Kerry to Vienna as Nuclear Talk Stall
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will hold a rare face to face meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif in Vienna to determine Iran’s commitment to reaching a nuclear agreement with the West.
Iran
Israel Skeptical of Iran Nuclear Deal by Deadline
Israel does not expect a nuclear agreement will be reach by the July deadline, according to a high level Israeli government minister.
Iran, West in Final Push in Nuclear Talks
A July 20 deadline looms for a ‘historic’ nuclear agreement with Iran as the sixth and final round of negotiations with Western powers and Iran begun in Vienna.
Israel Sends Emergency Delegation to U.S. Over Iran Nuke Talks
As negotiations for a nuclear agreement with Iran enters its final stage with a deadline looming just weeks away, Israel sent an emergency high-level delegation to Washington to express its concerns.
Arab States ask U.N. Security Council to Condemn Israel’s Aggression (Video)
Several U.N. Representatives of Islamic states will be asking the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israel’s “aggression” for the second time in as many weeks.
Iran: Pastor Irani Returned to Prison
Pastor Behnam Irani, who was assaulted by his own guards and transferred to a then unknown location on June 7, has been returned to Ghezal Hesar Prison, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
Full Coverage: ISIS Takes Supply Routes into Baghdad; Threatens Iraq’s 2nd Largest Dam
The Shiite-Sunni sectarian war breaking out in Iraq is threatening a widespread regional war. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) is on the move as it threatens to cut off ‘supply routes to Baghdad.’ ISIS forces are within miles of the Haditha Dam, Iraq’s second largest dam, located on the Euphrates River. Meanwhile, Syria bombed ISIS targets inside of Iraq. The NY Times reported Iran is sending military aid including drones to Iraq. Those are just a few of the headlines we cover in today’s Full Coverage Report.
Iran, Russia to Finalize Deal for Two More Nuclear Plants
Russia plans to build two more nuclear power plants in Iran. After months of negotiations, the deal is expected to be signed this week.
Secret U.S. Plan to Aid Iraq Ended Because of Mutual Distrust
President Barack Obama authorized a secret plan to aid Iraq by sharing intelligence on Sunni jihadist’s camps. However, only a handful of U.S. specialists were tasked to the operation, and it provided limited information to Iraq, due to U.S. concerns that the Iraqi government would share sensitive information to its Shiite counterpart, Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Khamenei says Tehran and U.S. Not Aligned in Iraq
Any military cooperation between the United States and Iran in Iraq was dismissed by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameni. On Sunday, Khamenei stated, “We don’t support any foreign interference in Iraq and we’re strongly opposed to U.S. interference there.”
Iran Rejects ‘Excessive Demands’ in Nuke Talks
With a July 20 deadline rapidly approaching, Iran said it would not accept ‘excessive demands’ the West was trying to impose on its nuclear program.
President Obama Said Iran Can Play ‘Constructive’ Role in Iraq (Video)
President Obama said Iran can play a “constructive” role in Iraq. Watch the press conference that took place today.
War Between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq threatens the entire region
Muslims fighting Muslims — so who is to blame? Perhaps Allah! Both sides, Sunnis backed by Saudi Arabia and Shiites backed by Iran, are blaming each other as sectarian violence threatens “unpredictable consequences” for the region.
Iraq Comes Up, as Negotiators Meet for the Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks in Vienna
Iran’s negotiations continued with six global powers regarding its nuclear program continued in Vienna, marking the fifth round of talks hoping to reach a comprehensive agreement by July 20. Alongside the nuclear talks, U.S. and Iranian diplomats discussed the crisis in Iraq.
ISIS Takes Control of Iraq’s Largest Refinery, White House Considers Options
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Greater Syria) (ISIS) attacked Iraq’s largest oil refinery, located in Baiji in Northern Iraq, and seized the facility as security forces fled. Meanwhile, the White House is carefully weighing its options and is considering a “targeted, highly selective campaign of airstrikes” against the jihadists.
Iranian Efforts to Destablize Iraq, State Dept. Warned in April
In late April, State Department officials warned that Iran had “trained, funded, and provided guidance” to ethnic Iraqi terror groups who want to destabilize the country.
Ayatollah Khamenei Promises ‘Madhi’ to Rid the World of All Infidels (Video)
Iran’s supreme leader is promising a world free of infidels and nonbelievers with the coming of the Islamic messiah, Mahdi, a 9th-century descendant of the prophet Mohammad whom the Shiites refer to as the 12th Imam.
Iran Deploys Forces to Fight Jihadists in Iraq
Iran has deployed two Revolutionary Guards units to Iraq to protect Baghdad, and the holy Shi’ite cities of Karbala and Najaf, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Iran intelligence minister blames Israel, US for Iraq crisis
Iranian deputy minister of intelligence Hojjat al-Eslam Ali Khazaei says terrorists supported “by Israel and America” are responsible for the fall of Mosul, Iraq, to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Iran Open to Shared Role with U.S. in Iraq
Shi’te Muslim Iran is so alarmed by Sunni insurgent gains in Iraq that it may be willing to cooperate with Washington in helping Baghdad fight back, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.