Trump says US ‘moving forward’ with additional sanctions on Iran

[yota691]

US soldiers warn Trump against Iran

Editorial date: • 2019/5/30 13:58 • 15 times read

{International: Al Furat News} 76 retired US generals and diplomats warned US President Donald Trump not to launch a war with Iran.

"The possibility of getting things out of control quickly could lead to a devastating war with Iran," the US-based Comun Dreams said in a report in which US military and diplomats spoke. 
The site said the US military and diplomats signed a letter addressed to the White House demanding Trump not to fight Iran for strategic reasons. 
"Whether the war with Iran is a Trump decision or the result of wrong calculations will have bad consequences for the unstable Middle East region," the letter says. 
"The cost of this human, financial and geopolitical war will be great," he said.
"It is not known whether the letter reached Trump or not," he said, adding that the letter, published by the War on the Rock last Friday, was followed by Trump's decision to send more troops to the Middle East. Aimed at protecting forces in the area. 
The letter, Trump's administration, warned that the current escalation between America and Iran could be uncontrollably out of control and trigger a war that Washington or Tehran might not want. 
"The possibility of getting out of control increases the level of direct contact between political and military officials in both countries, given the escalating war of words between them," the letter continued. 
Tension between Iran and the United States, which sent the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to the Gulf and additional troops, has increased to protect its interests from what it called "
In a previous report, the National Interest magazine said America should not be in the wrong position of igniting the "third Gulf War," noting that Iran was a threat, but it did not amount to triggering a war that would be costly. 
The magazine pointed out that the war with Iran is not necessary, and will be detrimental to US interests, adding: "Although Iran is an enemy of Washington, but it does not represent an urgent threat to America as portrayed by hawks in the US administration. 
"The war with Iran will have no meaning and will contradict America's interests and what the Americans want." The Iranian threat to America ranks fourth after North Korea, China and Russia (the three nuclear powers).
Washington has used earlier, Iran's missile tests to justify the withdrawal of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the group (5 + 1), on the Iranian nuclear program, according to the magazine, which indicated that Tehran has not made a nuclear weapon and still has not done so so far, To export 98 percent of the enriched uranium, produced to Russia under the supervision of the Atomic Energy Agency

[yota691]

30-05-2019 10:32 AM

Detecting the party that threatened the Speaker of Parliament

 

 

Baghdad

Sources revealed to the site of the channel, "Arab", that elements of the factions of Hezbollah threatened the speaker of parliament, Mohammed Halbusi, killed a few days ago because of his position on the US-Iranian conflict.

According to the sources, "these elements, was able to send a death threat message carrying the slogan and seal Hezbollah in Iraq, by intercepting the car of the Secretary of Halbusi on a street in Baghdad and asked him to hand over the letter personally to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

"The person who intercepted the car of the Halbusi secretary is known as Abu Haidar, a leader of the Hezbollah militia in Iraq."

The speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives has confirmed, earlier, his country's readiness again to mediate in order to resolve the crisis between the United States and Iran.

Al-Halbusi said Baghdad was ready to mediate between Washington and Tehran, but neither side formally asked for it.

 

 

[yota691]

30-05-2019 02:07 PM

Deputy: Halabousi received a threat by Hezbollah

 

 

Baghdad

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament speaker, Mohamed al-Halbusi, was threatened by the Iraqi Shiite group Hezbollah, Iraqi parliament speaker Sabah al-Karbouli said on Thursday.

Karbali said in a press statement, "Halboussi actually received a threat from the Iraqi Hezbollah because of his position on the US-Iranian conflict, and this is what we heard from close associates and even the media received the news."

"The letter that reached Halabousi was in Forma - an official book - from Hezbollah in Iraq, meaning that this is the one who sent the threat to the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives," adding that "this is a serious issue, as Halbusi represents the highest legislative authority in Iraq , How to threaten this way. "

Al-Arabiya channel quoted sources as saying that armed elements were able to send a death-threatening message carrying the slogan and seal of Hezbollah in Iraq by intercepting the car of the Halbusi secretary on a street in Baghdad and asking him to hand over the letter personally to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

[yota691]

Pentagon: We have deterred an imminent attack on our citizens in Iraq

_NEWS_DATE: 2019/5/29 20:15 ?? AÂ ¢ ?? A ??? ¢ 123 times read

[BAGHDAD-IN] 
The acting US secretary of defense has expressed frustration at an "imminent attack" on Americans in Iraq.

"Our military presence in the Gulf region has deterred an imminent attack on our citizens in Iraq, but the threat remains," he said in a statement. 
"We are able to protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

[Butifldrm]

Baghdad Post Thursday, 30 May 2019 03:59 PM

 

The division hits the Iranian regime .. Rohani welcomes negotiations with America and Khamenei rejects

 

 

Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei , responded to US President Donald H. Trump's recent offer to negotiate with Iran, refusing to negotiate issues that affect the "honor of the revolution," stressing that he is preparing for all odds, including war, if necessary. "The media hype about negotiations is about negotiating with America, not about returning to negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue 

," Khamenei said in his official speech . 

Assured Khamenei that he does not mind " to negotiate with the Europeans and others," probably means the Japanese brokerage, but added: "Our problem in such negotiations are about the topics that will be discussed." Khamenei

stressed that Iran will not negotiate with America because "

"We will not negotiate on the honor of the revolution, we will not negotiate on our military capabilities," the Iranian leader said, adding that the other side wanted a deal, not negotiations, referring to a deal that would lead to a comprehensive understanding or settlement with the United States. 

Nuclear is also the honor of revolution! 
Commenting on Khamenei's remarks, activists said the Iranian regime and its symbols considered the nuclear program to be an element of the "honor of the revolution," but Khamenei conceded it by a strategy he called "heroic flexibility," which allowed for negotiations in 2013 that led to the conclusion of the nuclear agreement with the major powers. 2015. 

The Iranian leader wants to limit the negotiations within the framework of the nuclear agreement and not any other issue, as did the Obama administration, which is strongly opposed by the administration of Trump, and reiterated by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the 12 demands as conditions for any negotiations.

These demands are mainly focused on "changing Iran's behavior." Trump wants a new agreement with Tehran, ending its military interventions in the region and supporting terrorism and imposing full restrictions on Iran's missile program. 

Iranian split
brought about US pressure campaign a deep split within the Iranian regime 's wings, where he declared Iranian President Hassan Rowhani, contrary to the guide that "through talks" not closed ", but under the precondition one which is the lifting of sanctions. 

According to Iranian television, said Rowhani , in a word, Wednesday, "The road will not be closed in front of them if they put aside the harsh sentences and returned to the negotiating table they left", calling on the United States to return the nuclear deal. the 

impact of US pressure
The Iranian leader said in another part of his speech that Tehran would use certain tools to counter escalating US pressure, adding that these tools are not necessarily military. 

According to Khamenei, Tehran's announcement of partial suspension of its obligations under some provisions of the nuclear deal on May 8 was part of Iran's actions to deal with the pressure. "If you do not use these tools, America may increase its pressure," Khamenei said. 

US pressure on Iran has grown since Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018, resulting in a loss of four times the value of the Iranian currency and Iranian oil exports falling to around 400,000 bpd a year later, in May.

In recent weeks, military tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated following US intelligence reports of imminent attacks against US interests in the region. The deployment of the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers, backed by huge military equipment and equipment, has stabilized in the Persian Gulf. Washington has also announced plans to send 1,500 troops to the Middle East. 

Continued pressure campaign
this while the US State Department confirmed that the "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran is continuing successfully, where Morgan Ortigas official spokeswoman, said the campaign has led to a decline in Iran 's support for their communities in the region, especially the "Hezbollah" the Lebanese, which began to call its fighters militias From Syria and reduced their salaries. 

According to Ortigas, these pressures have led to the movement of "Hamas measures" "Austerity", while the Syrian regime faces a fuel crisis.

 "We will continue to exert maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to deprive it of the resources of its destructive foreign policy and force the regime to negotiate a new comprehensive deal that deals with the full range of its malicious behavior," she said. 

A spokeswoman for the State Department confirmed the 12 demands it said included stopping any nuclear enrichment, testing ballistic missiles and supporting terrorist groups in the region, including Hezbollah and Hamas. 

While the Revolutionary Guards' threats against the United States and the countries of the region continue, US national security adviser John Bolton said Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates that Iran was behind an attempted attack on the Saudi oil port of Yanbu and accused the Iranian government of seeking nuclear weapons. Tehran made some of its commitments earlier this month.

All these developments coincide with the hosting by Saudi Arabia of three Gulf, Arab and Islamic summits. Riyadh will discuss with the allies the continuing Iranian threats to destabilize the region and the world, and how to respond to them during the two Gulf and Arab summits. .

Count

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/ar/Story/168425/الانقسام-يضرب-النظام-الإيراني-روحاني-يرحب-بالتفاوض-مع-أمريكا-وخامنئي-يرفض

[6ly410]

Iran oil exports slump to 400,000 bpd

By Rudaw 7 hours ago

225Views

         http://www.rudaw.net/mobile/english/business/30052019

An Iranian oil worker rides his bicycle near an oil refinery south of the capital, Tehran, December 22, 2014. File photo: Vahid Salemi / AP

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iranian oil exports fell to 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) in May, half the amount it exported in April, indicating the US ‘maximum pressure’ campaign to drive down Tehran’s main source of revenue is succeeding.  

Washington reimposed economic sanctions on Iran in November last year after pulling out of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal in May 2018. 

US President Donald Trump said the Obama-era deal failed to prevent Tehran developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology, nor stop it from interfering in regional conflicts. 

Major importers of Iranian oil, including China, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey, were initially granted waivers to allow them time to find alternatives. 

The US scrapped these waivers in April, exposing those continuing to buy Tehran’s oil vulnerable to sanctions. 

The result of that decision is clear in May’s oil export figures – halved since last month and down from 2.5 million bpd last year. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the US are expected to fill the gap left in the global oil market.

“We coordinated closely, of course, with them to minimize any negative impact. And our goal … is for everyone to cease importing Iranian oil entirely,” State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said Wednesday, responding to a question about India’s import of Iranian oil and its implications for New Delhi. 

“We appreciate everyone who has worked with us steadfastly to get to zero.” 

Washington is exerting pressure on Iran to dry up other sources of energy it exports to its neighbours. 

The only country that appears to still enjoy a sanctions waiver is Iraq, allowing it to continue importing Iranian energy.

Asked if the Secretary of State would renew the waiver, which is due to expire on June 16, the State Department spokesperson said: “The Secretary has not made a decision on this yet. On March 18, he did grant a 90-day waiver … to engage in financial transactions. I think it’s important to note that those were related to electricity, not to gas, from Iran.”

Asked about the way forward for negotiations with Iran, Ortagus said: “I think that we have been very explicit here: We do not want a war with Iran. We want to deescalate with Iran … In fact, what we seek is to end economic sanctions, to end the maximum pressure campaign. That’s where we want to get.” 

The US warned Hong Kong on Tuesday to be on alert for an Iranian vessel that may attempt to dock in its port. Servicing the vessel would breach US sanctions, officials said. 

Tensions between the US and Iran have continued to mount. The US sent an aircraft carrier and bomber task force to the Persian Gulf earlier this month. On Saturday it announced it would also be sending 1,500 troops to the Middle East in response to Iranian threats.

Earlier this month, two Saudi Arabian ships were ‘sabotaged’ off the coast of the UAE. 

Just two days later, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels carried out drone strikes on Saudi oil pumping stations.  

John Bolton, the US national security advisor, said Iran was “almost certainly” to blame for the sabotage. Bolton did not however provide evidence for the claim, which Iran called “laughable”.  

Oil giant ExxonMobil evacuated 30 of its employees stationed in Basra, southern Iraq, earlier this month following advice from the US State Department that all non-emergency government staff should leave the country, citing an unspecified Iranian threat. 

The US diplomatic missions in Baghdad and Erbil have also evacuated staff.

Arab leaders are set to meet for an emergency summit in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to discuss the repercussions of the attacks on Saudi oil stations. 

 

[Butifldrm]

US Troops To Be Based In Saudi Arabia, Qatar Against "Iran Threat"

by Tyler Durden

Thu, 05/30/2019 - 02:45

 

Just hours after US National Security Advisor John Bolton formally accused Tehran of conducing the May 12 tanker "sabotage" attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's foreign ministry has responded that "we are ready for war" amid fears that Washington could still be on a war footing in the Persian Gulf. 

“We hope that we can start a dialogue, but we are ready for war,” Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told  RIA Novosti. 

Bolton had told a press conference earlier in the day in Dubai, “The point is to make it very clear to Iran and its surrogates that these kinds of actions risk a very strong response from the United States.”

AP file photo of US troops in Saudi Arabia during 1990 Gulf War. 

 

Bolton is in Abu Dhabi attending an emergency summit of gulf leaders to consider the implications of both the "sabotage" tanker attacks near Fujairah emiriate in the UAE and the drone strikes two days following on a Saudi Aramco pipeline and oil pumping station. 

Meanwhile acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters while in Asia for a major policy speech on the region, "nobody wants war" with Iran. However, he added that the US is ready and willing to "defend ships in the Strait of Hormuz" if necessary. 

Also of note is that Shanahan for the first time identified that 900 American troops newly deployed to the Middle East in response to the heightened Iran threat are headed to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Katie Bo Williams

 

✔@KatieBoWill

 

 

JUST IN: Acting SecDef Shanahan says that the 900 troops being sent to the Mideast in response to what the administration calls an elevated Iran threat are going to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. (This is interesting since the place officials say American troops were at risk was Iraq.)

 

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9:37 AM - May 29, 2019 · Kramat Jati, Indonesia

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Riyadh hosting a new wave of American troops on Saudi soil is sure to be deeply controversial within the kingdom's Wahhabi clerical establishment, given its strict form of Islam sees the region of Islam's two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, as sacred ground which is off limits to US soldiers. 

While there are already limited US Air Force units stationed across up to five Saudi air bases such as Riyadh Air Force Base and Eskan Village Air Base, the fact that the Saudis previously hosted American personnel for attacks on Iraq proved deeply controversial in the kingdom. 

Meanwhile, Iran's military leaders have slammed the latest announced US troop deployment — now made more interesting given at least some of those military personnel will be based out of Shia Iran's foremost Sunni rival Saudi Arabia. 

“If they commit the slightest stupidity, we will send these ships to the bottom of the sea along with their crew and planes using two missiles or two new secret weapons,” Gen. Morteza Qorbani, a top adviser to Iran’s military command, told the semiofficial news agency Mizan over the past weekend.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-05-29/pentagon-confirms-us-troops-be-stationed-saudi-arabia-against-iran-threat

[6ly410]

Arab, Muslim leaders gather in Mecca for Iran-focused summits

By AFP 26 minutes ago

http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/30052019

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf (C) Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu (L), UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash (2R), and Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir (R) pose for a photo for the 14th Islamic Summit in Jeddah on May 30, 2019, ahead of the Gulf, Arab, and Islamic summit to be held in Mecca from May 30-31, 2019. Photo: Bandar Al-Dandani | AFP

MECCA, Saudi Arabia — Arab and Muslim leaders began gathering in the holy city of Mecca on Thursday for three summits, as host Saudi Arabia seeks to rally support against Iran after a series of attacks that have sparked fears of a regional conflagration.

On the eve of the talks, Riyadh blasted what it called Iranian "interference" across the region and demanded "firmness" over attacks on Gulf oil tankers and pipelines.

That call came just hours after hawkish US National Security Advisor John Bolton said Iran was almost certainly behind the sabotage of four ships, including two Saudi oil tankers, off the UAE coast.

Iran-aligned Yemeni rebels meanwhile have stepped up drone attacks on the kingdom -- one of which resulted in the temporary shutdown of a major oil pipeline.

Saudi Arabia, a staunch US ally, geared up to host leaders from across the Arab and Muslim world for emergency Gulf and Arab summits and a meeting of heads of state from Islamic nations.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Kuwait's emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, and Sudan's new military council chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan were among the leaders arriving in the kingdom Thursday, Saudi state media reported.

Riyadh called the talks to discuss the standoff with Iran and ways of isolating Tehran amid fears of a military confrontation.

"Tehran's support for Huthi rebels in Yemen is proof of Iranian interference in other nations' affairs and this is something that... Islamic countries should reject," Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf told foreign ministers from the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah overnight.

Assaf said attacks on oil installations must be addressed with "firmness and determination".

'Firmness and determination'

 

Contrary to expectations, Iran was represented at the meeting, with a delegation headed by Reza Najafi, director general for international peace and security affairs at the Islamic republic's foreign ministry.

Tensions in the region spiked after the four ships were damaged in a mysterious sabotage attack off the coast of the emirate of Fujairah on May 12.

The vessels were attacked using "naval mines almost certainly from Iran", Bolton told a news conference in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

"There's no doubt in anybody's mind in Washington who's responsible for this," he said in a clear reference to Iran.

Iran rejected the accusation.

"Making such laughable claims... is not strange" coming from the US, foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

US experts are part of a five-nation team investigating the ship attacks.

The new war of words between Tehran and Washington follows a US military buildup that includes the deployment of an aircraft carrier, B-52 bombers and 1,500 more troops to the region.

Bolton however said the additional US forces were sent to the Middle East as a "deterrent" and that Washington's response would be prudent.

"We definitely desire a change in the (Iranian) regime's behaviour," Brian Hook, US Special Representative for Iran, said Thursday.

Regional tensions have grown since US President Donald Trump's administration reimposed sanctions against Iran after Washington unilaterally pulled out of a multilateral 2015 nuclear accord signed with the Islamic republic.

But Trump appeared to soften his hawkish tone towards Tehran, saying during a visit to Japan on Monday that his government does not seek "regime change".

Qatar invited

Saudi Arabia is hosting the three summits in an apparent bid to present a unified front against Tehran.

Qatar's state media reported that its Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al-Thani also arrived in Jeddah on Thursday, Doha's highest-ranking official to visit the kingdom since the start of a two-year-old Saudi-led boycott.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have enforced the economic and diplomatic boycott of Qatar since June 2017, including bans on shipping, trade, direct flights, overflight and land crossings.

The alliance accuses Doha of supporting Islamist movements and backing Iran -- claims Qatar rejects.

Large banners and flags decorated the streets of Mecca, Islam's holiest city, to welcome the leaders.

The summits coincide with the last few days of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, when Mecca throngs with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

The summits will take place at night, as Muslims break their day-long fasting at sunset and then go into several hours of special prayers known as Taraweeh.

Drapped in seamless all-white uniforms, worshippers walked under lampposts decorated with flags of participating nations, while heading to the Grand Mosque to perform umrah, the minor Islamic pilgrimage.

The large crowds pose a logistical headache for organisers, who have sealed off six major roads for the leaders and advised pilgrims to use alternative streets

[6ly410]

 

[Pitcher]

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/41167/Multiple-mediation-channels-open-for-dialogue-between-Iran-and-US
 

Multiple mediation channels open for dialogue between Iran and US

Following the rise in tensions between Iran and the United States over the past weeks and concerns about the spread of instability in the region, at least six countries are acting as mediators.

The multiple offers indicate the deep concern over tensions and fear of instability in the region while Iran is getting restless under increasing economic pressures. Oman and Japan have officially declared their preparedness to help resolve the tensions.

Japan

Japan has an interest in peace in the Arabian Gulf mainly because of its dependency on the region's oil. Tokyo officially expressed its readiness for mediation on May 10, two days after Iran suspended some of its voluntary commitments to the nuclear deal with the West on the anniversary of the US pull-out from the JCPOA.

"Iran is about to withdraw from the JCPOA. We are planning to use our long-standing friendly ties with Iran to help secure peace and stability in the region," japan declared. Subsequently Iran's Foreign Minister Zarif visited Japan last week. Meanwhile, President DonaldTrump enthusiastically welcomed Japan's offer during his pre-planned visit to Japan.

Oman

Oman has been for long acting as a mediator between Tehran and Washington. First, Oman's ambassador in Washington let the White House know about Muscat's offer, and after receiving a green light from the Trump administration, it made the offer public.

Neither Iran, nor the United States rejected Oman's offer and their silence is meaningful. Subsequently Oman's Foreign Minister paid a visit to Tehran last week.

This was followed by Iran’s deputy foreign minister paying a visit to Muscat last Sunday. Two high profile visits in six days is a lot more than the two countries need for their bilateral relations.

Although President Rouhani's Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi has denied Oman's mediation, few people would believe him.

Germany

Like Japan, Germany is a prospective candidate for joining the UN Security Council as its permanent member. Also like Japan, Germany is interested in the region's stability as a major consumer of its oil.

However, Germany has still not offered officially to mediate between Tehran and Washington. But a high-ranking German Foreign Ministry official visited Tehran last week in a bid to offer Berlin's good offices.

Switzerland and Pakistan

Switzerland runs the US Interest Section in Tehran and Pakistan protects Iran's interests in Washington. Both countries are indirect channels for dialogue between Tehran and Washington. Switzerland was one of the hosts of meetings that led to the 2015 nuclear deal. Meanwhile rumor has it that Trump has given his phone number to the Swiss embassy in Tehran to be handed over to Iranian officials in case they want to talk.

Zarif visited Islamabad on May 23. He probably expects Pakistan to play a mediation part between Iran and the US, although he may also have expressed concern during his visit about Pakistan cosying up to Saudi Arabia. But Pakistan has been facing severe financial pressures for the past year and it is Riyadh that has come to its aid.

Iraq

Iraq is the only country that cannot keep clear of a possible conflict between Iran and America. Pro-Iran militia in Iraq will not wait for Baghdad's permission to intervene in any possible conflict. The concern about such an involvement led to major anti-war demonstrations in Iraq over the weekend, and prime minister Adel Abd ul-Mahdi has said he is sending delegations to Tehran and Washington in a bid to reduce the tensions.

These multiple offers of mediation reflect the extent of concern over rising tensions. On the other hand, the sheer fact that neither Iran, nor Washington have rejected any one of the offers may indicate that roads are still open to diplomacy.

There is no indication how many of these countries have had the chance to get Iran's Supreme leader Ali Khamenei involved in the talks about mediation. Previously Khamenei had sent his advisers, former foreign ministers Ali Akbar Velayati and Kamal Kharrazi to Oman, Moscow and Paris for mediation. Kharrazi was in Paris some two weeks ago. But nothing has been made public about the outcome of his meetings, if any.

Past experience shows, as Rouhani has mentioned once again recently, that he cannot do anything in the area of foreign relations, unless Khamenei wants him to do something. With that in mind, any effort for mediation without consulting and convincing Khamenei will be doomed to fail.

On the other hand, even if Khamenei is willing to intervene, he wishes to do it secretly like in previous instances, while the US administration might need a media hype about possible dialogue with Tehran for domestic consumption and leaving an impact on the 2020 elections.

[Butifldrm]

 

2019/05/31 08:49

• Number of readings 141
• Section: Iraq
•  

Iraq objected to the final statement of the Arab summit: did not participate in drafting the final statement condemning Iran

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq objected to the final communiqué of the emergency Arab summit held in Mecca on Thursday, which condemned Iran's interference in the affairs of other countries.

"Iraq opposes the final communiqué issued by the emergency Arab summit in Mecca which condemned Iran's interference in the affairs of other countries," Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement broadcast live. 

Aboul Gheit added that the Iraqi statement in this regard was contained in it. "While Iraq reiterates its denunciation of any action that would target the security of the Kingdom and the security of our brothers in the Gulf, I would like to clarify that we did not participate in the drafting of the final statement, and that Iraq records its objection to the final statement in its wording Current ". 

For his part, warned Iraqi President Barham Salih during the summit, the outbreak of all-out war in the region in light of the continuing crisis with Iran, saying "the regional and international crisis with Iran is a warning to turn into a comprehensive war if we do not improve its management." 

Saleh also called on "neighbors and allies" to support the stability of his country. 

 
  The obelisk

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/172082/العراق-يعترض-على-البيان-الختامي-للقمة-العربية-لم-يشارك-بصياغة-البيان-الختامي-المندد-بإيران

[yota691]

Officials: Exxon Mobil employees return to Iraq after security intensification

Political | 01:53 - 31/05/2019

 

 

 

BAGHDAD - 
Exxon Mobil employees will start returning to Iraq's West Qurna 1 oil field on Sunday after the company received assurances from officials, Iraqi officials said on Friday. 
"The first batch of returnees will be senior officials and engineers who are important to the company's work," the officials said. 
The return decision came after Exxon received letters of reassurance from the Iraqi Oil Ministry and Basra Oil Company. 
Exxon has asked for increased security protection from police and army at work and residence sites, and Iraq has responded, an official said.
The alert came days after the United States warned its citizens in Iraq, and the US Embassy in Baghdad asked its non-essential staff to leave, following escalating tensions between the United States and Iran on the basis of intelligence security information earlier reported the possibility of an Iranian threat to US forces in the region. / H

[Butifldrm]

Baghdad Post Friday, 31 May 2019 02:59 PM

 

Exxon Mobil returns its staff to the West Qurna field .. Learn the details and conditions

 

Exxon Mobil employees evacuated from Iraq about two weeks ago will return to the West Qurna 1 oil field in Basra from Sunday , the Reuters news agency reported Friday . 
The agency quoted Iraqi officials as saying that the first batch of returnees would include senior staff and basic engineers. 
The decision comes after Exxon Mobil received reassuring messages from the Iraqi Oil Ministry and the Basra Oil Company, according to Reuters. 
The US multinational company has asked for increased security in its facilities and staff accommodation provided by Iraqi police and military personnel, a demand that has been met by the Iraqi side, the agency said. 
On 18 May 2019, Exxon withdrew all its foreign employees from West Qurna 1 on several stages and took them to Dubai.

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/ar/Story/168513/إكسون-موبيل-تعيد-موظفيها-إلى-حقل-غرب-القرنة-تعرف-على-التفاصيل-والشروط

Count

[yota691]

America urges Germany to ban Hezbollah as Britain did

 

 

 2019/05/31 08:25:07

 

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday he hoped Germany would follow Britain's example and ban Hezbollah.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Haikou Mas in Berlin, Pompeo stressed the importance of "confronting the threats of the Iranian regime" and stressed that "the Iranian regime and its weapons should find those who face their threats in the world."

"We are trying to put an end to Iran's malicious activities," said Pompeo, who began a European tour that also includes Switzerland, the Netherlands and Britain.

In February, Britain included Hezbollah's political wing on the list of banned terrorist organizations in the United Kingdom.

Pompio's remarks coincide with the Lebanese Hezbollah celebration of Jerusalem International Day, where a rally called "Towards Jerusalem" was held in the southern suburb of Beirut. Party Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to deliver a speech on the occasion.

[blueskyline]

https://www.almaalomah.com/2019/05/31/409365/.......

• economic

Central Iranian: We found a way to receive our money from oil sales

16:50 - 31/05/2019

0

    

Information / follow up ..

Iran has been able to find a way to receive its revenues from oil sales , the central bank governor said on Friday .

"The United States has sought to reduce Iran's oil sales , but we have found practical ways and means to get our oil revenues so that Washington can not influence them," the official said.

He stressed that the efforts of the United States and its allies to subdue Tehran will fail, stressing that the economic situation in Iran during the current year is better than it was last year.

The Iranian official did not disclose the nature of the mechanism, but it comes at a time when Washington is tightening pressure on the countries importing crude to stop purchases of Iranian oil in full.

Earlier, US special envoy to Iran Brian Hawke announced that Washington would punish any country buying oil from Iran after May 2, the date of the end of US sanctions exemptions granted to eight countries, including China and India.

 

 

[blueskyline]

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-05-31/us-coalition-attacks-syrian-oil-tankers-euphrates-river........

US Coalition Attacks Syrian Oil Transport Boats On Euphrates River

by Tyler Durden

Fri, 05/31/2019 - 12:25

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In a huge development out of eastern Syria, where US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) share tense front lines with pro-Assad forces on the other side, the American coalition has reportedly attacked at least two Syrian government boats that were transporting oil across the Euphrates River to the government side. 

The news broke via the Beirut-based Middle East News site Al-Masdar which is well-known for often being the first to report Syria news, given its rare sources in the Syrian military. According to the Al-Masdar report: 

According to reports from the Deir Ezzor Governorate, the U.S. Coalition and the SDF both targeted the Syrian government boats with heavy machine gun fire in front of the town of Al-Shuhayl.

Pro-SDF accounts later released photos showing smoke rising from one of the ferries that were targeted by their machine gun fire.

 

Image via Al-Masdar News

Kurdish media and SDF accounts, along with a number of Middle East analysts also confirmed the incident, which is reportedly the second such attack on government oil supplies in under a month. 

Washington has imposed a complete oil and fuel embargo on Syria, which Damascus' close ally Iran has recently sought to circumvent. 

 

 

Joshua Landis

 

✔@joshua_landis

 

 

US-led coalition blows up 3 oil tankers in eastern Syria & kills 4 as tankers carrying oil from PKK-besieged Deir ez-Zor to Syrian regime come under attack. US gets serious about stopping commerce among Syrians. https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/us-led-coalition-strikes-oil-tankers-in-eastern-syria-3482392 …

 

14

9:31 AM - May 31, 2019

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US-led coalition strikes oil tankers in eastern Syria

Tankers carrying oil from PKK-besieged Deir ez-Zor to Syrian regime comes under attack

yenisafak.com

 

34 people are talking about this

 

 

 

Turkish media also confirmed the attack, which according to early reports left four dead. According to the Turkish daily Yeni Safak:

In the early hours of Friday, the coalition forces raided on the area where an oil trade had been carried out between the PKK/YPG and the Syrian regime in the eastern outskirts of Deir ez-Zor with Hummer brand vehicles, according to the local sources who spoke anonymously due to fears of safety.

The coalition planes hit three of the tankers. The attack left four people dead and smoke was seen rising from the area.

The coalition is yet to issue a statement on the attack.

Though US-backed forces maintain control of eastern Syria's largest oil and gas fields, such as al-Omar, the country's largest oil field, located in the Deir Ezzor region, it's long been suspected that Syrian Kurdish groups have cut secret deals with the Assad government to purchase and transfer supplies to the fuel-starved government side of the Euphrates. 

 

Apparently this is what the US is attempting to disrupt amid a broader campaign to economically starve the Assad government and further prevent its army from operating effectively. 

 

 

Qalaat Al Mudiq@QalaatAlMudiq

 

 

E. #Syria: today boat bringing oil from #SDF-held areas was destroyed in outskirts of #Mayadin (S. #DeirEzzor). Cause unknown. http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.081146&lon=40.425911&z=12&m …

 

31

1:46 PM - Apr 24, 2019......

Regional reports have noted that in past weeks the fuel crisis in Syria which had created miles-long lines at gas pumps across major cities found some relief due to a covert Iranian shipment of oil that arrived in the port city of Baniyas in early May.

Meanwhile, the WSJ reported previously that Iranian oil had been routinely delivered to Syria throughout most of the war, but now "U.S. sanctions have cut off Iranian oil shipments to Syria, taking an unprecedented toll on a flow of crude that had persisted in the face of long-term international restrictions and helped sustain the Assad regime through years of civil war."

Ironically, since ISIS took temporary hold over broad swathes of eastern Syrian territory starting in 2014 and 2015, leaders in Damascus and Moscow had accused both the United States and Turkey of looking the other way while ISIS financed its expansion through the sale of stolen Syrian oil. 

And once US-supported Syrian Kurdish militias wrested control of those vital oil and gas fields in Syria's Deir Ezzor province, it never gave them back to Damascus. 

The White House still fundamentally prioritizes weakening Syria as crucial in its ultimate long-term goal of regime change in Tehran. This also as Russian and Syrian warplanes are ratcheting up strikes on al-Qaeda held Idlib, which has received US condemnation

[GreedyDinar07]

it is obvious that Iraq is loyal to Iran so if we are waiting on Iraq to distance themselves from Iran before an RV, we are going to be waiting a long time. I hope I am wrong but I have a feeling there will be a war in the middle east and it won't be pretty! Go RV!!

[yota691]

Nasrallah: Trump will wait a long time before receiving a call from Iran

Political | 10:30 - 31/05/2019

 

 

 

 BAGHDAD ( 
Reuters) - Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday that US President Donald Trump "will wait a long time before receiving a call from Iran." 
Nasrallah said during his speech on Jerusalem International Day that the Jerusalem Day rallies in Iran "a message to Washington and all the governments of the region." Nasrallah also said that the march of Jerusalem Day in Bahrain "affirms the innocence of the Bahraini people and their scientists from the workshop on the deal of the century" which will be held in Manama on 25 and 26 June 2019. 
On the deal of the century, Nasrallah pointed out that it is possible to " And we walk in this path .. The resistance axis stands to prevent the achievement of the deal century. "
"All those who entered the Arab spring line wanted to take from the Arab Spring a rotten fruit that is the deal of the century," Nasrallah said, adding that "Washington has managed to absorb the Arab popular revolutions and derail them in a wrong direction. 29 BC

[yota691]

Nasrallah: The entire region will be ignited and US forces will be destroyed if the war on Iran occurs

Political | 11:22 - 31/05/2019

 

 

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - 
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday that the entire region would be set on fire and that all American forces and interests would be destroyed if there were any war on Iran. 
"The war on Iran will make Israel and the Saud family pay the price," Nasrallah said during his speech on Jerusalem Day. 
"US intelligence knows that the war on Iran will ignite the region and will not remain on its borders," he said, noting that America is no longer as it was 20 years ago after sending its armies into the region and exiting them defeated.

[Butifldrm]

 

2019/06/01 13:17

• Number of readings 41
• Section: Iraq
•  

A newspaper about the deployment of a new US military unit in Iraq

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - "The unit headquarters of the 3rd Corps in Ford Hood, Texas, will be deployed in Iraq to replace the 18th Airborne Corps Command Unit as a joint operations headquarters as part of a regular rotation," the US military's Star of Strye Ab said.

"This is the third deployment rotation for the corps, where about 250 US military personnel will be deployed for a year in Iraq," said Col. Mile Cage, spokesman for the 3rd Corps.

"The Task Force is leading 74 countries and five international organizations that form a coalition working with the Iraqi security forces in the regional pursuit of a daunting defeat," Cajins said.

The headquarters of the 1st Armored Division of Fort Bliss, Texas, will be deployed in the fall to replace the headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division as part of a regular rotation of troops to support Operation Freedom in Afghanistan, where 250 US troops will be deployed there for at least nine months.

Follow the obelisk

 

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/172143/صحيفة-تتحدث-عن-نشر-وحدة-أمريكية-عسكرية-جديدة-في-العراق

[yota691]

31-05-2019 09:15 PM

Foreign Minister welcomes Trump's statements on calm and prevention of war in the region

 

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - 
Iraq welcomed US President Donald H. Trump's recent comments on the crisis with Iran, which are aimed at pacifying the region and not fighting the war. 
"The position of Iraq is clear and clear from the current crisis between the United States and Iran, which is calm and the prevention of war in our region," Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali al-Hakim said in a statement read by the news. 
"This position is consistent with President Trump's recent statements about the calm in the region and the lack of intention to wage any war." 
"Iraq promises President Trump's recent statements important, accurate, and a step in the right direction to calm the situation in the region." 
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday during his visit to Japan that the United States does not want to change the Iranian regime, does not want to harm Iran, and welcomed the mediation of Japan.
He said during a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo that he believed that Tehran wants to make a new deal. " 
The US president had previously talked about the possibility of talks with Iran, weeks after the escalation and waving the military option to deal with.

[yota691]

Newspaper: China will be the biggest winner of the war between America and Iran

Political | 03:27 - 01/06/2019

 

 

 

BAGHDAD ( 
Reuters) - The Chinese century will begin when the US-Iran war begins, saying China will be the biggest winner of the war, the National Interest newspaper reported on Saturday. 
In the past few weeks, trade talks have collapsed and President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese goods, , And signed an order to include the Chinese company Huawei on the blacklist. 
"These tensions are a consequence of a shift in the US approach to China. Trump is moving from four decades of strategic" engagement "with Beijing to a new era of" strategic competition. "
The writer believes that the current crisis with Iran is the result of wrong intelligence, yet the country is heading toward war because of the irrational long-term obsession with Iran, which dominates the minds of some of Trump's closest advisers, namely national security adviser John Bolton and Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo. 
Such a war may benefit some of America's alleged allies in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, but it will achieve nothing for the long-term US global position.

[Synopsis]

3 hours ago, yota691 said:

These tensions are a consequence of a shift in the US approach to China. Trump is moving from four decades of strategic" engagement "with Beijing to a new era of" strategic competition. "
The writer believes that the current crisis with Iran is the result of wrong intelligence, yet the country is heading toward war because of the irrational long-term

 

So, WHAT, pray tell, is THIS "shift" in the US approach to China ALL about AND China being the "biggest" "winner" (Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner       ) WITH war WITH the Insanians to INCLUDE the Insanian IRGC???!!!

 

Former President Tricky AND Mousy Dung "agreements" to ReEstablish the Old Silk Road Trade BENEFITTING The United States Of America AND China AND ALL associated???!!!

 

The LAST four (4) decades of The United States Of America AND China Trade relations a "temporary" "work" "around" UNTIL The United States Of America Rouge Entities AND THEIR proxies (i.e. the Insanians to INCLUDE the Insanian IRGC, Hezbollah, etc.) neutralized FOR UNRESTRICTED flow of TRADE GOODS from China TO Europe AND Back???!!!

 

The Whirled Crude Oil Futures TANKING of late is DUE to the impasse on The United States Of America AND China Trade Resolution CONTINGENT ON the Insanians, to INCLUDE the Insanian IRGC, clean up DUE TO the Creation AND Prop UP of ROUGE The United States Of America ENTITIES AND THEIR PROXIES???!!! ONCE THAT IS DONE, ELI The ICE Man (      ) can POWER UP THIS INVESTMENT to JUMP START the Old, er, NEW Silk Road via the Belt AND Road Initiative!!!

 

I (NOTE: I) believe THIS resolution WITH the Insanians, to INCLUDE the Insanian IRGC, WILL BE QUICK SINCE THE PLAN WAS CRAFTED LONG AGO FOR FLAWLESS EXECUTION AND IS PART OF The Deal Of The Century!!!

 

So, June 25-26 IS the APPARENT IMPLEMENTATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR The Deal Of The Century!!! NOW, pray tell, WHERE, pray tell, WILL ALL THAT FUNKAE' CHUNKAE' MONAE' COME FROM FOR EVERYBODAE' TO BE ALL HAPPAE'???!!!

 

YYYEEEAAAHHH BBBAAABBBYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Go Moola Nova (YEAH AND YEE HAW, BABY, READY WHEN YOU ARE BROTHER (OR SISTER) - LET 'ER BUCK!!!)!!!

   

[Floridian]

1 hour ago, Synopsis said:

 

So, June 25-26 IS the APPARENT IMPLEMENTATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR The Deal Of The Century!!!  

 

Thanks, Synopsis.  Another brilliant post that I'm praying is right on target. 

Sorry, I missed something, somewhere along the line.  Why are you thinking June 25-26 is the apparent implementation announcement for the Deal of the Century?

[6ly410]