Washington Post: Intense diplomacy between Secretary of State Kerry and his Iranian counterpart to secure sailors’ release
Secretary of State John F. Kerry spoke at least five times yesterday by telephone with his Iranian counterpart in intense diplomacy that led to the release Wednesday morning of 10 American sailors who were picked up and detained overnight when their small ships strayed into Iranian waters the day before.
Rapid resolution of the incident appeared to end a potential flash point just as Iran and world powers moved toward implementation of a nuclear deal expected within the next few days.
Kerry thanked Iran for cooperating in the release. “All indications are they were well taken care of, provided blankets and food,” Kerry said in a speech at the National Defense University. “It is clear that today this kind of issue was able to be peacefully resolved, and efficiently resolved, and that is a testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, secure and strong.”
MIDDLE EAST
U.S.'s Kerry to meet with Saudi counterpart on Iran, Syria -statement.
US-led military campaign focusing on Raqa, Mosul: Pentagon chief.
Special U.S. targeting force 'now in place' in Iraq: U.S..
U.S. leads 24 strikes in Syria, Iraq against Islamic State: statement.
Iran releases U.S. sailors after brief detention.
Syrian troops, allied militiamen seize more territory from rebels in northwestern province of Latakia.
Once accommodating neighbors now turn back Syrian refugees, impose new restrictions.
Madaya: 'Horrifying conditions' in besieged Syrian town. U.N. war crimes investigators gathering testimony from starving Syrian town.
UN makes $7 billion humanitarian appeal for Syrian crisis.
Ex-Obama envoy skeptical of Syrian peace plan.
Turkey: IS suspects held after Istanbul suicide bombing.
Report: Turkey detains 3 Russians in raid aimed at ISIS.
Istanbul bomber registered in Turkey but not on wanted list.
Five Saudi troops killed in Yemen retaliatory operations.
UN: Resumption of Yemen peace talks unlikely before Jan. 20.
Iran nuclear deal: Arak reactor 'not yet decommissioned'.
Israeli military: Airstrike targets Gaza militants, 1 killed.
Israel sued in US court over deadly Gaza flotilla raid.
ASIA
White House urges Beijing, Taipei to avoid Taiwan election tensions.
Obama, Putin call for tough response to North Korea.
North Korea says nuclear test shows it could 'wipe out' US.
South Korea fires warning shots at 'N Korea drone' over DMZ. South Korea fires warning shots at suspected drone near border: media.
South Korea calls for 'bone-numbing' sanctions on North for nuclear test. US House passes North Korea sanctions bill after nuclear test.
Afghanistan deadly gun battle near Pakistan mission in Jalalabad. Blast hits near Pakistan consulate in Afghanistan.
Daesh claims suicide attack on Pakistani consulate in Afghanistan.
Pakistan arrests suspects in India's Pathankot airbase attack. Pathankot attack: Pakistan says arrests Jaish-e-Mohammad militants.
Suicide bomber kills at least 15 outside Pakistan polio center. Deadly suicide attack targets polio centre in Pakistan.
Philippines files protest against China's test flights in disputed sea.
Hong Kong to introduce measures to fight ivory poaching.
China arrests most prominent woman rights lawyer for subversion.
China exports up first time since June.
AFRICA
Nigeria rules out cutting oil production.
WHO to declare Ebola outbreak over. West Africa counts economic cost as Ebola outbreak ends.
Weary of chaos, factions in Libya consider peace.
UN peacekeepers scandal: Troops in CAR paid 13-year-olds 50 cents for sex.
Female suicide bombers attack mosque in Cameroon. 2 female suicide bombers attack Cameroon mosque, killing 10.
Ethiopia cancels Addis Ababa master plan after Oromo protests.
Mali: UN must enable peacekeepers to confront terrorists.
Europe turns to Morocco in Paris attacks investigation.
Egyptian Foreign Minister plays down terrorist threat to Egyptian people and tourists.
Zimbabwe declines comment on Mugabe health rumors.
EUROPE
Ukraine, pro-Russia rebels agree new truce deal.
Paris attacks hideouts found in Belgium. Officials pinpoint Belgian flats used by Paris terror attackers.
Sanctions impact on Russia to be longer term, U.S. says.
Denmark debates seizing refugees' valuables.
EU launches probe into new Polish laws. EU launches first-ever rule of law review against Poland.
Putin ally says opposition should be tried as enemies of the people.
Oil price slide may force new Russian budget, Medvedev says.
Weekly attendance at Church of England drops below 1 million for first time.
AMERICAS
Obama discusses Syria, Ukraine with Russia's Putin: White House.
US turns to UN to screen refugees from Central America.
Obama knocks Trump, voices optimism.
State Dept. to review 29,000 pages of Clinton aide's emails.
Venezuela Assembly defies Supreme Court but fails to get quorum.
Transfer out of Costa Rica of Cuban migrants headed to U.S. begins.
Cuban diplomat casts wary eye on US presidential contest.
'El Chapo' lawyer says Sean Penn should testify about drug lord article.
Powerball hits $1.5 billion, largest-ever lottery jackpot for one winner.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Arab Muslim youths say IS, Qaeda distort Islam: poll.
U.S. military may expand ISIS fight beyond Iraq and Syria.
Ten detainees leaving Gitmo in bulk transfer Thursday, defense officials say. U.S. military preparing transfer of 10 Guantanamo detainees: Fox News.
US security experts call for greater action against ISIS.
ISIS has built a secure messaging app.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
How the Dow Jones industrial average fared on Wednesday.
Oil could crash to $10 a barrel, warn investment bank bears.
Oil falls toward $30 as U.S. crude inventories rise.
Twitter is crashing to new lows.
Personal computer demand falls by a record amount.
4 comments:
diplomacy at work.....or is something else happening here, a pr stunt perhaps?
hurhur. I will be giving my opinion on that later tonight.
Let's face the fact that many nations don't want the embargo lifted against Iran. Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE. Kuwait etc. feel uncomfortable and our fearful that Iran will no longer be contained. Some are even trying to derail the agreement. I have a feeling that events in the Middle East are only going to get hotter and expect it soon!!!
I expect that the MSM and the Saudi/GCC owned press will "yell" louder and louder,
- 1) The Saudi/GCC are bogged down in Yemen, Saudi Arabia is being attacked in their own Narjain Province, and there I'd domestic unrest in the Petty Kingdoms,
- 2) the R+6 are steadily rolling up the jihadi's in Syria, to the extent that the jihadi's are limited to media offences and whining in the MSM,
- 3) ISIS is steadily losing ground to the Iraqi Army and Shia militia's,
- 4) 4 of the 5+1 Group are lifting the sanctions on Iran and the US Republicans have cut the US out of having any influence with Iran by passing HR 3640,
- 5) Pres. Obama is on his last year as President, so there will be no new US Military commitments until the next President is sworn in, as a result, Israel, Turkey and the Saudi/GCC won't be picking any new fights,
- 6) Iran's busy in Iraq and Syria, and won't engage in any actions that would see any new sanctions, and won't respond to any provocations, short of an outright invasion of Iran.
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