Iran Focus: London, Jan. 17 – The following is the full text of a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Plus Two, following their meeting on Tuesday in Kuwait City. The GCC consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Gulf states are joined by Egypt and Jordan to make up the GCC-Plus-Two.
Full text of GCC-Plus-Two statement on regional security
Saudi Arabia rules out emergency OPEC meeting
AFP: Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi said Tuesday there is no need for an emergency OPEC meeting to discuss a possible output cut since the situation in the crude oil market is “healthy”.
White House denies plans to invade Iran
AFP: The White House on Tuesday again denied it had plans to invade Iran, emphasizing diplomacy with the Islamic republic and asserting great “respect, admiration and affection for the people of Iran.”
Iran unlikely to play constructive role in Latin America: US official
AFP: Iran is unlikely to play a constructive role in Latin America, a US official said Tuesday after Iran’s president created a strategic fund with ally Venezuela during a tour of the region.
Iranian detained in Iraq tied to Vienna murders: report
AFP: One of five Iranians arrested by US forces in Iraq last week is the suspected leader of a commando team that assassinated three Iranian Kurds in Vienna in 1989, Austrian public radio has reported.
Iran: We will continue nuclear work regardless of UN resolutions
AFP: Iran believes that a military strike against its nuclear installations is “highly improbable” but has nonetheless taken the necessary precautions in case it is attacked, a top official said on Wednesday.
US wins firm Arab opposition to Iran meddling in Iraq
AFP: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ended a regional tour Wednesday after gaining a firm Arab stance calling on Iran not to meddle in Iraq and support for the Bush administration’s new Iraq strategy.
Text of Gates’ comments on U.S. engagement with Iran
Iran Focus: London, Jan. 17 – “As you probably remember, I co-chaired a council on foreign relations study on the United States relations with Iran in 2004 with Dr. Brzezinski, President Carter’s National Security Advisor, and our conclusion at that time was that it would be useful for the United States to engage with Iran and it appeared to be promising because the Iranians clearly were concerned by the presence of American troops on both their eastern and western borders and there was some evidence they were actually doing some things to be helpful inside Iraq. None of those conditions apply any longer”.
Text of Gates’ comments on U.S. engagement with Iran
Iran Focus: London, Jan. 17 – “As you probably remember, I co-chaired a council on foreign relations study on the United States relations with Iran in 2004 with Dr. Brzezinski, President Carter’s National Security Advisor, and our conclusion at that time was that it would be useful for the United States to engage with Iran and it appeared to be promising because the Iranians clearly were concerned by the presence of American troops on both their eastern and western borders and there was some evidence they were actually doing some things to be helpful inside Iraq. None of those conditions apply any longer”.
Saudis back US Iraq strategy as fears grow over Iran’s influence
Daily Telegraph: Saudi Arabia declared yesterday that it held Iraq’s Shia-led government responsible for its sectarian strife and warned that America’s new war strategy would fail without a radical change of heart by the Baghdad leadership.
