Excerpts: Iranian leader cautions against deal critics. Obama praises Eid as
public holiday. Jordan-Saudi military officials meet July 17, 2015

+++SOURCE: Saudi Gazette 17 July ’15:”Nuclear deal critics wooed;Iranian
leader urges caution”, Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: Iranian leader cautions against deal critics

QUOTE:”Iran…supreme leader warned that major powers are not to be trusted
over its(the deal) implementation ….’ You are well aware that some of the
six states are not trustworthy at all’ ”

FULL TEXT:TEHRAN — Washington and London sought Thursday[16 July] to ease
concerns over the Iran nuclear accord as the country’s supreme leader warned
that major powers are not to be trusted over its implementation.

As part of an international charm offensive, British Foreign Secretary
Philip Hammond was to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who
strongly opposes the landmark accord struck on Tuesday[14 July] in Vienna
between Iran and world powers led by Washington.

After Hammond, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is due in Israel next
week. Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog is also due to visit
Washington, partly to push for security guarantees.

President Barack Obama Wednesday confronted the critics head-on, saying they
were at odds with “99 percent” of the world and had failed to offer any real
alternative. As the freshly-inked deal was put to members of the UN Security
Council, a combative Obama said opponents at home and abroad had offered
only a path to war.

“If 99 percent of the world community and the majority of nuclear experts
look at this thing and they say this will prevent Iran from getting a
nuclear bomb, and you are arguing either that it does not or that even if it
does, it’s temporary... then you should have some alternative,” Obama said.

The issue is either resolved “diplomatically, through a negotiation, or it’s
resolved through force. Through war. Those are the options.”

Obama’s Republican rivals, who hope to scupper the agreement in a planned
Congressional vote, have accused him of appeasement.

The president has said he will veto any attempt to block the deal.

Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned President
Hassan Rohani that “some” world powers are not to be trusted in implementing
it.

In a letter to Rohani, Khamenei, who had the final word on the agreement,
congratulated Iran’s negotiators for “their tireless efforts”.

Bringing the talks to a close was a “milestone”, Khamenei said, but the
agreement requires “careful scrutiny” before it is approved.

Rouhani “must be concerned about possible violation of commitments by the
other parties and close paths to it,” the leader wrote in the letter,
published on his website. “You are well aware that some of the six states
participating in negotiations are not trustworthy at all,” Khamenei said.

He did not specify which of the six countries — Britain, China, France,
Russia and the US plus Germany — he was referring to. — AFP


+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon)17 July ’15:”Obama Praises Moves to Recognize
Eid as Holiday”, Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: Obama praises Eid as public holiday

QUOTE:”Obama hailed New York City’s decision to add EID to the official
school calendar”

FULL TEXT:President Barack Obama on Thursday[16 July] wished Muslims in
America and around the world "Eid Mubarak!" or a blessed Eid, praising
efforts to recognize the end of Ramadan as a holiday.

"The holiday is a reminder to every American of the importance of respecting
those of all faiths and beliefs," he said in a statement that also hailed
New York City's decision to add Eid to the official school calendar.

That, he said, was "an acknowledgement of the great diversity and
inclusiveness that adds to the richness of our nation."

Mayor Bill de Blasio in March made New York the first major city in America
to mark the end of Ramadan and the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca as a
school holiday.

SourceAgence France Presse

Culture




+++SOURCE:Jordan Times 17 July’15Army chief holds talks with Saudi
officials”, by JT
SUBJECT: Jordan-Saudi military officials meet

QUOTE :”The two sides stressed the solid relations between the 2 countries”

FULL TEXT:AMMAN — The King’s Military Adviser and Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben met on Wednesday[15 July] with Mohammad
Bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince, second deputy prime
minister and minister of defence.

At the meeting, Zaben conveyed greetings from His Majesty King Abdullah, the
Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, to Saudi King Salman
Bin Abdulaziz, crown prince and deputy crown prince, the Jordan News Agency,
Petra, said.

The two sides stressed the solid relations between the two countries and
their commitment to boosting them. The meeting was also attended by Saudi
Arabia's Chief-of-Staff Gen. Abdulrahman Bin Saleh Al Banyan.

They reviewed aspects of cooperation and coordination between the two
countries on various issues of joint concern, especially in the military
field, as well as expertise exchange between the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab
Army and the Saudi army.

Jordan is part of the Saudi-led coalition backing the legitimate government
in Yemen after Iran-backed rebels took over control of key areas.

Zaben and his hosts also discussed the challenges facing the region and
confronting terrorist gangs as well as international efforts to combat them

The meeting was attended by senior officials and officers of the two
countries.
===============
Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA