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Monday, April 13, 2015
Excerpts: U.S.states sanctions re Iran. Iraq asks more help re ISIS. Precautionary Saudi border villages evacuation April 12, 2015

Excerpts: U.S.states sanctions re Iran. Iraq asks more help re ISIS.
Precautionary Saudi border villages evacuation April 12, 2015

+++SOURCE: Al Arabiya News13 April ’15:”Deal or not, many U.S.states will
keep sanctions grip on Iran”, by Reuters

SUBJECTS: U.S. states sanctions re Iran

FULL TEXT:As the United States and Iran come closer to a historic nuclear
deal, many U.S. states are likely to stick with their own sanctions on Iran
that could complicate any warming of relations between the long-time foes.

In a little known aspect of Iran’s international isolation, around two dozen
states have enacted measures punishing companies operating in certain
sectors of its economy, directing public pension funds with billions of
dollars in assets to divest from the firms and sometimes barring them from
public contracts.

In more than half those states, the restrictions expire only if Iran is no
longer designated to be supporting terrorism or if all U.S. federal
sanctions against Iran are lifted - unlikely outcomes even in the case of a
final nuclear accord. Two states, Kansas and Mississippi, are even
considering new sanctions targeting the country.

The prospect of unwavering sanctions at the state level, or new ones, just
as the federal government reaches a landmark agreement with Iran risks
widening a divide between states and the federal government on a crucial
foreign policy issue.

Though U.S. states have often coordinated their measures with federal
sanctions on Iran, their divestment actions sometimes take a tougher line on
foreign firms with Iran links than is the case under federal policy.

“Our investment sanctions are not tied in any way to President Obama’s
negotiations with the Iranians,” said Don Gaetz, a Republican Florida state
senator who sponsored legislation in 2007 punishing companies with
investments in Iran’s energy sector.

“They would have to change their behavior dramatically and we would not be
necessarily guided by President Obama or any other president’s opinion about
the Iranians,” Gaetz said.

+++SOURCE: Al Arabiya News 13 April ’15:”Iraq P.M.:More support needed to
finish ISIS”,Staff Writer with Agence France Press, Associated Press
SUBJECT Iraq asks more help re ISIS

FULL TEXT:Iraq’s prime minister said his country needs greater support from
the international coalition so it can “finish” the Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria (ISIS), the Associated Press reported Monday.[13 April]

Haider al-Abadi said the “marked increase” in airstrikes, weapons deliveries
and training has helped roll back the extremist group, but added that more
is required to rid Iraq of it once and for all.
There has already been an increase “but we want to see more,” he told
journalists before boarding a flight to Washington where he will meet with
President Barack Obama.Al-Abadi also said that he will use the visit to the
United States to seek increased air support and arms deliveries to aid
Baghdad’s battle against the extremist group.

Al-Abadi is expected to request that Iraq be allowed to defer payment for
arms purchases, given the country’s major shortage of funds due to a decline
in oil prices and the cost of its war against ISIS.

Speaking about Iran, Al-Abadi said that his country’s relationship with the
Islamic Republic was “very balanced” and that those at odds with Iran should
not “throw their problems on us.”

Both the United States and Iran are helping Iraq battle ISIS, but insist
they are not coordinating their actions on the battlefield.

The United States is leading an international coalition that is carrying out
air strikes against ISIS and also providing arms and training for Iraqi
security forces.

The militant group led an offensive that overran large parts of Iraq last
June.

[With AFP and AP]


+++SOURCE: Saudi Gazette 12 April ’15:”96 Saudi border villages may be
evacuated soon”,by Mohammad al-Hattar and Mohammad Al-Malki
SUBJECT: Precautionary Saudi border villages evacuation
QUOTE:”’the border region is an extremely dangerous area’”
FULL TEXT:JAZAN — The Border Guard has reported the authorities are
assessing 96 Saudi villages on or near the Kingdom’s border with Yemen to
determine if they should be evacuated as a precaution against any potential
attacks from Houthi rebels.

Al-Dayer Bani Malik Border Guard head Col. Ibrahim Shrahili said Yemeni
tribes right across the border have approached Saudi authorities seeking
protection.

“The Houthi threat has escalated as they no longer only hurt people on the
streets but knock on people’s doors and barge into their homes. The Yemenis
have no hope for protection but us and we have promised them that we will do
our best and have instructed them to stay inside their homes,” said Col.
Shrahili.

He added the border region is an extremely dangerous area where the sounds
of gunshots and military jets flying maneuvers overhead are a near constant.

“If you climb up Mount Shahdan and stand on top of the 1,600-feet-high apex,
you can see the Yemeni villages near the border. You can also see with your
bare eyes the destruction the Houthis have caused,” said Col. Shrahili.

He also said Mount Shahdan is where Border Guard units are based as its
height gives Saudi forces a vantage point from where they can be alerted to
any threat and respond accordingly.

“The height of the mountain alone is daunting. Not even cars can easily
drive up it. We already place the enemy at a disadvantage of location. Our
guards climb up and down the mountain every day and some stay there,” added
Col. Shrahili.

The mountain, which is only 400 meters away from the Kingdom’s border with
Yemen, gives Saudi forces a tactical advantage against Houthi rebels and
smugglers who may try to take advantage of the war to peddle drugs and arms
across the border.

“Many criminals and smugglers take advantage of war time, when the security
apparatus is too busy to pay much attention to their trivial crimes, to get
away with their mischief. Smugglers train donkeys to carry and smuggle their
illegal items across the borders. The Border Guard cannot afford to overlook
any attempt to undermine security,” said Col. Shrahili.

“We have three young boys who were captured after they were spotted trying
to sneak across the border. They claimed they were looking for their donkeys
but smugglers will often use children as a cover for their smuggling
activities,” he added.

Trained donkeys are in high demand and handlers will charge anywhere between
SR150 and SR200 per trip.

“We are currently living under incessant and constant threat and the Border
Guard will not relent nor let its guard down. No one can be trusted. One of
the tribes that approached us for protection, reported another close tribe
has Houthi sympathizers,” he said.

According to Col. Shrahili, despite the war and threats of attack by the
Houthis, Al-Dayer Bani Malik remains a safe and secure place.

“Its terrain and mountains and valleys make it harder for outsiders to
navigate in. Throughout Operation Decisive Storm and the Houthi attacks,
Al-Dayer Bani Malik was not hit once. In addition, guards and officers have
swarmed into the area to protect it from arms smugglers buying and trading
weapons only 500 meters away in Yemen,” he said while adding smuggling
attempts have decreased and most of the people caught trying to cross into
the Kingdom are African expatriates fleeing Yemen.


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Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA

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