Roundup: Obama to Riyadh, Israel DM in front row for Zarif talk
In the past week there have been several developments in US foreign policy, Saudi Arabia, Iran,and Syria.
- The White House confirmed that President Obama will travel to Saudi Arabia in March.
- Hillary Clinton announces her opposition to new Iran sanctions in a Jan. 26 letter (.pdf) to Sen. Carl Levin.
- Some 70 House Democrats reportedly sign a letter favoring diplomacy with Iran.
- Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the Holocaust a "horrifying tragedy" that "should never occur again" in an interview with Germany’s Phoenix TV.
- In a shift, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon sat in the front row during Zarif’s panel at the Munich Security Conference Sunday. (photo top right).
- Iran Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian announced that Iran will host a conference on Syrian humanitarian assistance involving Swiss, Syrian and Iranian officials in Tehran. Last week, Amir-Abdollahian denied an Al Jazeera report that Iranian officials were meeting in Bern with the Syrian sides.
- Turkish President Abdullah Gul shows daylight with PM Erdogan on Syria policy.
- GOP Senators say John Kerry expressed frustration with Russia slow-rolling US on Syria.
- Iran’s top clergy backs Hassan Rouhani’s nuclear diplomacy.
