Middle East Tensions theme
The Middle East's latest power struggle seems to be a game of 'who can say the most provocative thing without getting caught' – and we're all just along for the ride, wondering who will blink first.
US President Trump Scolds Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Over Iran Policy Amid Ongoing Crisis in Region US President Donald Trump announced Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as being called out after notes on Monday, according to sources to Axios. The conversation took place hours after Iran was reported to have suspended all talks with the US in protest of Israel's military action in Lebanon. Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue to maintain a "buffer zone" stretching from Ras al-Bayada in Lebanon to Hermon Mountain and further to Yarmouk on Syrian territory. Iran's highest leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said the country's high-riced uranium should not leave the land. This is an essential part of talks between Iran and the US. Trump wants the uranium sent out of the country, while Iran insists that it will not give up the material. Trump demands that countries sign the Abraham Agreement, a treaty discussed as an opportunity for peace in the region. See article on SVT News.
Trump Sides with Israel as Iran Halt on Peace Talks Amid Escalating Tensions in Middle East and Beyond The Trump administration has been accused of using its rhetoric to try and facilitate peace negotiations with Iran, after it was reported that the US president had scolded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call on Monday. According to sources cited by Axios, Trump allegedly told Netanyahu "Everyone hates you" and that "everyone hates Israel because of this", referring to the recent fighting in Lebanon. The call took place hours after Iran announced it was halting all negotiations with the US in protest of Israeli actions in Lebanon. The US has refrained from bombing Beirut due to pressure from President Trump, but fighting continues in southern Lebanon and northern Israel. In contrast, peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine appear to be at a stalemate. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump has asked Russia to make certain compromises in order to reach a peace agreement on Ukraine, but Putin says that Ukraine must also make concessions if there is to be an agreement. Meanwhile, Beijing's electric car export plans have been highlighted as another potential area of tension between the US and China. The US has imposed sanctions on Chinese companies involved in exporting high-enriched uranium for use in oil production, including Iran. The conflict in the Middle East continues to complicate agreements with Iran. Tensions are rising in the UK after the murder of 18-year-old man, Henry Nowak, who was stabbed after a night out in British Southampton. The footage of his arrest shows that police believed he was the attacker, not a 23-year-old Indian man, sparking debate about racism against whites. In Congo-Kinshasa, the number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to over 500, with 91 people having died. See article on SVT News.