France, Israel Concur On A More Confrontational Approach On Iran

CIA Director William Burns said on Thursday the intelligence agency assesses that the next six months will be "critical" for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.

Speaking at a foreign policy event at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Burns also said Iran's government was increasingly unsettled by affairs within the country, citing the courage of what he described as "fed up" Iranian women.

Burns also said he was concerned about prospects for greater violence between Israelis and Palestinians

Tehran has supplied hundreds of drones to Russia since mid-2022 that have been used during missile attacks to inflict more damage or to swamp Ukrainian air defenses. The United States and Europe have imposed new sanctions on Tehran for its expanded military ties with Moscow and also its deadly crackdown on protests since last September.

Iran has denied supplying weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, but foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian after earlier denials acknowledged in early November that Tehran had supplied drones to Moscow “months before” the Ukraine war, leaving it vague if these were used in the war.

The United States and its European allies have strongly objected to Iranian drones for Russia, imposing sanctions move, and keeping nuclear talks with Tehran dormant.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud, visited Iraq, affirming that economic relations with Iraq were developing significantly. Bin Farhan made the statement during a joint press conference held in Iraq with the country’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

Hussein said, "security cooperation continues with Saudi Arabia" and added they were “working to reduce tensions in the region,” highlighting the depth of relations with Iraq, which he stated had "witnessed great momentum recently.”

“We support the Iraqi government’s effort to enhance stability,” he said, adding that stability was crucial in order for opportunities for prosperity to rise.

Prince Faisal added that economic ties with Iraq have also “greatly improved,” noting that “The region cannot prosper without stability.” 

Hussein also highlighted relations with Saudi Arabia, saying “security cooperation” is ongoing with Riyadh and added that “[We] are working on easing tensions in the region.”

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Earlier in the week, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, in which the two signed a set of strategic agreements meant to boost Iraq’s economic cooperation with the European country. In the meeting, France and Iraq signed a treaty that seeks to strengthen bilateral relations in anti-corruption, security, renewable energy and culture, the Elysee Palace said on Friday. 

Macron launched the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership in 2021, which aims at strengthening regional stability by involving Iraq and enhancing its role. 

Prince Faisal is expected to meet with President Abdul Latif Rashid, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbous.

"This important visit comes at a time marked by great challenges, so it is essential to talk and discuss these challenges which affect the region as a whole," Hussein said, alongside Prince Faisal.

“We will not achieve these goals without a secure and stable region, and here is where Iraq plays an essential and important role in enhancing this stability. We will work together to advance the stability process in the region through dialogue, promoting common interests, and addressing any disagreements,” said the Saudi foreign minister.

Hussein hailed "total cooperation" with Saudi Arabia on oil, particularly within the OPEC cartel. Iraq's foreign minister said Riyadh was ready to back Saudi companies investing in Iraq, and welcomed it. "We hope Iraq will be supplied with electricity, either via the Saudi network or that in the Gulf," he said.

Despite being oil-rich, Iraq suffers from insufficient infrastructure and public services, after decades of conflict and endemic corruption. Baghdad is currently heavily dependent on the Islamic Republic for its electricity and gas, and has sought to diversify its energy sources. Iraq suffers from chronic electricity shortages, especially felt when summer temperatures reach scorching levels of over 50 degrees Celsius. The high temperatures subsequently push citizens to consume very high amounts of power.

Baghdad has taken a role as a mediator between the regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, after diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran froze in 2016. Since April 2021, Iraq has hosted a series of meetings between the two sides, but no talks have been publicly announced since April 2022.

The Israeli Embassy in Paris announced Netanyahu will be in Paris on Thursday, February 2, and an order of priority he first will discuss with Macron the international efforts to stop the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic.

Macron and Netanyahu last met and talked three years ago in Jerusalem.

According to the Israeli embassy, the prime minister will also meet with French businessmen as well as the leaders of the French Jewish community.

The AFP reported that Israel hopes to encourage France to intensify pressure on the Iranian regime during the trip.

France agrees that "firmness" is needed in dealings with Iran, a diplomatic source told AFP, calling its nuclear program "dangerous" and highlighting its role in the Ukraine war.

Referring to Netanyahu's recent statements, AFP said that there seems to be a significant change in Israel's position regarding the war in Ukraine and that Jerusalem is now ready to consider the issue of providing arms to Ukraine.

So far, Israel has been cautious and has preferred to remain neutral in the Ukraine war due to the presence of the Russian army in Syria.

Israel has been able to continue its military air operations over Syria without facing a military response from Russia.

Iranian state media quoted Mohammad Eslami, the chief the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, on Wednesday saying the IAEA report was “incorrect” and “disappointing”.

Claiming that the agency's reports "about no country except Iran are immediately published in the media", Eslami added "The agency inspector's take after his visit to Fordow was incorrect, but he immediately reported it to the agency."

The UN nuclear watchdog criticized Iran on Wednesday for making an undeclared change to two clusters of advanced machines enriching uranium to up to 60% purity.

The International Atomic Energy Agency found that the interconnection between the two clusters of centrifuges changed during an unannounced inspection on January 21 at the Fordow Fuel enrichment Plant (FFEP), a site dug into a mountain where inspectors are stepping up checks after Iran said it would dramatically expand enrichment.

In a public statement summarizing that confidential report, the IAEA said its chief Rafael Grossi "is concerned that Iran implemented a substantial change in the design information of FFEP in relation to the production of high-enriched uranium without informing the Agency in advance."

"This is inconsistent with Iran's obligations under its Safeguards Agreement and undermines the Agency’s ability to adjust the safeguards approach for FFEP and implement effective safeguards measures at this facility."

The trip to open Chad’s embassy in Israel, included a rare stop at the Mossad intelligence headquarters - a sign that bilateral ties re-established five years ago have national security importance.

"This is a great day, an historic day for Chad and for Israel, too," Deby said in a videotape of the inauguration.

"I offer a prayer to God that, with the formal opening of our embassy here, relations between our countries will bring value to both peoples, yours and ours."

Standing beside the Chadian president, Netanyahu said: "We are strengthening our friendship, and our common interest in pursuing peace, security and prosperity."

Meeting Deby earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant "raised the importance of narrowing the influence of Iran and Hezbollah in the Sahel region, as a key to ensuring stability, and thwarting the export of terrorism," Gallant's office said.

There was no immediate comment from the government in Chad or Tehran. In Beirut, Hezbollah's media office declined comment.

Muslim-majority Chad has not publicly spoken of any significant presence by Iran or Hezbollah in the Sahel, parts of which are contending with Sunni Islamist insurgencies.

Having returned to power last month, Netanyahu has vowed to expand the circle of Arab or Muslim countries that recognize Israel - even as he contends with a deepening and violent stalemate with the Palestinians.