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  • Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry Criticizes JASTA, Congress Weighs Adjustment of Law
     

    Although the Congressional override of President Obama’s veto on the controversial Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) was anticipated, it’s reality has proved shocking to U.S. leaders as well as countries globally.  Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has issued a statement strongly condemning the legislation and noted, as has been done frequently in the run-up […]

     
  • Opposition to JASTA ‘Bubbles’ but Override Still Likely after White House Veto on Friday
     

    President Obama vetoed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) on Friday, setting up an expected showdown with Congress over the controversial bill that would open up foreign nations to lawsuits in the United States. In a thoughtful letter to Congress attached to the veto, President Obama says that while he has deep sympathy […]

     
  • Senate Votes Down Proposal to Block U.S. Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia
     

    The Senate on Wednesday rejected a bipartisan proposal to block a pending $1.15 billion United States arms sale to Saudi Arabia by a vote of 71-27. The Senate action comes as Congress is considering whether to override an expected presidential veto of the so-called JASTA bill, allowing 9/11 victims’ families to sue the Saudi government. The proposed […]

     
  • White House Lobbies Senate on JASTA, Works Toward 34 Votes to Prevent Veto Override
     

    Some Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill continue to consider their votes on the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) and, according to some reports, are “starting to show cracks in their support” of the legislation after efforts by the Obama administration to convey the risk of the bill’s potential international relations fallout.  JASTA, which would expand […]

     
  • Al-Jubeir in Wall Street Journal: ‘Iran Can’t Whitewash Its Record of Terror’
     

    Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir blasted his Iranian counterpart in a new op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal, saying that Iran cannot “whitewash its record of terror.” “The fact is that Iran is the leading state-sponsor of terrorism, with government officials directly responsible for numerous terrorist attacks since 1979. These include suicide bombings of the U.S. […]

     
  • Washington Post Editorial: Obama Right to Veto JASTA
     

    An editorial in today’s edition of the Washington Post calls for President Obama to veto the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) which reduces foreign sovereign immunity by allowing U.S. courts to hear cases involving claims against a foreign state for injuries, death, or damages that occur inside the United States as a result of […]

     
  • President Obama to Veto JASTA Bill
     

    White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Monday that U.S. President Barack Obama will veto the controversial Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) passed by congress last week, setting up a showdown with Congress. Earnest reiterated the White House’s fear that the measure would expose U.S. citizens to legal action overseas if foreign countries pass […]

     
  • U.S. House to Allow Vote on Controversial JASTA Bill This Week
     

    The U.S.  House of Representatives will vote this week on a bill allowing the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S. courts, a Republican leadership source told Politico Wednesday. The highly-politicized Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) bill, which President Obama said would receive his veto should it make it to […]

     
  • Asian Banks Said to Have ‘Intense Interest’ in First Saudi Foreign Debt Issuance, Reports Say
     

    Saudi Arabia is seeing “intense interest” in its first international bond sale of $15 billion and is considering further issuances given the current appetite, according to a report today in the Financial Times.  The Kingdom’s first international debt sale has generated so much interest from particularly from Asian investors that “the kingdom is weighing a […]

     
  • Deputy Crown Prince to Promote Saudi Vision 2030 in Japan, China and at G20
     

    Saudi Deputy Crown Prince, Minister of Defense and head of the influential Council of Economic and Development Affairs, HRH Mohammed bin Salman, plans to visit China August 29-31 and Japan August 31-September 3. Prince Mohammed will then attend the Group of 20 Summit September 4-5 to be held in Hangzhou, China where he will be […]

     

MUST-READS

  • Oil slips from 7-year highs ahead of more U.S.-Iran talks

    Oil prices eased on Tuesday morning ahead of the resumption of indirect talks between the United States and Iran which may revive a nuclear deal that could lead to the removal of sanctions on Iranian oil sales, increasing global supplies. Brent crude was last down 36 cents, or 0.4%, at $92.33 a barrel by 0147 GMT, after hitting a seven-year high of $94 on Monday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude eased 26 cents, or 0.3%, to $91.06 a barrel.

  • After Houthi attacks, senior U.S. general in UAE to bolster defenses

    U.S. Marine General Frank McKenzie arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday for talks on efforts to bolster the Gulf state's defenses after a series of missile attacks launched by Houthi fighters in Yemen. In recent weeks, the Iran-aligned Houthis have waged an unprecedented string of largely failed missiles strikes on UAE targets that have triggered Emirati and U.S. air defenses and seen American troops briefly taking shelter.

  • U.S. restores sanctions waiver to Iran with nuclear talks in final phase

    The waivers had allowed Russian, Chinese and European companies to carry out non-proliferation work to effectively make it harder for Iranian nuclear sites to be used for weapons development. The waivers were rescinded by the United States in 2019 and 2020 under former President Donald Trump, who pulled out of the nuclear agreement.

  • U.S. Sees Iran’s Nuclear Program as Too Advanced to Restore Key Goal of 2015 Pact

    The Biden administration expects a restored nuclear deal would leave Iran capable of amassing enough nuclear fuel for a bomb in significantly less than a year, a shorter time frame than the one that underpinned the 2015 agreement, U.S. officials familiar with the matter said.

  • U.S. approves potential weapons sales to Mideast allies including F-16s for Jordan

    The U.S. State Department has approved several potential weapons sales to Mideast allies including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said on Thursday. The approvals included the possible sale of F-16 fighter jets and related equipment to Jordan at an estimated cost of $4.21 billion, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement. There have been increased rocket and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates in recent weeks. read more

  • ISIS prison break: How a deadly battle between Islamic State fighters and U.S.-led coalition forces unfolded

    By the time the fighting was finished and the devastated prison was back in the hands of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, more than 500 people were dead, about three-quarters of them suspected militants, the SDF reported. And scores, maybe hundreds, of prisoners had escaped, free to raise the Islamic State’s black flag and fight again.

  • Israel participates in huge U.S. Mideast naval exercise alongside Saudi, Oman

    Israel is taking part in a huge U.S.-led naval exercise in the Middle East, for the first time publicly joining Saudi Arabia and Oman, two counties it has no diplomatic relations with despite its normalisation of ties with some Gulf states. The International Maritime Exercise 2022 (IMX 22) includes around 60 countries and comes amid heightened Gulf tensions after missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement, including a foiled attack aimed at a base hosting U.S. forces.

  • U.S. to send fighter jets to assist UAE after Houthi attacks | Reuters

    Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also told Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a telephone call on Tuesday that Washington would send the guided missile destroyer the USS Cole to partner with the UAE navy ahead of a port call in Abu Dhabi.

  • Before Ukraine Standoff, U.S. Pitched Its ‘Freedom Gas’ to Europe and Found Few Takers

    Now, as Europe confronts the possibility of a serious supply squeeze amid Russian hostilities toward Ukraine, the U.S. is trying to help Europe secure emergency gas supplies. But there is only so much the Biden administration can do: Most American gas has been sold to other customers, and Europe has limited facilities to import more.

  • WH official: “We are in the ballpark” for Iran deal, but U.S. prepared for either scenario

    McGurk: “There’s a chance for a deal and there's also a pretty good chance there's not going to be a deal and I will tell you, we are prepared for either scenario.”