The path to a new and imminent U.S.-Iran nuclear deal The proposed fresh nuclear deal agreement between the United States and Iran is being seen by Iranian officials as a “political ceasefire” The Hindu · Jun 16, 2023
Biden advisers brief Israel's Netanyahu on Saudi talks Possible normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia was expected to be a topic of Sullivan's talks with MBS. Axios · May 8, 2023
Saudi FM Meets with US Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held talks in Jeddah on Thursday with White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk. They discussed ways to bolster joint coordination to serve the interests of their countries. They also covered regional and international developments. Prince… Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 14, 2023
Aqaba Meeting: Israelis, Palestinians Pledge to Curb Violence Israel committed to stop authorization of any settler outposts in the occupied West Bank for six months during a meeting on Sunday with Palestinian officials in Jordan when the sides pledged to prevent more violence. In a joint statement at the end of a meeting in the Red Sea resort… Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 26, 2023
Jordan King Tells McGurk of Urgent Need to Reduce Escalation Jordan's King Abdullah II told US President Joe Biden's top Middle East advisor attending an Israeli-Palestinian meeting on Sunday that efforts should be intensified to bring "calm and reduce escalation" in Palestinian territories, state media reported. Brett McGurk attended the meeting in the Red Sea port of Aqaba hosted by… Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 26, 2023
Jordan hosts Israel-Palestine talks as violence escalates Jordan says the talks in Aqaba is part of an effort to halt ‘a security breakdown that could fuel more violence’. Al Jazeera · Feb 26, 2023
Israelis, Palestinians pledge to curb violence at Jordan meeting (This Feb. 26 story has been corrected to rectify the number of militants and civilians killed, and change date to Feb. 22 from Feb. 23 in paragraph 22) Reuters · Feb 25, 2023
Top White House Aide in Mideast Amid Israel, West Bank Violence US President Joe Biden's top adviser on the Middle East is in the region for meetings with Egypt, Jordan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, the White House said on Thursday. The official, Brett McGurk, is traveling as part of a multiple-agency trip to the region as Washington has expressed… Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 24, 2023
Top White House aide in Middle East amid concern over Israel, West Bank violence U.S. President Joe Biden's top adviser on the Middle East is in the region for meetings with Egypt, Jordan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, the White House said on Thursday. Reuters · Feb 23, 2023
Scoop: U.S. weighs further steps against West Bank settlements after Israeli announcement Israel's decision to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank came despite strong objections from the Biden adminstration. Axios · Feb 15, 2023
Sudani, McGurk Discuss Bolstering Iraqi-American Cooperation Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani held talks in Baghdad on Monday with Deputy Assistant to the US President and White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk. The talks coincided with the arrival of Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani to the Iraqi capital on… Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 18, 2023
US Renews Commitment to Support Iraq Stability The United States has renewed its commitment to support Iraq’s stability ahead of the second Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, which will kick off its activities in Jordan’s capital Amman on Tuesday. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s media office said in a statement on Sunday that the PM… Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 19, 2022
Biden administration ‘dragged feet’ on Mohammed bin Salman immunity ruling Legal experts raise questions about run-up to granting immunity in civil case involving murder of journalist The Guardian - UK · Nov 23, 2022
Saudi Crown Prince, US Officials Discuss Energy Security Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud met on Friday in the Royal Court at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah the Coordinator for Middle East and North Africa in the US National Security Council, Brett McGurk, senior advisor for energy security Amos Hochstein, and the US special envoy to Yemen… Asharq Al-Awsat · Sep 24, 2022
Asharq Al-Awsat · Aug 26, 2022 US Tries to Ease Israel’s Concerns over Iran Nuclear Negotiations Israeli National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata held talks in Washington this week to ease Tel Aviv’s concerns over the US offering more concessions to Iran in the nuclear deal negotiations, media reports said. Speculation has been growing that the United States and Iran are close to agreeing a return to…
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jul 29, 2022 US Says It is Now Up to Iran to Take the Deal or Reject It Negotiations aimed at reviving the nuclear agreement have been completed, and it is now up to Iran to decide whether they're going to take that deal or not, announced a US official. NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby stressed that the US administration remains committed to seeing Iran never…
Axios · Jul 27, 2022 Biden's Middle East adviser says return to Iran deal is "highly unlikely" in near future The shrinking likelihood the deadlock in the talks will be broken increases the pressure on the U.S. to come up with a Plan B.
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jul 11, 2022 Int’l Resolution to Help Syrians. Is a Russian-American Settlement Possible? Last-gasp negotiations are underway to salvage the international resolution that allows cross-border aid to reach Syria. Russia had last week vetoed the extension of the resolution when it was put to a vote at the United Nations Security Council. The resolution expired on Sunday. What is the resolution? Issued in…
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 16, 2022 Malley, McGurk Brief Senate on Latest Developments in Nuclear Talks with Iran The US Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, and Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk held a closed session with US lawmakers on Wednesday to brief them on the latest developments on Iran. Several Senate Foreign Relations Committee members criticized…
The Independent UK · Jun 1, 2022 As gas prices soar, Biden leans toward visiting Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden is leaning towards making a visit to Saudi Arabia — a trip that would likely bring him face-to-face with the Saudi crown prince he once shunned as a killer
Reuters · May 26, 2022 Two senior U.S. officials visited Saudi Arabia for talks this week Two senior U.S. officials visited Saudi Arabia this week for talks that included global energy supplies, Iran and other regional issues, the White House said on Thursday.
Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 19, 2022 US Proposes Strategy Based on ‘Pressuring' Houthis to End Yemen Crisis The United States has reiterated its strategy in dealing with the Yemeni crisis by suggesting two ways to end the conflict. Washington wants to "pressure" the Houthi group and support "international efforts," including UN Resolution 2216, while it continues to call for ending the conflict and delivering aid. The US…
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 29, 2022 White House Coordinator: US Is Never Going to Normalize Ties with Assad The United States is "never going to normalize" relations with Damascus, White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk said on Thursday. In a virtual seminar with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, McGurk commented recent moves made by some countries in the Middle East to restore ties with Assad. "We…
Axios · Jan 27, 2022 U.S. and Iran "in the ballpark" of a nuclear deal, Biden adviser says That's the most optimistic statement yet from the Biden administration.