Blinken Sticks to Efforts for Reviving Iran Nuclear Deal

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Reuters)
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Blinken Sticks to Efforts for Reviving Iran Nuclear Deal

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Reuters)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed on Tuesday that Washington still believes that reviving the nuclear deal with Tehran remains as “the best way to address the nuclear challenge posed by Iran.”

He stressed the US ability to curb Iran’s other malign activities.

Speaking to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Blinken vowed to hold an open Iran hearing before Memorial Day, which falls at the end of May.

The Secretary also claimed that Iran’s nuclear breakout time went from a year “to a matter of weeks” due to the US withdrawal from the deal. “Iran is acting with more destabilizing effect throughout the region,” he said.

Blinken reiterated previous comments that the Biden administration inherited a “very challenging situation,” adding that they were “ramped up” by Iranian escalations.

“We continue to believe that getting back into compliance with the agreement would be the best way to address the nuclear challenge posed by Iran and to make sure that an Iran that is already acting with incredible aggression doesn't have a nuclear weapon,” Blinken told the Committee.

Turning to the increasing Iranian attacks on US forces in the region, Blinken spoke of two points.

The first point is that these activities would be much worse if Tehran obtained a nuclear weapon.

The second point is that the nuclear agreement with Iran will not affect the US ability and determination to pursue it with respect to hostilities and in coordination with allies.

Blinken stressed that the goal of the United States is that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) asked Blinken if it was true that the US conditions to remove the Revolutionary Guards from its terrorism list in exchange for Tehran giving up its revenge for the death of its Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani.

Blinken did not answer the question directly and instead recognized that there is an ongoing threat against US officials both present and past.

“Is it true the State Department is spending roughly $2 million a month to protect those affected?” Cruz asked, referring to an Associated Press report that revealed the State Department is paying that amount towards security for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a former top aide.
“We are making — we will — we are making sure, and we will make sure for as long as it takes that we’re protecting our people, past and former if they’re, if they’re under threat,” Blinken responded.



Israeli Attorney General Orders Probe into Report that Alleged Netanyahu's Wife Harassed Opponents

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara. (AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara. (AFP)
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Israeli Attorney General Orders Probe into Report that Alleged Netanyahu's Wife Harassed Opponents

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara. (AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara. (AFP)

Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and a witness in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the “Uvda” investigative program into Sara Netanyahu.

The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs. Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organize protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial, The AP reported.

The announcement did not mention Mrs. Netanyahu by name, and the Justice Ministry declined further comment.

But in a video released earlier Thursday, Netanyahu listed what he said were the many kind and charitable acts by his wife and blasted the Uvda report as “lies.”

“My opponents on the left and in the media found a new-old target. They mercilessly attack my wife, Sara,” he said. He called the program ”false propaganda, nasty propaganda that brings up lies from the darkness.”

It was the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus — highlighted by the prime minister's ongoing corruption trial. The pair have also had a rocky relationship with the Israeli media.

Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases alleging he exchanged favors with powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a “witch hunt” by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media.

The report obtained correspondence between Sara Netanyahu and Hanni Bleiweiss, a former aide to the prime minister who died of cancer last year. The messages indicated that Sara Netanyahu, through Bleiweiss, encouraged police to crack down violently on anti-government protesters and ordered Bleiweiss to organize protests against her husband's critics. She also told Bleiweiss to get activists in Netanyahu's Likud party to publish attacks on Klein.

Klein is an aide to billionaire Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and has testified in the corruption case about her role in delivering tens of thousands of dollars worth of champagne, cigars and gifts to Netanyahu for her boss.

According to the report, Bleiweiss also was instructed to organize demonstrations outside the homes of the lead prosecutor in the corruption case, Liat Ben-Ari, and then Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who had issued the indictments, and protests and social media campaigns smearing political opponents.

According to the report, Bleiweiss was a loyal aid to Netanyahu for decades. But while she was ill, it said Sara Netanyahu mistreated her, prompting her to share the messages with a reporter shortly before her death.

Sara Netanyahu has been accused of abusive behavior toward her personal staff before. This, together with accusations of excessive spending and using public money for her own extravagant personal tastes, has earned her an image as being out of touch with everyday Israelis. In 2019, she was fined for misusing state funds.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees police and has repeatedly said the attorney general, Baharav-Miara should be fired over a series of grievances against her, said the latest announcement was another reason for her to be dismissed.

“Someone who politically persecutes government ministers and their families cannot continue to serve as the attorney general,” he said.

And Justice Minister Yariv Levin, another Netanyahu ally and critic of Baharav-Miara, accused her of focusing on “television gossip.”

“Selective enforcement is a crime!” he said in a statement