President Donald Trump is asserting that Iran is "negotiating on fumes" and insisting November's midterm elections won't make him rush into a deal to end the nearly 3-month-old conflict that's spurred unease across the global economy. Speaking at the start of a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Trump expressed confidence that an agreement is near. Over the weekend, he even declared that his administration and Tehran had "largely negotiated" a settlement, but the negotiations were still in flux. The president is looking for a settlement that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide him a credible argument that Iran's nuclear capability has been diminished enough to declare victory, winding down a conflict that's been politically unpopular for Republicans.
France and Saudi Arabia hope to use this year's United Nations General Assembly and the increasingly horrific war in the Gaza Strip to inject new urgency into the quest for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Those efforts include a new road map for eventual Palestinian statehood in territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war, and moves by several Western countries to join a global majority in recognizing such a state before it has been established. They face major obstacles, however, beginning with vehement opposition from the United States and Israel.
Qatar hosted a summit of Arab and Islamic nations in hopes of presenting a united response to Israel's attack on Hamas leaders last week in Doha. But leaders offered different views Monday about what to do, and the group agreed to take only minimal action. Israel has retaliated against Hamas and other militants in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and now Qatar. Before the summit, analysts floated possibly closing airspace to Israeli flights or downgrading ties with Israel. A final statement from the meeting only called on states to take measures to prevent Israel from continuing its actions against Palestinians.
By JOSEF FEDERMAN and JON GAMBRELL Associated Press
Updated
Israel launched a strike targeting Hamas' leadership in Qatar as they considered a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Tuesday's strike on the territory of a U.S. ally marked a stunning escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages. Qatar, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, condemned the "flagrant violation of all international laws and norms" as smoke rose over its capital, Doha. Hamas said in a statement that its top leaders survived the strike but that five lower-level members were killed, including the son of Hamas' leader for Gaza. The White House described the attack as an 'unfortunate incident' that didn't advance peace in region.
By ZEKE MILLER, AAMER MADHANI and JON GAMBRELL Associated Press
Updated
President Donald Trump is holding out Saudi Arabia as a model for a reimagined Middle East. He's using his first major foreign trip of his term to emphasize the promise of economic prosperity over instability in a region that is reeling from multiple wars. The president says he will move to lift sanctions on Syria and normalize relations with the new government led by a former insurgent,. And he's touting the U.S. role in bringing about a fragile ceasefire with Yemen's Houthis. But Trump also is indicating his patience is not endless. He urged Iran to make a new nuclear deal with the U.S. or risk severe economic and military consequences.
By AAMER MADHANI, MATTHEW LEE and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
Joe Biden has delivered his final address as U.S. president to the U.N. General Assembly. Biden used his wide-ranging address on Tuesday to speak to the need to end the Middle East conflict and highlight U.S. and Western allies' support for Kyiv after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The president insisted the U.S. must not retreat from the world, and said that despite global conflicts, he remains hopeful for the future. His speech comes as Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon edge closer toward all-out war and Israel's bloody operation against Hamas in Gaza nears the one-year mark.
