White House: Iran Could Be Contributing to War Crimes by Sending Drones to Russia 

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Dec. 12, 2022. (AP)
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Dec. 12, 2022. (AP)
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White House: Iran Could Be Contributing to War Crimes by Sending Drones to Russia 

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Dec. 12, 2022. (AP)
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Dec. 12, 2022. (AP)

Iran could be contributing to war crimes in Ukraine by providing drones to Russia, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday. 

"Their weapons are being used to kill civilians in Ukraine and to try to plunge cities into cold and darkness which, from our point of view, puts Iran in a place where it could potentially be contributing to widespread war crimes," Sullivan told reporters. 

He added that he would be discussing threats posed by Iran when he makes a trip to Israel to meet with the country's new government. 

Sullivan, speaking to reporters during a trip by President Joe Biden to Mexico, said the US government has made clear that a nuclear agreement with Iran is not a priority at the moment and that it continues to believe that diplomacy is the right away to ensure that the country does not obtain a nuclear weapon. 

Sullivan said the Biden administration would have an opportunity to engage with the new Israeli government about the issue. 

"We will work through any differences we have on tactics," he said. 

He confirmed that he would be traveling to Israel but did not say when that trip would take place. 



China Says US Is ‘Playing with Fire’ after Latest Military Aid for Taiwan

 A Taiwan Army's paratrooper performs with a national flag during a military exercise in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP)
A Taiwan Army's paratrooper performs with a national flag during a military exercise in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP)
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China Says US Is ‘Playing with Fire’ after Latest Military Aid for Taiwan

 A Taiwan Army's paratrooper performs with a national flag during a military exercise in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP)
A Taiwan Army's paratrooper performs with a national flag during a military exercise in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP)

The Chinese government protested Sunday the latest American announcements of military sales and assistance to Taiwan, warning the United States that it is “playing with fire.”

US President Joe Biden authorized Saturday the provision of up to $571 million in Defense Department material and services and in military education and training for Taiwan. Separately, the Defense Department said Friday that $295 million in military sales had been approved.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement urged the US to stop arming Taiwan and stop what it called “dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”

Taiwan is a democratic island of 23 million people that the Chinese government claims as its territory and says must come under its control. US military sales and assistance aim to help Taiwan defend itself and deter China from launching an attack.

The $571 million in military assistance comes on top of Biden's authorization of $567 million for the same purposes in late September. The military sales include $265 million for about 300 tactical radio systems and $30 million for 16 gun mounts.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry welcomed the approval of the two sales, saying in a social media post on X that it reaffirmed the US government's “commitment to our defense.”