News Items is as invaluable a way to start the day as a strong cup of coffee or a sip of mild gin" — Graydon Carter, editor and author of ‘When The Going Was Good’.
1. US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that he could annihilate Iran if there is no deal to end the war, but also suggested an agreement could come soon amid a diplomatic push at the United Nations. “I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before?” Trump told leaders at the U.N. General Assembly. “Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?” Taken seriously, Trump’s threat amounted to a contemplation of mass slaughter with little parallel in human history, with deadly consequences for Iran’s 93 million people. (Source: reuters.com. washingtonpost.com)
2. Senior US officials held talks with Iranian counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, hours after Donald Trump threatened to “annihilate” the Islamic republic in a combative speech to world leaders. The US president said after his address that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had “a very good meeting” with members of the Iranian delegation. Iranian state television reported that foreign minister Abbas Araghchi attended the first direct talks between the US and Iran since late June. Trump, who said the options for Iran were “potential greatness or obliteration”, added that further talks were set to take place in “the near future”. (Source: ft.com)
3. Richard Haass and Carolyn Kissane:
The least bad option (for ending the Iran war) is a return to diplomacy. The United States needs to try to reach an agreement with Iran to end the war, one that includes not just a cease-fire but also a plan for keeping vital waterways open and measures that induce Tehran to comply with its terms. Washington must also encourage Saudi Arabia to pursue a similar settlement with the Houthis. Brokering these truces will require painful concessions from both Washington and Riyadh. But continuing to fight this war would court economic disaster, and that would be far more painful. (Read the rest. Sources: foreignaffairs.com, substack.com)
4. Javier Blas:
Over the past decade, China has built a massive strategic petroleum reserve that holds more than 1.2 billion barrels — or about four times what’s left in the US reserve. So far, Beijing has tapped only a small portion of this to cushion the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. If Xi wants to, Beijing can keep its oil imports low for much longer, handing Trump a strategic advantage in his fight against Tehran.
Will he? My gut says yes. Trump and Xi may disagree on Iran, but it’s in Beijing’s self-interest to keep oil prices moderate. China isn’t helping America; it’s helping itself. Tehran is simply collateral damage. (Source: bloomberg.com)
