United States to normalize relations with Israel in exchange for a U.S. defense pact and aid in developing its own civilian nuclear program. We think it’s good not just for Israel and Saudi Arabia, we think it’s good for the whole region,” Kirby said. Saudi Arabia has made major progress in winding down its devastating war with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, this week hosting a rebel delegation in the capital, Riyadh. The 38-year-old bin Salman assumed day-to-day rule after the aging King Salman named him next in line to the throne in 2017.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “, Bret Baier ”, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, ”, bin Salman, we’ve, John Kirby, Saudi Arabia “, ” Kirby, Bin Salman, ” Bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, ” bin Salman, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s, PIF, Salman, King Salman Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Fox News, MBS, Israeli, General Assembly, West Bank, National Security, Washington Post, Saudi, Fox News Channel, White House, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Trump, Arab League Locations: — Saudi, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United States, Palestinian, Saudi, New York, Asia, East, Europe, Iran, Saudi Arabi, Western, Yemen, Riyadh, Syria, America

☆ Blinken highlights the human toll of Ukraine war as Biden admin seeks to maintain support for Kyiv in Washington
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Children, parents, husbands, and wives were forced to spend hours next to the corpses of their loved ones,” he continued. Last month, the Biden administration asked Congress to approve an additional $24 billion in emergency spending for Ukraine and other international needs. Zelensky, in his remarks, criticized the UN body – in which Russia has veto power – for failing to do enough to stop the war. “Ukrainian soldiers now are doing at the expense of their blood what the UN Security Council should do by its voting. They’re stopping aggression and upholding the principles of the UN Charter,” he said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, “, ” Blinken, Sergei Lavrov, …, Blinken, ”, Biden, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Bill Burns, Joint Chiefs Mark Milley, Defense Lloyd Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Kevin McCarthy, Zelenskyy Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Nations Security, Russian, National Intelligence, CIA, Joint Chiefs, Defense, UN, CNN, Republican, ABC News, UN Security Council, United Nations Locations: New York, Kyiv, ”, “, Ukraine, Washington, Russia, Moscow, Iran, North Korea

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud attends Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment event on the day of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. The conservative U.S. network’s interview with the crown prince, widely known as MbS, comes as President Joe Biden’s administration presses ahead with an effort to broker historic ties between the two regional powerhouses, Washington’s top Middle East allies. We need to solve that part,” MbS said when asked what it would take to get a normalization agreement. MbS also voiced concern about the possibility of Iran, a mutual adversary of Saudi Arabia and Israel that the U.S. wants to contain, could obtain a nuclear weapon. Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Leslie Adler and Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Evelyn Hockstein, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel, Joe Biden’s, ”, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Rami Ayyub, Matt Spetalnick, Leslie Adler, Josie Kao Organizations: Saudi, Saudi Arabian Crown, Partnership, Global Infrastructure, REUTERS, Rights, Fox, MbS, Israeli, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabian, New Delhi, India, Saudi, U.S, Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Tehran, Gulf

☆ Saudi Crown Prince Says Getting 'Closer' to Israel Normalization -Fox Interview
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The conservative U.S. network’s interview with the crown prince, widely known as MbS, comes as President Joe Biden’s administration presses ahead with an effort to broker historic ties between the two regional powerhouses, Washington’s top Middle East allies. We need to solve that part,” MbS said when asked what it would take to get a normalization agreement. MbS also voiced concern about the possibility of Iran, a mutual adversary of Saudi Arabia and Israel that the U.S. wants to contain, could obtain a nuclear weapon. Both leaders also said Iran could not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. (Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Leslie Adler and Josie Kao)

Persons: Matt Spetalnick, Rami Ayyub WASHINGTON, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel, Joe Biden’s, ”, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Rami Ayyub, Leslie Adler, Josie Kao Organizations: Saudi Arabian Crown, Fox, MbS, Israeli Locations: Saudi, U.S, Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Tehran, Gulf

Qatar, a wealthy Gulf Arab state with diplomatic ambitions, is pressing both sides to engage in more talks and reach "understandings," sources told Reuters earlier. The diplomat described the New York meetings as "talks for talks," saying the idea was to lay the ground for future indirect discussions to achieve an "understanding" on the nuclear issue. Washington suspects Iran's nuclear program may be aimed at developing nuclear arms, a charge Iran denies. The United States also says Iran has provided one-way attack drones for Russia to strike Ukraine and wants Tehran to stop. The Biden administration's efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal have failed and many diplomats now regard it as beyond resurrection because of Iran's nuclear advances.

Persons: Hossein Amir, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Majid Asgaripour, spokespeople, Donald Trump, Iran's, Biden, Antony Blinken, We'll, we're, Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Landay, Arshad Mohammed, Humeyra Pamuk, John Irish, Howard Goller Organizations: Iran's, West Asia News Agency, UNITED NATIONS, Qatari, Reuters, General Assembly, New, U.S, United, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, WASHINGTON, Qatar, United States, Russia, Doha, U.S, Gulf Arab, New York, Ukraine, Washington, European, Oman, Saint Paul , Minnesota, Paris

Loved ones, some holding small American flags, enveloped them in hugs and exchanged greetings in English and Farsi, the main language of Iran. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said two of the Iranian prisoners will stay in the U.S. Meanwhile, Nour News, a website believed to be close to Iran’s security apparatus, said two of the Iranian prisoners were in Doha for the swap. In his statement, Biden demanded more information on what happened to Bob Levinson, an American who went missing years ago. The Biden administration also announced fresh sanctions on former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence.

Persons: Joe Biden, Siamak Namazi, ”, Babak, Baquer, “, Biden, Iran’s, Ebrahim Raisi, ” Raisi, — Siamak, Emad, Tahbaz —, Timmy Davis, Namazi, Effie Namazi, Vida Tahbaz, Nasser Kanaani, Nour, Mehrdad Ansari, Reza Sarhangpour Kafrani, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, ” Biden, Bob Levinson, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Neda, ___ Gambrell, Jo, Nasser Karimi, Amir Vahdat, Matthew Lee, Paul Haven, Aamer Madhani, Michelle Phillips, Eric Tucker, Farnoush Amiri Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Democratic, United Nations General Assembly, U.S, South, Iranian Foreign Ministry, Nour News, Mideast, Social, Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, Embassy, Associated Press Locations: Iran, Fort Belvoir , Virginia, Tehran, Doha, Qatar, New York, America, Persian, U.S, Strait, Hormuz, United States, South Korea, Iranian, Korea, Islamic Republic, American, British, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Washington

☆ Exclusive: Qatar PM touts ‘better environment’ after US-Iran prisoner deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“We were so proud to see that Qatar helped in bringing those people back to their families,” Al-Thani told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive interview. “I hope both countries are believing that this will lead to a better environment to go for an entire agreement on the nuclear issue, and any other outstanding issue,” he said. The Qatar-mediated prisoner-release deal came amid a significant dialing back of tensions between Iran and the US in recent months. Attacks by Iran and its proxies on US interests in the Middle East have almost ceased, and Iran’s oil exports have risen despite Western sanctions on its oil industry. Meanwhile, Iran’s uranium enrichment under its nuclear program has reportedly slowed.

Persons: Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, “, ”, Thani, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Emad, Morad, Siamak, Amanpour, Biden, Ebrahim Raisi, Donald Trump’s, Raisi, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN — Qatar, Qatari, CNN, Biden, UN, Assembly, Hall, Ukraine ” Locations: Iran, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani, Qatar, ” Al, Virginia, Doha, Al, New York, UN’s, Ukraine, United States, America

☆ U.S.-Iran relations from 1953 coup to 2023 detainee swap deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

1980 - The U.S. cuts diplomatic ties with Iran, seizes Iranian assets and bans most trade with Tehran. U.S. officials accuse Tehran of operating secret nuclear weapons program. 2013 - Hassan Rouhani is elected Iran’s president on a platform of improving Iran’s relations with the world and its economy. In September, Saudi Arabia’s state-run oil company is attacked by drones and missiles believed to be from Iran; Tehran denies involvement. 2023 - In August, Iran and the United States agree a swap of detainees and the unfreezing of $6 billion of Iranian assets in South Korea.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Mohammed Mossadegh, Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Ruhollah Khomeini, Jimmy Carter, Carter, Ronald Reagan, Reagan, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Hassan Rouhani, Donald Trump, Qassem Soleimani, Ebrahim Raisi, Arshad Mohammed, Michael Georgy, Parisa, Samia Nakhoul, William Maclean Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Central Intelligence, CIA, U.S, Embassy, Hostage, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Thomson Locations: Rights DUBAI, United States, Iran, South Korea, Qatar, U.S, Tehran, Iraq, North Korea, Britain, France, United, Fordow, Saudi Arabia’s, Baghdad, Vienna, Washington

☆ U.S. and Iran trade detainees after Qatar deal unfreezes $6 billion of Tehran's funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Five U.S. detainees flew out of Iran on Monday in a swap for five Iranians held in the U.S. in a rare deal between the arch-enemies that also unfroze $6 billion of Tehran's funds. At the same time, two of the five Iranians landed in Qatar, a U.S. official said. The deal, after months of talks in Qatar, removes a major irritant between the U.S., which brands Tehran a sponsor of terrorism, and Iran, which calls Washington the "Great Satan". Kanaani said the funds, blocked in South Korea after U.S. sanctions on Iran were hardened in 2018, would be available to Tehran on Monday. Under the deal, Qatar will ensure the cash is spent on humanitarian goods and not items under U.S. sanctions.

Persons: Namazi, Jose Angel Pereira, Nasser Kanaani, Kanaani Organizations: Five U.S, Qatar, Reuters, U.S, Iranian, Foreign Ministry Locations: Georgetown, Washington, Iran, Venezuela, U.S, Tehran, Doha, Qatar, Gulf ., South Korea

☆ How Iran and the US reached the prisoner swap deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Parisa Hafezi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Sept 18 (Reuters) - Iran and the U.S. were to swap five detainees each on Monday after Qatar mediated a deal between the arch foes that also unfroze $6 billion of Tehran's funds. The transfer of Iran's funds has drawn Republican criticism that President Joe Biden, a Democrat, is in effect paying ransom for U.S. citizens. WHY WERE IRAN'S FUNDS FROZEN IN SOUTH KOREA? He also reimposed harsh U.S. sanctions designed to choke off Iran's oil exports as part of a "maximum pressure" campaign on the Islamic Republic. Seoul, normally one of Iran’s largest oil customers, received a waiver in 2018 from the United States to continue purchases of Iranian oil for several months.

Persons: Joe Biden, Tehran's, Dado Ruvic, Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, Mehrdad Moin, Ansari, Kambiz Attar, Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour, Amin Hassanzadeh, Kaveh, Donald Trump, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei, Parisa Hafezi, William Maclean Organizations: Qatar, Reuters, Iranian Foreign, Democrat, Doha, U.S, Iranian, REUTERS, WHO, United Nations, KOREA, Washington, U.S ., Islamic, Thomson Locations: Iran, U.S, Qatar, Doha, Tehran, Qatar's, United States, Iranian, Lebanon, Israel's, Washington, Islamic Republic, Seoul, IRAN

Known as a hard-liner, Raisi seemingly sought to strike a diplomatic tone. Raisi acknowledged that Iran and Russia have long had strong ties, including defense cooperation. But he denied sending weapons to Moscow since the war began. “If they have a document that Iran gave weapons or drones to the Russians after the war," he said, then they should produce it. Raisi has sought, without evidence, to portray the popular nationwide demonstrations as a Western plot.

Persons: —, Ebrahim Raisi, Joe Biden, Raisi, “, ” Raisi, Bashar Assad, Israel, Mahsa, ” Organizations: Monday, General Assembly, United, United Arab Emirates Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United States, Iran, Qatar, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Persian, Tehran, Yemen

☆ Iran-US prisoner swap: Who are the detainees being released?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Months later his ailing father, Baquer, was detained after returning to Iran to visit his jailed son. EMAD SHARGHIIn 2017 Sharghi and his wife moved to Iran from the United States. The five Iranians held in the United States are Mehrdad Moin-Ansari, Kambiz Attar-Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour-Kafrani, Amin Hassanzadeh and Kaveh Afrasiabi, according to Iranian officials. For years, Iran has demanded the release of Iranians detained in the United States. There are over a dozen Iranian prisoners held in the U.S. mainly for "breaching the U.S. sanctions on Iran", one Iranian judiciary source told Reuters.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Baquer, Baquer Namazi, EMAD SHARGHI, Sharghi, MORAD, Tahbaz, …, Mehrdad Moin, Ansari, Kambiz Attar, Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour, Amin Hassanzadeh, Kaveh, Parisa Hafezi, Samia Nakhoul, William Maclean Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Revolutionary Guards, U.S ., UNICEF, Saravan, British, Iran's, U.S, Thomson Locations: Rights DUBAI, United States, Iran, South Korea, U.S, Tehran, Iranian, American

☆ U.S.-Iran detainee swap deal to go ahead on Monday, says Tehran
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A fourth U.S. citizen was also released into house arrest, while a fifth was already under house arrest. As a first step in the deal, Washington waived sanctions to allow the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar. The transfer of Iran's funds has drawn criticism from U.S. Republicans who say President Joe Biden, a Democrat, is in effect paying a ransom for U.S. citizens. Ties between Washington and Tehran have been boiling since Donald Trump, a Republican, pulled the U.S. out of a nuclear deal between Iran and global powers when he was president in 2018. Reaching another nuclear deal has gained little traction since then, as Biden prepares for the 2024 U.S. election.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Nasser Kanaani, Morad Tahbaz, Mehrdad Moin, Ansari, Kambiz Attar, Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour, Amin Hassanzadeh, Afrasiabi, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Elwely Elwelly, Hyonshee, Edmund Blair, Stephen Coates, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Iranian, REUTERS, Rights, Iran's Foreign Ministry, Reuters, Gulf . South Korea's Foreign, U.S, Republicans, Democrat, Republican, Thomson Locations: U.S, Rights DUBAI, Tehran, United States, Qatar, South Korea, Iran, Doha, Washington, Gulf . South, Emad Sharqi, British, Dubai, Seoul

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