We took a very specific decision not to provide support for strikes that were taking place over this weekend. We have been clear that we believe there should be a diplomatic process, negotiations process. But we also now face the situation where there are 300,000 estimated British citizens in other Gulf countries that are being targeted by Iranian missiles and drones. That is why we are providing support for defensive action.
Giving rising tensions in the region, Chiefs of Mission and embassies at addressee posts must refrain from public statements, interviews, or social media activity that could in any way inflame regional audiences, prejudice sensitive political issues, or complicate US relationships, the cable said. Chiefs of Mission are expected to avoid all commentary on issues that could heighten tensions or create confusion about US policy.
United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has triggered an avalanche of criticism from Arab and Muslim countries after suggesting Israel has a right to expand its territory across a large swath of the Middle East. Huckabee delivered the remarks during a sit-down interview with US commentator Tucker Carlson, broadcast on Friday, as he was pressed about the geographical borders of Israel.
He also suggests Trump's Republican base want a deal and not further unnecessary wars. Araghchi was writing a day after Netanyahu held talks with Trump in the US in which Israel's calls to consider fresh attacks on Iran were discussed alongside the Gaza peace plan. Netanyahu claims Iran may be seeking to rebuild its nuclear programme after joint Israeli-US assaults on Iran in June severely damaged its key nuclear sites.
The writer seems to think that Donald Trump isn't up to the task of dealing with the problems in the Middle East because he went to business school, not the School of Foreign Service. Well, all of those people who went to the right schools don't seem to have done very well in the Middle East. On the face of it, things haven't changed that much, but it's apparent that significant change is now possible.
I think he felt like the Israelis were getting a little bit out of control in what they were doing and that it was time to be very strong and stop them from doing things that he felt were not in their long-term interests, Kushner replied.
After Goldman observed that the handover of the hostages taken by Hamas will be very emotional for everybody, Phillip asked: Why do you think this was not doable when President Biden was in office? I think the biggest problem that President Biden had is there was no pressure from Qatar, from Turkey, from Egypt. They were actually facilitating in many ways what was going on. And that is really ultimately how it all came together, replied Goldman.
A New York Times investigation reveals that when Witkoff, a real estate developer and longtime friend of Trump, began his new position as a diplomat in the Middle East, his son Alex took over his company, the Witkoff Group. Since then, not only has the Witkoff Group continued to ink major deals with investors in the Gulf Arab states, but the elder Witkoff has not even fully divested from the company.
American foreign policy is an enduring struggle between values and interests. We know American values, freedom, rule of law, personal responsibility, merit, equal opportunity, not all countries, most countries don't share those values.
