In letter to Iran, Russia, Turkey, EU demands end to fighting in Syria 3/1/2018 10:33:34 PM   facebook Google+ ► Print EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini BRUSSELS (Reuters) February 28, 2018  - The  European Union  ’s top diplomat has written to the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey urging them to uphold a ceasefire in eastern Ghouta and allow aid into besieged areas. Appealing to the trio as the leaders of the Syrian peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on them to “implement a genuine humanitarian pause for at least 30 consecutive days throughout Syria.” In the Feb. 26 letter seen by Reuters, Mogherini also urged Russia, Turkey and Iran to “take all necessary steps to ensure that the fighting stops, that the Syrian people are protected, and finally that urgent humanitarian access and necessary medical evacuations are taking place.” Mogherini said in the ...

Russia, Turkey and Iran discuss meeting on Syria in Kazakhstan - TASS 2/12/2018 10:45:03 AM   facebook Google+ ► Print Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov MOSCOW (Reuters) FEBRUARY 12, 2018 -  Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Monday that Russia, Turkey and Iran had discussed a possible meeting of their foreign ministers on Syria, which could be held in Kazakhstan’s Astana in March, the TASS news agency reported. Bogdanov also warned against escalation in the Middle East after Israeli strikes on Syria, the RIA news agency said.

The U.S. Has Window of Opportunity to Strengthen Iran Deal, Leverage Partners to Address Totality of Iranian Threats 10/27/2017 12:07:11 PM   facebook Google+ ► Print U.S. Congress By ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN Sunshine State News, October 25, 2017  - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman of the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, weighed in on the Trump administration’s handling of the nuclear deal with Iran at a subcommittee hearing on “The President’s Iran Decision: Next Steps' on Wednesday.  Ros-Lehtinen said the following: Less than two weeks ago, President Trump announced that he would not certify the Iran deal under the requirements of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA). All signs leading up to the certification deadline pointed to decertification. In a speech on U.S. policy toward Iran last month, Ambassador Haley laid out the pillars to be considered when determining Iranian compl...

Trump says Russia hurting U.S. efforts on North Korea nuclear issue 10/26/2017 8:31:08 AM   facebook Google+ ► Print U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before awarding the Medal of Honor to Vietnam War Veteran, retired Army Capt. Gary Rose WASHINGTON (Reuters)OCT, 26, 2017  - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Russia was hurting U.S. efforts to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons while China had been helpful. In an interview with Fox Business Network, Trump said it would be easier to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue if the United States had a better relationship with Russia. “China is helping us and maybe Russia’s going through the other way and hurting what we’re getting,” Trump said of the North Korea situation. A series of weapons tests by North Korea and a string of increasingly bellicose exchanges between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have ratcheted up tensions. Trump has pressed China to help rein...

Trump says Russia hurting U.S. efforts on North Korea nuclear issue 10/26/2017 8:31:08 AM   facebook Google+ ► Print U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before awarding the Medal of Honor to Vietnam War Veteran, retired Army Capt. Gary Rose WASHINGTON (Reuters)OCT, 26, 2017  - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Russia was hurting U.S. efforts to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons while China had been helpful. In an interview with Fox Business Network, Trump said it would be easier to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue if the United States had a better relationship with Russia. “China is helping us and maybe Russia’s going through the other way and hurting what we’re getting,” Trump said of the North Korea situation. A series of weapons tests by North Korea and a string of increasingly bellicose exchanges between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have ratcheted up tensions. Trump has pressed China to help rei...

Video: Defeating ISIS isn’t enough, Trump urgently needs a new Syria policy 10/23/2017 5:32:21 PM   facebook Google+ ► Print US-backed forces in Syria say they seized Raqqa from ISIS Fox News, October 22, 2017  - In Syria, hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, millions of people remain displaced and countless souls are physically and psychologically scarred. Throngs of children are without families or homes, entire villages and farming communities no longer exist, and cities are in ruins. Fallout from the seismic Syrian civil war and upheaval besets the Middle East. Aggressor regimes and extremist groups have capitalized upon the chaos and despair. It will be very difficult at this late juncture to get America’s Syria policy right, but the moral and strategic stakes are too high to keep getting it wrong. Instead of slouching toward a fatally flawed paradigm, the Trump administration should conduct an urgent policy review, s...

Alan Dershowitz: Whether Trump's storm be diplomatic, economic or military depends on the dictators of North Korea and Iran 10/8/2017 11:21:41 PM Alan Dershowitz says Trumps calm before the storm is a message to North Korea and Iran By Alan M. Dershowitz Reporters continue scratching their heads about what President Trump meant when he spoke of the “calm before the storm” Thursday as he was hosting a dinner for military commanders and their spouses. It seems clear to me that he was sending a powerful message to North Korea and Iran: change your behavior now, or prepare to face new but unspecified painful consequences. North Korea and Iran are taking the measure of President Trump to see how far they can push him and how much they can get away with. The North Koreans continue testing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles and threaten to launch a nuclear attack on America and our allies that could kills millions. Iran is likely engaging in activities ...