Washington Times: One of Iraq’s top Sunni politicians on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of fomenting sectarian violence to limit the voices of Sunnis in upcoming elections, and he criticized the Obama administration for failing to do more for a country “destroyed” by the United States.
The U.S. is to blame for violence now spiking in Iraq: deputy prime minister
America must keep her word on Iran
Roll Call: One thing that shouldn’t happen is to link a willingness to negotiate with the Iranian regime with abandoning our promises to the people of Camp Liberty. These two things are not connected. But I fear that the State Department thinks these two things are connected.
Iran nuclear deal: Don’t believe the hype around oil
Christian Science Monitor: An Iran nuclear deal would ease economic sanctions on the Islamic nation in exchange for limits to its uranium enrichment program. Oil prices slipped Monday, on news of the Iran nuclear deal, set for Jan. 20, but the promise of new Iranian oil may be overhyped.
White House plays down Rouhani crowing on nuclear deal
AFP: The White House Tuesday dismissed an aggressive claim of victory by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani over an interim nuclear deal, and attempted to face down rising domestic political pressure over the pact.
IAEA says Iran asked for nuclear talks postponement to February 8
Reuters: The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday a planned meeting with Iran next week to discuss steps meant to ease concerns over its nuclear program has been pushed back to February 8 at Tehran’s request.
Doubts rise on Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran; appeasement or deterent?
Washington Times: A preliminary deal designed to halt Iran’s nuclear program will take effect next week, the White House said Sunday, but some U.S. lawmakers and analysts have little faith that the Middle Eastern nation will comply.
Iran nuke deal doesn’t end debate over sanctions
AP: The weekend deal spelling out how Iran will roll back its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief has done little to sway skeptical lawmakers determined to levy new sanctions against Iran.
U.S. has concerns about Iran-Russia oil-for-goods swap reports
Reuters: The White House said on Monday it was concerned about a recent report that Iran and Russia are negotiating an oil-for-goods swap worth $1.5 billion a month, a deal a spokeswoman said could trigger U.S. sanctions.
Obama seeks to halt new sanctions amid Iran deal scrutiny
Bloomberg: President Barack Obama urged Congress to hold off on imposing new sanctions on Iran after the Islamic Republic agreed to curtail its nuclear activities starting Jan. 20 under a deal with world powers.
President Obama’s policies are a disaster in Iran
Pittsburgh Tribune: Barack Obama’s inexplicable and increasingly dangerous tilt toward Iran is getting harder to hide. Whether his administration is consciously shifting policy or simply making ad hoc, unrelated (even incoherent) decisions is unclear.
