How Iran Is Losing Europe As the United States adopts new strategy vis-à-vis Iran, senior officials in Tehran are desperately seeking a new life-rope. With Obama and his appeasement gone, Iran is also sensing how Europe is distancing. Tehran is also witnessing how developments across the Middle East and the international spectrum are cornering its regime, detecting how all parties will choose to side with its rivals. British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson made a call to Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman condemning the Iran-backed Houthis’ missile launch against Riyadh. In her recent trip to Washington, European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini  expressed  confidence the Iran nuclear deal,  decertified by U.S. President Donald Trump, would not be killed. Sources in Congress, however, are saying senior Republicans emphasized the deal’s deficiencies and stressed how financial and economic relations established with Iran are endangered,...

The US position on the Situation in Lebanon US Department of State Rex W. Tillerson Secretary of State Washington, DC November 10, 2017 The United States strongly supports the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Lebanon and of its political institutions. The United States urges all parties both within Lebanon and outside to respect the integrity and independence of Lebanon’s legitimate national institutions, including the Government of Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces. In this regard, we respect Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri as a strong partner of the United States. The United States supports the stability of Lebanon and is opposed to any actions that could threaten that stability. There is no legitimate place or role in Lebanon for any foreign forces, militias or armed elements other than the legitimate security forces of the Lebanese state – which must be recognized as the sole authority for security in Lebanon. The United States c...

House Sanctions Iran’s ICBM Program 10/26/2017 7:21:22 PM   facebook Google+ ► Print House Foreign Affairs Chairman, Ed Royce Washington, D.C., Oct. 26, 2017  – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives today passed his H.R. 1698, the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act, by a vote of 423 to 2: “This week, the House has taken two critical steps toward addressing the full range of threats Iran poses to the United States and our partners. Yesterday, the House cracked down on Iran’s leading terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, which Iran uses to spread terror and undermine regional stability. And today, we passed my bill targeting Iran’s intercontinental ballistic missiles program. These sanctions will squeeze Iranian and foreign companies, banks and individuals that support the Iranian regime’s illicit weapons programs. Iran must kn...

House Sanctions Iran’s ICBM Program 10/26/2017 7:21:22 PM   facebook Google+ ► Print House Foreign Affairs Chairman, Ed Royce Washington, D.C., Oct. 26, 2017  – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives today passed his H.R. 1698, the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act, by a vote of 423 to 2: “This week, the House has taken two critical steps toward addressing the full range of threats Iran poses to the United States and our partners. Yesterday, the House cracked down on Iran’s leading terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, which Iran uses to spread terror and undermine regional stability. And today, we passed my bill targeting Iran’s intercontinental ballistic missiles program. These sanctions will squeeze Iranian and foreign companies, banks and individuals that support the Iranian regime’s illicit weapons programs. Iran must kn...

US Condemns Terrorist Attack Against Egyptian Security Forces US condemns terrorist attacks against Egyptian forces Press Statement Heather Nauert Department Spokesperson Washington, DC October 21, 2017 The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack against Egyptian security forces near the Bahariya Oasis yesterday, which killed dozens of Egyptian personnel and wounded many others. We offer our profound condolences to the families of the deceased and the government and people of Egypt, and extend our best wishes for the full and speedy recovery of those injured. The United States stands with Egypt at this difficult time, as we continue to work together to fight the scourge of terrorism.

Trump: Raqqa fall 'critical breakthrough', end of Islamic State in sight 10/21/2017 9:52:00 PM Donald Trump says end of Islamic State is in sight WASHINGTON (Reuters) OCT. 21, 2017  - U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed the defeat of Islamic State fighters in their self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa as “a critical breakthrough” in a worldwide campaign against the militants. On Friday, the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) formally announced Raqqa’s liberation from Islamic State after four months of battles and said the city would be part of a decentralized federal Syria. “Together, our forces have liberated the entire city from ISIS control,” Trump said in a statement.      Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters ride atop military vehicles as they celebrate victory in Raqqa, Syria, October 17, 2017 “The defeat of ISIS in Raqqa represents a critical breakthrough in our worldwide campaign to defeat...

Full transcript of President Trump's remarks about the Iran nuclear deal 10/14/2017 5:20:07 PM President Trumps remarks about the new US strategy on Iran regime by: Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk   Fox News, Oct 13, 2017  - The White House on Friday released a transcript of President Trump’s speech on the Iran uclear deal. Here are his remarks: “Thank you very much. My fellow Americans: As President of the United States, my highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people. History has shown that the longer we ignore a threat, the more dangerous that threat becomes. For this reason, upon taking office, I've ordered a complete strategic review of our policy toward the rogue regime in Iran. That review is now complete. Today, I am announcing our strategy, along with several major steps we are taking to confront the Iranian regime’s hostile actions and to ensure that Iran never, and I mean never, ...

STATEMENT BY SASC CHAIRMAN JOHN McCAIN ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S IRAN STRATEGY 10/14/2017 10:34:00 AM Senator McCain comments on President Trumps new Iran policy Washington, D.C., Oct 13 2017  - U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s Iran strategy: “For years, the Iranian regime has literally been getting away with murder. Meanwhile, the United States has lacked a comprehensive strategy to meet the multifaceted threat Iran poses. The goals President Trump presented in his speech today are a welcomed long overdue change. They offer the United States a path forward that centers our policy towards Iran on its destabilizing regional ambitions rather than its nuclear program alone. I look forward to learning more about the specifics of this strategy, and the Senate Armed Services Committee will conduct thorough oversight of our military’s role in it. “Iran has routi...

A reasonable approach to the Iran deal I vigorously opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) because I believed then — as I believe now — that the Obama administration, in its desperation for a legacy-creating deal, negotiated a weaker deal than we could have obtained. The JCPOA did not deliver anywhere/anytime inspections as promised or constrain Iran’s ballistic missile program. The JCPOA provided sanctions relief up-front and contains a highly troubling sunset clause. Nevertheless, the agreement is in place now, and the question is whether to stay in or exit. Circumstances have undeniably changed, both because of the new president and the operation of the deal itself. Here I part company with many who opposed the deal and now want the United States to exit. Both supporters and opponents of the original deal rightly point out the unworkability of a U.S. withdrawal. I would not recommend pulling out of the deal now — not when the International Atomic ...