English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For April 21/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons 
Mark 16/09-20/When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 20-21/2025
Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! We are witnesses to His Resurrection./Elias Bejjani/April 20/2025
Text & Video: The Delusions and Insanity of Naim Qassem, Wafiq Safa, Mahmoud Qmati, Qassem Qasir, and the Rest of the Iranian Puppet Choir/Elias Bejjani/April 19, 2025
Lebanese president says disarming Hezbollah ‘delicate’ as two dead in strikes on south Lebanon
Southern Lebanon blast kills army officer, soldiers, mother and child
Aoun: Lebanese no longer want war, arms issue to be approached calmly
Aoun and Rai Reiterates Commitment to Lebanon’s Sovereignty in Bkerke
New Israeli strikes kill two in south Lebanon
4 killed, 4 hurt as ordnance explodes in Lebanese Army vehicle in South
Army says foiled rocket attack on Israel, seized weapons
Lebanese Authorities Detain People They Say Were Planning Rockets Attacks on Israel
Hezbollah’s Latest Threats Do Not Impede Calls for it to Disarm
Maronite Patriarch Rai Injured During Resurrection Mass, Undergoes Successful Surgery
Bishop Elias Aoudi''s political section of his Easter sermon
Hezbollah: Caught Between Reality and Recklessness
Easter Sunday turns violent: A bloody day in South Lebanon as Israel steps up strikes
Southern Lebanon: Is Israel Answering Qassem with Fire?
A Targeted Israeli Response
Lebanon at a Crossroads
Lebanese Army Vehicle Explodes After Thwarting Attempted Attack on Israel

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 20-21/2025
Pakistani Christian man to appeal death sentence for blasphemy
US, Iran report progress in nuclear talks, will meet again
Russia’s Putin and Sultan of Oman to meet in Moscow
Israel cancels visas for French lawmakers
Gaza rescuers say Israeli air strikes kill 25
Frankly Speaking: The view from within the Palestinian Authority
Israeli opposition leader fears political violence over Shin Bet affair
Netanyahu says to return hostages without giving in to 'Hamas dictates'
Israel Tightens Restrictions on Palestinian Leadership's Movements
King Abdullah invited to attend Arab Summit in Baghdad as Jordan and Iraq discuss regional cooperation
Houthi health ministry counts 12 dead, 30 wounded in latest US strikes on Sanaa
Baghdad Divided Over Invitation of Syria's Interim President to Arab Summit
First wheat shipment since Assad's ouster arrives in Syria's Latakia
Pope Francis, Trump Critic, Meets US VP Vance on Easter Morning
Pope Francis Makes Brief Easter Appearance, Calls for Gaza Ceasefire

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sourceson on April 20-21/2025
Iran Murdering Pakistanis: 'They Were Slaughtered Like Sheep. If We Stay Silent Now, It Means We Are Sheep Too.'/Kaswar Klasra/Gatestone Institute/April 20, 2025
Iran and the Deception of the Leaks/Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al Awsat/April 20/2025
Building Confidence in Elections… How?/Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Former Iraqi Prime Minister/Asharq Al Awsat/April 20/2025
Who has Trump’s ear on Iranian negotiations?/Eric R. Mandel, opinion contributor/The Hill/April 20, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 20-21/2025
Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! We are witnesses to His Resurrection.
Elias Bejjani/April 20/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142519/
Our resurrection with the Lord Jesus Christ begins today and continues every day of our lives, through the power of the Holy Spirit—just as it began in the lives of the apostles on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon them. This is what we experience and express through our diverse liturgical celebrations, especially in the procession of the triumphant and redemptive Cross, and in the Rite of Peace during the Feast of the Resurrection, the Feast of Feasts.
The risen Christ is present in every word spoken by our tongues—for in the beginning was the Word, and the Word is God, and God has granted us this Word so that we may glorify Him. He is present in our freedom, our choices, our decisions, and our actions—blessing all we do with divine purpose. Yet worldly matters often tempt and mislead us, ensnaring us with our instincts and desires. As a result, our faith weakens, our hope falters, and we drift from the teachings of the Gospel. We begin to neglect our duties toward our Heavenly Father and toward our fellow human beings.
Theologically, if we do not believe in the Resurrection, we are not truly Christians. Our faith becomes void, for the central mystery of Christianity lies in the incarnation, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. The core of our belief is that Christ, who was crucified and died, has truly risen and lives among us forever. He is alive in our conscience, in our hearts, in our thoughts, and He constantly watches over us, guiding us.
The Resurrection of Christ from the dead is, in truth, the resurrection of all humankind who seek new life. It is a fundamental truth: “He is not here; He has risen.” (Luke 24:6)
We firmly believe that Christ rose from the dead and lives within us. Because no one witnessed the exact moment of His resurrection, it remains a matter of faith—a faith rooted in the witness of the holy apostles and passed down through every generation of the Church. The Resurrection is not just a historical event—it is a spiritual eruption, a volcano of faith igniting the heart, mind, and soul of the believer. Through this faith, we are justified and emboldened to walk steadfastly on the path of salvation.
When God raised Jesus from the dead, it was not simply a miraculous act for Christ alone—it was for all people, so that they might believe in Him as the Son of God and see God as a loving and forgiving Father. God offered His only Son to redeem us. If our Heavenly Father did not withhold His Son but handed Him over for our sake, should we not, in return, be grateful, devoted, and faithful?
Easter—the Feast of Hope, Life, and Renewal—calls us all to renew our faith in the victorious Christ who triumphed through suffering, death, and resurrection. It invites us to strengthen our trust in the Church and the successor of Saint Peter. It invites us to sincere repentance through which we gain God’s grace and to cultivate true brotherhood, without which we cannot attain dignity, peace, or stability.
How urgently we need today to reflect on the deep meanings and mysteries of the Resurrection. Our selfishness, greed, and shallow priorities have paralyzed us, leading us to forget that we are children of God—created in His image and likeness, our bodies temples for His Spirit. He gave His only Son to redeem us and lead us out of the darkness of original sin.
Through His crucifixion and death, Christ conquered death, and on the third day, He rose, lifting us with Him into new life—clothed in the renewed and purified self, freed from burdens and sins. His Resurrection is ours, too. As Saint Paul declared: “Christ lives in me.”
Through Christ’s Resurrection, we become the new human, reborn in baptism, filled with love, forgiveness, peace, purity, gentleness, and respect for human dignity and freedom.
Let us roll away the stone from our hearts—the stone of sin, corruption, selfishness, hatred, and division—and cast out all that belongs to the Evil One. Let us ask the victorious Christ to bless our beloved Lebanon and its people—both in the homeland and across the world—so that they may live in peace and well-being. Let us bear witness today to the truth of the Resurrection and declare with a loud voice: “Christ is alive in us!”
Let us greet one another with the holy kiss of peace, in firm and unwavering faith. We conclude with the words of Saint Paul to the Colossians (3:1–5):
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! We are witnesses to His Resurrection.

Text & Video: The Delusions and Insanity of Naim Qassem, Wafiq Safa, Mahmoud Qmati, Qassem Qasir, and the Rest of the Iranian Puppet Choir
Elias Bejjani/April 19, 2025
To begin with, we must make it clear: Hezbollah is a terrorist, militant, criminal, defeated, and foolish mafia-style gang. Its leaders and followers are fully brainwashed by Iran’s Wilayat al-Faqih ideology. They are not a resistance, not Lebanese, not Arabs, and not even part of normal, rational humanity.
They are mercenaries and hired guns—slaves, servants, and soldiers for the Iranian regime. Their behavior, speeches, and twisted thinking show they are mentally ill and in need of professional treatment. They are completely disconnected from reality, lost in delusions, hallucinations, and fantasy dreams.
They are detached from all real military, financial, scientific, and healthcare capabilities—both their own and Iran’s. What’s worse is their blind underestimation of their enemies: Israel, the U.S., the West, Arab countries, and 99% of the world.
Hezbollah’s core problem—among both leaders and members—is stupidity, ignorance, and a complete lack of human emotion or compassion. Their terrorist actions show no logic, no responsibility, and no foresight. They hate their own people, using them as tools, shields, and sandbags—sacrificing them in insane, losing wars, just like Hamas did in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Hezbollah, like all branches of political Islam—both Shiite and Sunni—is fully detached from reality and trapped in outdated ideas dating back to the Stone Age.
Its leaders and members are filled with arrogance and delusions of grandeur. They blindly follow the orders of their Iranian masters without question. This is a mental catastrophe for Hezbollah, and the same applies to all forms of political Islam.
Any sane Lebanese who listens to the nonsense, lies, and disgusting talk of Wafiq Safa, Mahmoud Qmati, Qassem Qasir, Naim Qassem, and the rest of their mouthpieces will immediately realize that they are nothing but tools. Iran gives the orders, and they obey like slaves—ready to fight to the last man and woman from their Shiite community in particular, and the Lebanese population in general—because their lives mean nothing to them or to their masters, the Iranian mullahs.
In conclusion, Hezbollah’s leaders, members, propagandists, and their Iranian masters, the mullahs, are not part of sane and rational humanity. No one can deal with them in any way except through force, because that is the only language they understand. This is the language Israel used in Gaza, leaving behind only destruction. It used the same language in Lebanon, leaving most of the South, the Bekaa, and the Dahieh in ruins, full of corpses. And surely, Israel will continue using this method to eliminate Hezbollah and uproot what’s left of its hijacked and suffering environment.
Tragically, Hezbollah is offering Israel every excuse to do so—because human life means nothing to its leaders or to their Iranian masters.
In summary, the Lebanese government must take its responsibilities seriously. It must act decisively, without tricks, excuses, Dhimmitude, or cowardice, to confront Hezbollah’s criminal gang and implement all U.N. resolutions and ceasefire accord with force. If they can’t—or won’t—the president and the government must resign and make way for brave leaders with vision and determination, who want to liberate Lebanon, not entrench Iran’s occupation through its proxy party.

Lebanese president says disarming Hezbollah ‘delicate’ as two dead in strikes on south Lebanon
Agencies/Asharq Al Awsat/April 20/2025
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Sunday that disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah group was a “delicate” matter whose implementation required the right circumstances, warning that forcing the issue could lead the country to ruin.
His remarks came as Lebanon’s health ministry said two people were killed in Israeli strikes in the country’s south, the latest such raids despite a ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group. The Israeli army said in a statement that it killed Hussein Ali Nasr, whom it described as the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Unit 4400. Israel said Nasr helped smuggle weapons and funds into Lebanon via “Iranian operatives,” including through Beirut airport. Restricting the bearing of arms to the state is “a sensitive, delicate issue that is fundamental to preserving civil peace” and requires due “consideration and responsibility,” Aoun told reporters. “We will implement” a state monopoly on bearing arms “but we have to wait for the circumstances” to allow this, he said, adding that “nobody is speaking to me about timing or pressure.”“Any controversial domestic issue in Lebanon can only be approached through conciliatory, non-confrontational dialogue and communication. If not, we will lead Lebanon to ruin,” he added. Hezbollah, long a dominant force in Lebanon, was left weakened by more than a year of hostilities with Israel, sparked by the Gaza war, including an Israeli ground incursion and two months of heavy bombardment that decimated the group’s leadership. On Friday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said the group “will not let anyone disarm” it, as Washington presses Beirut to compel the movement to hand over its weapons. Qassem said his group was ready for dialogue on a “defense strategy,” “but not under the pressure of occupation” by Israel. Israel has continued to conduct regular strikes in Lebanon despite a November 27 ceasefire and still holds five positions in south Lebanon that it deems “strategic.”
Army seizes rockets
On Sunday, Lebanon’s health ministry said an “Israeli enemy strike on a vehicle in Kaouthariyet al-Saiyad,” located inland between the southern cities of Sidon and Tyre, killed “one person” and wounded two others. It later said a separate “Israeli enemy” strike “on a house in Hula,” near the border, killed one person. The Israeli military did not immediately release any official statement on the strikes. Qassem’s comments came hours after another senior Hezbollah official said the group would refuse to discuss handing over its weapons until Israel withdrew completely from south Lebanon. US deputy special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus this month said disarming Hezbollah should happen “as soon as possible.”Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters north of Lebanon’s Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south, while Israel was to withdraw all its forces. Lebanon’s army has been deploying as Israeli troops have withdrawn and has also been dismantling any Hezbollah military infrastructure. The army said on Sunday that its forces had confiscated rockets and launchers in south Lebanon’s Sidon-Zahrani area and detained a number of people over a plan to fire them towards Israeli-held territory, without saying if those detained were affiliated with any group. On Wednesday, the army said it had arrested several people suspected of firing rockets at Israel from Lebanon last month, with a security official telling AFP that three members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas were among those held.

Southern Lebanon blast kills army officer, soldiers, mother and child
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/April 20, 2025
BEIRUT: Five people were killed on the Qsaybeh–Braikeh highway in southern Lebanon on Sunday following an explosion involving ammunition being transported in a military vehicle. An officer and two soldiers were among those killed in the explosion of the army vehicle loaded with ammunition left over from the recent war in southern Lebanon.
The blast also killed a mother and her child in a nearby car and left several others injured. The Army Command said it was conducting investigations to determine the circumstances of the incident. Civil Defense confirmed that five people were killed. The explosion coincided with Israeli airstrikes targeting the Jal Shihab area, which is situated between the towns of Arnoun, Kfar Tibnit, and Yahmar Al-Shaqif. These operations were conducted under the pretext of targeting “Hezbollah’s infrastructure and missile launchers.”The strikes also affected Jabal Al-Rafi’ and the Mleeta hills in the Iqlim Al-Tuffah heights, as well as the Basaliya area on the outskirts of Jbaa. Additional targets included the areas of Sajd, Al-Luwayzeh, and Jabal Safi in Jabal Al-Rihan in the Jezzine region. The Israeli army launched a two-missile strike on a prefabricated room in Houla, killing one person. Another Israeli drone targeted a car with a guided missile in Kawthariyeh Al-Siyad Al-Sharqiya, in the Sidon district, killing Hussein Ali Nasr and wounding two others.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee claimed that the military eliminated Nasr, who served as “deputy commander of Hezbollah’s Unit 4400 and smuggled weapons and funds into Lebanon to rebuild Hezbollah’s military capabilities.”
Adraee claimed that Nasr had “connections with airport workers who secretly worked for Hezbollah and assisted in smuggling operations.”He also dealt with arms smugglers on the Syrian-Lebanese border, the army alleged. Adraee said that the Israeli army targeted “the activities of Unit 4400 and the axes used to transfer combat equipment to Hezbollah, which included targeting and eliminating the unit’s commander, Muhammad Jaafar Qasir, and his deputy, Ali Hassan Gharib.”Army commander Gen. Rodolphe Heikal briefed President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on developments in the south and the shelling of targeted villages. President Aoun, after a private meeting with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai on Easter, affirmed that the Lebanese “do not want war and do not want to hear about it.” He asserted that the Lebanese Armed Forces “are solely responsible for Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.”Aoun’s comments came in response to a question regarding Hezbollah’s recent refusal to disarm. “We should address this issue calmly and responsibly, as it is vital for maintaining civil peace,” stated the president.
“I will take on this responsibility together with the government,” he added.
“We will implement a state monopoly on bearing arms, but we have to wait for the right circumstances,” he said, adding that “no one is pressuring me regarding timing.”
He emphasized that any controversial domestic issue in Lebanon must be approached through conciliatory, non-confrontational dialogue and communication. “Otherwise, we will drive Lebanon to ruin,” he said. Also on Sunday, the Lebanese Army Command announced that the Intelligence Directorate had received information about preparations for a new operation to launch missiles toward Israel. A patrol from the directorate, supported by an army unit, conducted a raid on an apartment in the Sidon-Zahrani area, where they seized several missiles along with the designated launchers. They arrested several people who were involved in the operation, the army said. Prime Minister Salam praised the “professional work being carried out by the Lebanese army in the south, particularly the Intelligence Directorate.” The army conducted a preemptive operation that thwarted preparations for a rocket launch from that region and arrested several individuals involved in the operation. Salam emphasized that “the actions of all security agencies confirm that the government is committed to fulfilling its ministerial statement regarding the extension of its full sovereignty over its territory.”He said the government alone “is responsible for making decisions about war and peace and is the only entity authorized to possess weapons.”

Aoun: Lebanese no longer want war, arms issue to be approached calmly
Naharnet/April 20/2025
President Joseph Aoun stressed Sunday that the Lebanese “no longer want war,” adding that the thorny issue of Hezbollah’s arms will be addressed in calm and responsible manner. “This issue cannot be approached through the media and social networking websites. It needs a responsible, calm and patriotic approach and it needs communication without provocation,” Aoun said in a response to a reporter’s question about the latest statements by top Hezbollah officials. He was speaking in Bkirki after taking part in Easter Sunday Mass and meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi. “In this issue, the most important thing is the country’s higher interest,” the president added. “When I mentioned arms in the inaugural speech, I was not talking to talk … I’m convinced that the Lebanese no longer want war, cannot bear it and cannot withstand the rhetoric of war,” Aoun went on to say. “Our armed forces must be in charge of bearing weapons and we will implement the decision of limiting arms to the hands of the state,” the president said.
“The train of Lebanon’s rise has set off and no one will obstruct this start,” Aoun reassured.

Aoun and Rai Reiterates Commitment to Lebanon’s Sovereignty in Bkerke
This is Beirut/April 20/2025
President Joseph Aoun renewed his commitment to implement his promises on illegal weapons and anti-corruption measures on Sunday, following a meeting in Bkerke with the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai. The President visited the Patriarchal Palace to present his Easter greetings to the Maronite Patriarch and attend Easter mass. Aoun said that “any internal controversy can only be tackled through dialogue and communication.”He also stressed that “we have taken the decision to limit arms to the inaugural speech, and we will implement it.” He added that “our most important battle is the fight against corruption. The train of Lebanon's resurrection has set sail and no one will stand in its way.”The Maronite Patriarch backed President Aoun, saying that “as long as we agree that weapons from outside the state undermine Lebanon's interests, we must affirm that only its army protects Lebanon.”“It is through openness that differences are extinguished, hostilities disappear and mentalities change,” added Bechara Rai. The patriarch fell to the ground twice while presiding over the Divine Liturgy and continued the mass seated. After stumbling at the start of Easter mass, he was transferred immediately afterwards to Naqqash hospital for medical examinations, preventing him from receiving those who had come to greet him.

New Israeli strikes kill two in south Lebanon
Agence France Presse/Associated Press/April 20/2025
Lebanon's health ministry said one person was killed Sunday in an Israeli strike in the country's south, the latest such raid despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. An "Israeli enemy strike on a vehicle in Kawthariyat al-Siyyad," located inland between the southern cities of Sidon and Tyre, killed "one person and wounded two people," the health ministry said in a statement. It later said a separate Israeli strike "on a house in Houla," near the border, killed one person.The Israeli army said in a statement that it killed Hussein Ali Nasr, whom it described as the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Unit 4400. Israel said Nasr helped smuggle weapons and funds into Lebanon via “Iranian operatives,” including through Beirut airport.Israel has continued to conduct regular strikes in Lebanon despite a November 27 ceasefire that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities including two months of all-out war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah. On Friday, Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli air strikes killed two people in the south, with Israel announcing attacks in the same areas targeting Hezbollah militants. Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. Israel was to withdraw all its forces from south Lebanon, although it continues to hold five positions that it deems "strategic".Lebanon's army has been deploying in the south near the border as Israeli forces have withdrawn. Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Friday that the group "will not let anyone disarm" it, as Washington presses Beirut to compel the Iran-backed movement to hand over its weapons.

4 killed, 4 hurt as ordnance explodes in Lebanese Army vehicle in South
Naharnet/April 20/2025
Four people were killed and four others wounded when unexploded ordnance blew up inside a Lebanese Army vehicle in the southern town of Braiqaa on Sunday, media report said. The reports said the dead include an army officer and two soldiers.
A soldier had been killed Monday in an explosion inside a Hezbollah tunnel in south Lebanon. "While a specialized army unit was carrying out an engineering survey of a site" in south Lebanon's Tyre district, "a suspicious object exploded, killing a member of the unit and moderately injuring three others," an army statement said. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and formed the basis of a November truce that largely ended more than a year of fresh hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed group.
The resolution called for the disarmament of all non-state armed groups, and said Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers should be the only forces in south Lebanon. Under the truce, Hezbollah was to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. Israel was due to complete its pullout from Lebanon by February 18 after missing a January deadline, but it has kept troops in five places it deems "strategic".During the war, Israel's army said it uncovered Hezbollah tunnels and tunnel shafts in south Lebanon. A source close to Hezbollah told AFP earlier this month that the group had ceded to the Lebanese Army around 190 of its 265 military positions identified south of the Litani.

Army says foiled rocket attack on Israel, seized weapons
Associated Press/April 20/2025
Lebanese authorities have detained several people who they say were planning to launch rockets into Israel and confiscated the weapons they were intending to use, the military said Sunday. The army said in a statement that the arrests are linked to other detentions announced earlier this week. It added that as military intelligence was investigating that case they got information that a new rocket attack was being planned.The army said troops raided an apartment near the southern port city of Sidon and confiscated some of the rockets and the launchers and "detained several people who were involved in the operation." It said the detainees were referred to judicial authorities, as Al-Arabiya television said those arrested belong to Hamas. On Wednesday, the army said in a statement that authorities detained several people, including a number of Palestinians, who were involved in firing rockets in two separate attacks toward Israel in late March that triggered intense Israeli airstrikes on parts of Lebanon. Lebanon's Hezbollah denied at the time that it was behind the firing of rockets.

Lebanese Authorities Detain People They Say Were Planning Rockets Attacks on Israel
Asharq Al Awsat/April 20/2025
Lebanese authorities have detained several people who were allegedly planning to launch rockets into Israel and seized the weapons, the military said Sunday. The army said that the arrests were linked to other detentions announced earlier this week. It added that as military intelligence was investigating that case they got information that a new rocket attack was being planned. The army said troops raided an apartment near the southern port city of Sidon and seized some of the rockets and the launchers and detained several people who were involved in the operation. It said they were referred to judicial authorities. Authorities on Wednesday detained several people, including a number of Palestinians, who were allegedly involved in firing rockets toward Israel in two separate attacks in late March that triggered intense Israeli airstrikes on parts of Lebanon. Lebanon’s Hezbollah group denied at the time that it was behind the firing of rockets. Meanwhile on Sunday, a series of Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed two people, the Lebanese Civil Defense said in a statement. The Israeli army said in a statement that it killed Hussein Ali Nasr, whom it described as the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Unit 4400. Israel said Nasr helped smuggle weapons and funds into Lebanon via “Iranian operatives,” including through Beirut airport. Another person was killed after a Lebanese army vehicle was hit by an explosion in circumstances that were unclear, the Lebanese Civil Defense said. Since a November ceasefire ended a 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli airstrikes have killed scores of people in Lebanon including civilians and Hezbollah members. Israel says it’s targeting Hezbollah holdouts in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said Friday that its fighters will not disarm as long as Israeli troops remain in southern Lebanon and the Israeli air force regularly violates Lebanese air space.

Hezbollah’s Latest Threats Do Not Impede Calls for it to Disarm
Beirut: Caroline Akoum/Asharq Al Awsat/April 20/2025
The Lebanese presidency and premiership dismissed the latest Hezbollah threats related to its disarmament, saying they are forging ahead with the ceasefire and commitments they have made to the people. Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem declared on Friday: “We will confront anyone working on disarming us the same way we confronted Israel.”Sources from the premiership told Asharq Al-Awsat that the government is forging ahead in implementing its ministerial statement, which stipulated the need to limit the possession of arms in the country to the state. President Joseph Aoun had made a similar pledge during his swearing in speech. Commenting on Qassem’s statement, ministerial sources close to the presidency told Asharq Al-Awsat: “No one has threatened to remove the weapons by force.”“Everything can be resolved through dialogue, which Qassem himself had expressed readiness to take part in,” they added. They read Qassem’s escalatory tone as an attempt to reach out to Hezbollah’s support base during such a critical time for the Iran-backed party. They noted that Qassem did not negatively address the dialogue that Aoun had called for. He also did not dismiss the army and its role. Rather, he rejected setting a timeframe for disarming Hezbollah. “The president is the one who sets the mechanism for the dialogue and when it will start,” they stressed. Moreover, the sources added that communication will continue “despite everything, given that Hezbollah – above anyone else – has an interest in maintaining calm” in Lebanon. “Dialogue and diplomacy take time and Qassem has dismissed neither,” they went on to say. The sources said that Qassem’s remarks may have been addressed to foreign actors, most notably amid the negotiations between the United States and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program. Qassem is effectively telling Tehran that Hezbollah’s weapons are a card it can use in its negotiations with the Americans and that it rejects US pressure on it, explained the sources.
Wave of condemnation
Lebanese officials were quick to condemn Qassem’s remarks, saying the party has not changed its “arrogant” stances.Even deputy US Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus dismissed Qassem’s statement, replying simply with “Yawn” in a post on her X account. Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, in his Easter message, demanded: “Enough war. Enough weapons.”Former President Michel Suleiman responded directly to Hezbollah, saying: “We reject threats of violence and of a return to civil war.”“We reject claims that the army is weak and statements that the weapons will be retained in the South, Mountain, Bekaa, North, and Beirut,” he added. He noted that as long as weapons remain outside state control “state institutions will not rise, the economy will not be revived and Lebanon will not regain its friends in the international community.”Addressing the Hezbollah leadership, MP Ashraf Rifi said on X: “What is left of the leadership has not derived lessons from the catastrophe that their party has caused. Here they are recklessly clinging on to their weapons for the sake of Tehran that is negotiating with the Americans with the lives of the Lebanese people.”It seems that the leadership “has lost the least bit of wisdom and the ability to use sound judgement,” he remarked. “The Lebanese people will not allow you to forcibly lead them to another suicidal adventure,” he said. “The weapons will be handed over sooner or later. There can be no turning back the hands of time.”
Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea said of Qassem’s statements: “It appears that some are insisting on returning to the mentality of threats and severing hands” that come near the weapons. “This is not the mentality of the state or democracy, rather one that undermines civil peace. Those adopting such mentalities must cease and see for themselves what their catastrophes have incurred on the nation,” he continued. He called for allowing Lebanon’s new leaderships to help the country out of the calamities caused by Hezbollah.
‘Conspiracy’
Meanwhile, Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani dismissed as a “conspiracy” calls for stripping Hezbollah of its weapons. In a post on X, he said that as the US continues to supply Israel with weapons and missiles, it prevents countries from arming and bolstering their militaries. “Iran is aware of the dangerousness of this conspiracy and its threat to the security of the people of the region,” he added. “We warn others of falling for the trap set up by the enemies. Maintaining the deterrence power is the first line of defense of sovereignty and independence,” he charged.

Maronite Patriarch Rai Injured During Resurrection Mass, Undergoes Successful Surgery
This is Beirut
“At the beginning of the Divine Liturgy for the blessed Feast of the Resurrection, held at 10:00 AM on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the Church of the Resurrection in the Patriarchal Headquarters in Bkerke, in the presence of His Excellency, the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, his wife, and the faithful, His Beatitude Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai sustained a hip fracture after stumbling over his robe while ascending to the altar.” After the Mass, His Beatitude was transferred to the Hôtel-Dieu University Hospital, where he underwent successful surgery. The statement concludes: “Patriarch Rai expresses his gratitude to the hospital’s management and medical staff for their care, as well as to the faithful and well-wishers who have prayed for him, attended the Mass, and called to inquire about his health. He asks God to grant them – and Lebanon – peace, comfort, and relief from suffering, and to shower them with His blessed graces.”

Bishop Elias Aoudi''s political section of his Easter sermon
NNA/April 20/2025
Bishop Elias Aoudi''s political section of his easter sermon/The problem of the people of our time is their ego, pride, and materialism, and the problem of Lebanon is in its people, in their selfishness, individualism, and attachment to their own interests. We have reached collapse because the Lebanese did not work to build a strong, modern, advanced, and just state, and did not reap the benefits that God bestowed upon them by placing them in this small, beautiful country that was the object of admiration for everyone, and the envy of some who aspired to achieve what we were in. Some Lebanese considered the country a means to achieve their goals, and some considered it a hotel that they visit in times of prosperity and abandon in times of hardship, and some used it as a square and others as a passageway. The Lebanese did not embrace the policy of oversight, accountability, and accountability, but rather the policy of sharing the spoils and exploiting positions. Now, as we are in a new era, we ask our God, who made everything new with his resurrection, that this era be different from what came before, and that he work on a moral, social, cultural, educational, and judicial renaissance so that we may achieve political, administrative, economic, and financial renewal that restores our country’s luster and role.” and his status. In order to achieve this goal, no one must be excluded, because every citizen is a full partner in the nation, and has many duties towards their country in order to deserve full rights. The state must work to prepare good citizens who are loyal to their country, not selfish individuals who only care about themselves. A person may be drawn to his own interests if he is not raised properly in a family that believes in God, values, and morals. Therefore, laws are in place to control the transgressions of individuals and correct their deviations. The state's duty is to ensure that the laws are applied to everyone without exception. It must also reform people, eradicate corruption, and establish justice so that order is restored, equality prevails, and citizens feel safe.
He said, "The state is not an idea, but rather, first and foremost, it is honest officials with a clear vision, upright behavior, and a living conscience who set an example for their people and do not compromise, commit injustice, or rely on half-measures. The state also consists of employees selected on the basis of knowledge, competence, experience, integrity, good conduct, and morals. Since public office is for public service, not for serving one's own interests, party, or sect, the state must engage all components of society in serving their country, with justice and equality, without excluding one group or favoring another. This will prevent a deep-seated sense of injustice in the hearts of citizens who, in the past, were excluded from certain positions in favor of partisanship, favored individuals, or tyrants. We hope that the government will adhere to its promises to respect partnership and equality while maintaining a balance between sects, preventing any group from monopolizing any position, or depriving any citizen of their right to serve their country. Citizens are the pillars of the state, and their duty is to unite under its banner, implement its laws, preserve its dignity, and refrain from seizing opportunities to betray it.
He added: "Our country is at a crossroads. Either reform and build the state on solid, clear foundations, or eliminate what remains of it. A strong, sovereign, modern, and just state alone can guarantee the rights, security, and future of all. Whoever obstructs the establishment of the state must reflect on their negative stance and change it. Whoever carries arms must abandon them. Whoever prioritizes their own interests must consider the public interest. Whoever is empowered by external ties must respect the state, which is indispensable to anyone. Whoever seeks to slaughter the country must be aware that they will be among the victims. After half a century of contradictions, disagreements, and wars that have had disastrous consequences for everyone, our hope on this blessed holiday is that everyone will admit their mistakes, roll back the stone of hatred, war, corruption, injustice, and despair from their hearts, and devote themselves together to establishing a promising future. Isn't it madness or suicide to repeat the mistakes committed fifty years ago? If the government does not firmly confront the difficulties and violations, and if it does not find solutions to citizens' problems, it will lose its prestige and waste the opportunity that the Lebanese celebrated, and we hope it will not be lost." He concluded: "In the midst of the joy of the Resurrection, we remember the sick, the grieving, the imprisoned, and the kidnapped, including our brothers, Bishops Paul and John, and all those suffering from hunger, epidemics, wars, and the evils of this world. We ask the Lord for compassion, mercy, and deliverance from their suffering. We also ask for mercy for the victims of the port explosion, and for their families and all the injured to recover and learn the truth. On this blessed feast, let us remember the words of the Lord, renew our covenant with Him, and set out toward others with humility and sincerity, with the image of the Risen Lord etched on our foreheads. We convey the great joy of the Resurrection to everyone, crying out: Christ is risen, He is truly risen. Let us bow down to His three-day resurrection."

Hezbollah: Caught Between Reality and Recklessness
Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut
Many in Lebanon and beyond are still grappling with what President Joseph Aoun meant when he spoke of integrating Hezbollah members into the army or security forces. Yet, his message was clear, “We do not want to replicate the Popular Mobilization Forces model in Iraq.” In other words, Lebanon’s leadership is not prepared to absorb Hezbollah’s military units—along with their weapons and ideological framework—into the army, nor to recognize them as an auxiliary force.
Lebanese officials familiar with Hezbollah’s military structure, arsenal and infrastructure say the only viable path forward is for the group to disband, surrender its weapons to the army—or dispose of them by other means—and fully disclose all its military facilities. These include various ground-to-ground missile bases, anti-ship and surface-to-air missile systems, as well as facilities used to manufacture weapons, drones, missiles and explosives. Hezbollah’s internal security apparatus would also need to be dismantled, with all technological assets handed over to the state. Only after this process is complete would its members be eligible to apply for enlistment in the army or security forces, on the condition that they undergo extensive retraining to ensure their loyalty lies exclusively with the Lebanese state. This path is unlikely to materialize unless Hezbollah agrees to voluntarily relinquish its weapons, something the group continues to firmly reject. This stance was reaffirmed in recent statements by Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem and senior official Wafiq Safa. Which raises the crucial question: What does Hezbollah actually want?
First and foremost, the pro-Iranian party seeks to reaffirm its enduring ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has invested billions of dollars in the group and its military infrastructure. As a result, Hezbollah cannot act independently with Iranian assets, over which Tehran retains ultimate authority. To this day, Iran maintains steadfast support for Hezbollah and its arsenal, as consistently underscored by senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Secondly, the party is determined to retain the remaining surplus power it wields within Lebanon, using it as a tool to intimidate other religious communities and political factions. This enables the group to preserve its influence, control and capacity for intervention. When the time comes for Iran to authorize the severing of political, military and religious ties with Hezbollah, the group expects to leverage its weapons to extract political concessions domestically. However, Hezbollah’s assessments may not align with those of the Americans, Israelis, as well as the Arab and international communities, or the overwhelming majority of Lebanese. These parties view Hezbollah’s acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement as an implicit recognition of the need to disarm, as neither document grants Hezbollah the right to maintain a military role. As a result, the group’s insistence on retaining this role would be seen as a violation of the ceasefire and a failure to adhere to Resolution 1701. Such actions would carry significant repercussions, including the risks of renewed conflict, delays in reconstruction and the potential for unwanted internal Lebanese issues. The recent positions taken by Hezbollah officials have made it evident that the group, whether willingly or unwillingly, has chosen not to pursue the reconstruction of what was destroyed during the support war. Moreover, Hezbollah has entangled Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri in rejecting the ceasefire agreement, the implementation of Resolution 1701 and related resolutions. The group is once again attempting to drag the state, the army and the Lebanese people into a new, reckless venture by falsely claiming their support for its military actions. Notably, Hezbollah has never consulted these parties regarding decisions on war or expansion beyond Lebanon. What is particularly alarming in this situation is that Hezbollah is fully aware of the American messages it has received since the outbreak of the support war and understands their potentially devastating implications. Yet, it continues to act in direct defiance of them, seemingly leading itself, its supporters and the entire country down a path of self-destruction.

Easter Sunday turns violent: A bloody day in South Lebanon as Israel steps up strikes
LBCI/April 20/2025
Three Lebanese soldiers were killed and four others wounded on Sunday after an explosion involving ammunition they were transporting in a military vehicle on the public road between Qsaybeh and Braikeh in the Nabatieh district. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. The Lebanese Army identified the fallen as Lieutenant Mahmoud Ahmad Zeitoun from Akkar, First Sergeant Ali Ibrahim Ahmad from Hazerta in Zahleh, and First Sergeant Jawdat Salim Noura from Blat in Marjayoun. The deadly incident coincided with a sharp escalation in Israeli airstrikes across South Lebanon, marking one of the most intense days of violence since the ongoing hostilities began, despite the existing ceasefire agreement. Israeli warplanes carried out multiple raids targeting villages both north and south of the Litani River, including Arnoun, Jabal el Rafiaa, and the strategic hill of Mleeta in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region. The strikes reportedly involved bunker-buster missiles.In a separate attack on the eastern outskirts of Kaouthariyet El Saiyad, an Israeli drone strike hit a civilian vehicle, killing two people and wounding two others. Another Israeli strike in the town of Houla targeted a home, killing one person. Later in the day, the Israeli military announced the assassination of Hussein Ali Nasr, described as the deputy commander of Hezbollah's Unit 4400, in the Kaouthariyet El Saiyad strike. According to Israeli claims, Nasr played a central role in smuggling weapons and funds into Lebanon to bolster Hezbollah's military capabilities, including through Beirut's international airport in coordination with Iranian contacts. An Israeli security official described the day's operations as "highly significant" in terms of strikes inside Lebanon, as Israeli breaches and attacks have continued despite the declared ceasefire deal.

Southern Lebanon: Is Israel Answering Qassem with Fire?
Soumia Benmerzoug/This is Beirut/April 20/2025
Southern Lebanon witnessed a sharp escalation in Israeli strikes on Sunday, following recent statements by Hezbollah reaffirming its refusal to disarm. As tensions mount, these attacks appear to serve as both a military maneuver and a political message from Israel – underscoring the fragile equilibrium between the Lebanese state and the Iranian-backed militia, which is increasingly out of step with shifting regional dynamics. Sunday marked one of the most violent days since the February ceasefire. Through a series of targeted strikes on alleged Hezbollah positions, the Israeli army raised the level of confrontation. This offensive came just days after Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, reaffirmed the group’s categorical rejection of disarmament, declaring that Hezbollah “will not allow anyone to disarm it,” not even under pressure from Washington or Israel. Qassem’s remarks, echoed by Wafiq Safa, were widely seen as direct provocations. Both figures insisted on maintaining Hezbollah’s military arsenal, asserting that no force could “disarm the resistance.” This stance directly contradicts the official position of the Lebanese state, reiterated both in President Joseph Aoun’s inaugural address and in the ministerial statement, which affirmed the exclusive right of the state to bear arms.

A Targeted Israeli Response
This is Beirut/April 20/2025
Some observers argue that Hezbollah’s defiance reflects a denial of the strategic setbacks it has suffered in recent months. Despite mounting military pressure from Israel and growing international isolation, the pro-Iranian group remains intent on preserving its military capabilities and political clout in Lebanon – at the risk of further destabilizing the country. Hezbollah continues to place its hopes on Iranian-American negotiations, which some diplomats view as a potential exit strategy. Yet this bet on maintaining the status quo appears increasingly precarious. Recent Israeli airstrikes have targeted strategic Hezbollah sites in Sajad, Louaize and Jabal Safi, damaging facilities used for storing missiles and launching platforms. This level of intensity – unseen since February 18 – marks a significant escalation. By striking key positions, Israel aims to disrupt Hezbollah’s supply chain and reduce its ability to lauch missiles. These operations are not only military but also deeply political, serving as direct replies to Hezbollah’s public rhetoric. Simultaneously, an Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle in the village of Kaouthariyat al-Siyad, killing one Hezbollah member and injuring two others. This precision strike is part of a broader Israeli campaign aimed at weakening the group’s military infrastructure and neutralizing its commanders.

Lebanon at a Crossroads
This is BeirutThis is Beirut/April 20/2025
In the face of these developments, Lebanon finds itself at a structural impasse: how can it assert full sovereignty while a non-state actor like Hezbollah continues to operate autonomously? President Aoun recently reiterated his opposition to integrating Hezbollah into the national army, stating he “does not wish to replicate the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) model seen in Iraq,” where Iranian-backed militias hold sway over state institutions. According to well-placed Lebanese sources, some officials view the gradual dismantling of Hezbollah’s military wing – and its reintegration into state structures – as the only viable long-term solution. But how realistic is that goal? And who can guarantee that Hezbollah will not continue to provoke confrontations with Israel?
Lebanon stands at a decisive crossroads. The country is caught in an increasingly unsustainable duality: on one side, the state; on the other, Hezbollah. The question remains: how long can Lebanon maintain this fragile balance – and at what cost to its future?

Lebanese Army Vehicle Explodes After Thwarting Attempted Attack on Israel
This is BeirutThis is Beirut/April 20/2025
At least four people were killed and three wounded on Sunday, according to a provisional report by the Ministry of Public Health, following the probable detonation of unexploded Israeli munitions in a Lebanese army engineering vehicle in Briqaa, Nabatiyeh caza. Earlier in the day, the Lebanese Army Intelligence Directorate said it thwarted a planned rocket attack targeting Israeli territory, according to a statement released on X, as an Israeli airstrike targeted a car in the Kawthariya al-Siyad area. According to some sources, the ammunition that exploded in the army vehicle was the same as that confiscated in Saïda and ready to be fired, so the detonators had not been dismantled. This development follows an earlier announcement made on April 16, in which several members of a group involved in two previous rocket launch incidents in South Lebanon were arrested. Continued monitoring, surveillance and investigation by Army Intelligence led to fresh intelligence regarding preparations for another launch. In response, a joint operation was carried out by an Intelligence Directorate patrol, backed by a unit from the Lebanese Army. The forces raided an apartment in the Saida-Zahrani area, where they discovered and seized multiple rockets and their designated launch platforms. Several individuals involved in the operation were also arrested at the scene. The seized weapons have been handed over to the authorities, and the suspects are currently being interrogated under the supervision of the competent judiciary. The army has not disclosed the identities of the detainees or the exact number of rockets found, but emphasized that investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the network behind the planned attack. However, according to the Saudi channel Al Arabiya, citing a Lebanese source, it belongs to Hamas.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 20-21/2025
Pakistani Christian man to appeal death sentence for blasphemy
Reuters/April 20, 2025
LAHORE: A Christian man accused of blasphemy in the eastern Pakistani town of Jaranwala will appeal against a death sentence handed down by an anti-terrorism court, his lawyer said on Saturday. The 36-year-old man was convicted of blasphemy over allegations he had desecrated the Muslim holy book, the Qur’an, claims that fueled attacks on a Christian neighborhood in 2023 in which hundreds of houses and churches were torched and thousands of people forced to flee their homes. “We will file an appeal in the High Court against it,” his lawyer Akmal Bhatti told Reuters, referring to the verdict delivered on Friday night. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. No one has been executed by the state for it, but numerous accused have been lynched by outraged mobs. In the southern city of Karachi on Friday, a mob of 100-200 people beat a 47-year-old Ahmadi owner of a car workshop to death with bricks and sticks. Ahmadis are a minority group that have faced attacks in Pakistan, considered heretical and accused of blasphemy by some orthodox Muslims.

US, Iran report progress in nuclear talks, will meet again
Agence France Presse/April 20/2025
The United States and Iran made progress in a second round of high-stakes talks on Tehran's nuclear program on Saturday and agreed to meet again next week, both sides said. The Oman-mediated talks in Rome lasted about four hours, Iranian state television and a senior U.S. official said. Tehran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi declared it a "good meeting" that yielded progress. "This time we managed to reach a better understanding on a series of principles and goals," he told Iranian state TV. The senior U.S. official said in a statement, "Today, in Rome over four hours in our second round of talks, we made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions." Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the parties "agreed to resume indirect talks at a technical level over the next few days and subsequently continue at the level of two senior negotiators next Saturday", April 26. The U.S. official confirmed another meeting next week but did not specify which day or where. Oman said the third round would be in Muscat, returning to the site of the first talks a week ago. Those were the first discussions at such a high level between the foes since U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear accord in 2018. Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its program is for peaceful civilian purposes. After Saturday's talks, Oman's foreign ministry said Araghchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had agreed to keep negotiating. The talks, it said, "aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran (is) completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy".
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the talks were "gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible".Baqaei said the delegations had been "in two different rooms" at the Omani ambassador's residence, with Albusaidi passing messages between them.
Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic relations since shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. After returning to office in January, Trump revived his "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions against Iran. In March he wrote to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging renewed nuclear talks while also warning of military action if diplomacy failed. "I'm not in a rush" to use the military option, Trump said Thursday. "I think Iran wants to talk."On Friday, Araghchi said Iran "observed a degree of seriousness" on the U.S. side during the first round but questioned their "intentions and motivations".
'Crucial stage' -
In an interview published Wednesday by French newspaper Le Monde, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Iran was "not far" from possessing a nuclear bomb, noting a day later that talks were "at a very crucial stage". During Trump's first term, Washington withdrew from the 2015 accord between Tehran and world powers that offered Iran relief from international sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear program. Tehran complied with the agreement for a year after Trump's withdrawal before scaling back its compliance. Araghchi was a negotiator of the 2015 deal. His U.S. counterpart, Witkoff, is a real estate magnate Trump has also tasked with talks on Ukraine. Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60 percent, far above the 3.67 percent limit in the deal but still below the 90 percent threshold required for weapons-grade material. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European countries to decide whether to trigger the "snapback" mechanism under the 2015 agreement, which would automatically reinstate U.N. sanctions on Iran over its non-compliance. The option to trigger the mechanism expires in October. Iran has previously warned it could withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if the mechanism were triggered.
'Non-negotiable' -
Analysts had said the United States would push to include discussions over Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for militants in the Middle East. But Araghchi said Saturday the U.S. side had "not raised any issues unrelated to the nuclear topic so far".He said earlier this week Iran's right to enrich uranium was "non-negotiable", after Witkoff called for its complete halt. Witkoff had previously demanded only that Iran return to the ceiling set by the 2015 deal. On Friday U.S. ally Israel affirmed its commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, saying it had a "clear course of action" to do so -- a stance Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Saturday. "I will not give up on this, I will not let go of it, and I will not retreat from it -- not even by a millimeter," he said.

Russia’s Putin and Sultan of Oman to meet in Moscow
Reuters/Published: 19 April ,2025
Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said is set to visit Moscow on Monday, days after the start of a round of Muscat-mediated nuclear talks between the US and Iran. The sultan will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, the Kremlin said. Iran and the US started a new round of nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday to resolve their decades-long standoff over Tehran’s atomic aims, under the shadow of President Donald Trump’s threat to unleash military action if diplomacy fails.Ahead of Saturday’s talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. Following the meeting, Lavrov said Russia was “ready to assist, mediate and play any role that will be beneficial to Iran and the US.”Moscow has played a role in Iran’s nuclear negotiations in the past as a veto-wielding UN Security Council member and signatory to an earlier deal that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. The sultan’s meetings in Moscow visit will focus on cooperation on regional and global issues, the Omani state news agency and the Kremlin said, without providing further detail. The two leaders are also expected to discuss trade and economic ties, the Kremlin added.

Israel cancels visas for French lawmakers
AFP/April 20, 2025
PARIS: Israel’s government canceled visas for 27 French left-wing lawmakers and local officials two days before they were to start a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Sunday, the group said. The action came only days after Israel stopped two British members of parliament from the governing Labour party from entering the country. It also came amidst diplomatic tensions after President Emmanuel Macron said France would soon recognize a Palestinian state. Israel’s interior ministry said visas for the 27 had been canceled under a law that allows authorities to ban people who could act against the state of Israel. Seventeen members of the group, from France’s Ecologist and Communist parties, said they had been victims of “collective punishment” by Israel and called on Macron to intervene. They said in a statement that they had been invited on a five-day trip by the French consulate in Jerusalem. They had intended to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories as part of their mission to “strengthen international cooperation and the culture of peace,” they added. “For the first time, two days before our departure, the Israeli authorities canceled our entry visas that had been approved one month ago,” they said. “We want to understand what led to this sudden decision, which resembles collective punishment,” said the group. The delegation included National Assembly deputies Francois Ruffin, Alexis Corbiere and Julie Ozenne from the Ecologist party, Communist deputy Soumya Bourouaha and Communist senator Marianne Margate.
The other members were left-wing town mayors and local lawmakers.
The statement denounced the ban as a “major rupture in diplomatic ties.”
“Deliberately preventing elected officials and parliamentarians from traveling cannot be without consequences,” the group said, demanding a meeting with Macron and action by the government to ensure Israel let them into the country. The group said their parties had for decades called for recognition of a Palestinian state, which Macron said last week could come at an international conference in June. Israeli authorities this month detained British members of parliament Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed at Tel Aviv airport and deported them, citing the same reason. Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the action “unacceptable.” In February, Israel stopped two left-wing European parliament deputies, Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan and Lynn Boylan from Ireland, from entering. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted with fury to France’s possible recognition of a Palestinian state. He said establishing a Palestinian state next to Israel would be a “huge reward for terrorism.”

Gaza rescuers say Israeli air strikes kill 25
AFP/April 20, 2025
GAZA:: Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that Israeli air strikes since dawn on Sunday have killed at least 25 people across the Gaza Strip, including women and children. Israel resumed its aerial and ground assault on Gaza on March 18, reigniting fighting after a two-month ceasefire that had paused more than 15 months of war in the coastal territory. “Since dawn today, the occupation’s air strikes have killed 20 people and injured dozens more, including children and women across the Gaza Strip,” Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the civil defense agency told AFP. In a separate statement later, the agency reported that five people were killed in an Israeli drone strike on a group of civilians in eastern Rafah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday vowed to continue the war and bring home the remaining hostages held in Gaza without yielding to Hamas’s demands. “We are at a critical stage of the campaign, and at this point, we need patience and determination to win,” Netanyahu said in a statement, rejecting calls from the militants to end the war and withdraw troops from Gaza. Since Israel resumed its offensive last month, at least 1,827 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. The overall death toll in the Gaza war has reached 51,201, the majority of them civilians, according to the ministry, figures the UN considers reliable. The war broke out after Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. During that attack, Palestinian militants abducted 251 people, 58 of whom are still held hostage in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead.

Frankly Speaking: The view from within the Palestinian Authority
Arab News/April 20, 2025
RIYADH: As Gaza reels from an unrelenting conflict that has killed tens of thousands and left its infrastructure in ruins, Dr. Varsen Aghabekian, Palestinian minister of state for foreign affairs and expatriates, says Israel has no intention of stopping what she describes as a genocidal war — and continues to act with impunity. Speaking on the Arab News weekly current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” Aghabekian urged the international community to step in and halt the offensive, which she said has turned Gaza into a killing field. “What can be done is a stopping of this genocidal war,” she said. “This impunity, which Israel has been enjoying for a long time, only begets more violence. And today, we see only destruction and killing of more civilians in Gaza.”Aid to Gaza has been blocked for over a month and a half, and more than 60,000 children face malnutrition, according to international aid agencies. “It’s time to say enough is enough and halt this aggression — this genocidal war with the increasing brutality by the day on Gaza,” she said. Aghabekian believes the collapse of the ceasefire agreement earlier this year was inevitable, given that Israel’s political and military leadership has made no secret of its broader intentions. “The ceasefire deal will continue to fall apart because Israel has no intention of stopping this war,” she said. “Its defense minister, Israel Katz, said the other day: ‘We don’t intend to even leave Gaza, Lebanon, or Syria.’ These are very clear messages that this war will continue and will only bring more disaster to the Palestinians in Gaza — and probably the region at large.”In the face of proposals from foreign powers such as the Trump administration to resettle Palestinians or repurpose Gaza for tourism, Aghabekian maintains that only plans rooted in justice and dignity will succeed.
“We know that the US has unwavering support for the Israelis,” she said. “Any plan for Gaza or the Palestinians must respect the dignity and the rights of the Palestinian people. Any other plan will not work and it will not bring peace to the region.”A sustainable peace, she says, depends on international recognition of Palestinian rights. “These rights, as I said, are enshrined in the division plan in 1948. The plan set two states. One state is on the ground today. Now it’s time to materialize the second state,” she said. She added that the Palestinian state has already gained recognition from 149 countries and has UN observer status. “This is not a contested land; this is an occupied land,” she said. “It is the land of the State of Palestine.” During his last administration, US President Donald Trump championed normalization agreements between Arab states and Israel under the Abraham Accords. Despite acknowledging the widespread pessimism about his return to the White House, Aghabekian said she remains cautiously optimistic.
“If President Trump wants to forge peace and he wants to leave a legacy of peace, then that peace has a framework and it entails the respect and the rightful rights of the Palestinians,” she told Katie Jensen, host of “Frankly Speaking.”“So, I remain hopeful that this will get to the table of President Trump and the ears of President Trump, and he sees that the future of the Middle East includes the rights of the Palestinians on their state as enshrined in international law.”Her comments come as Israeli strikes on Gaza continue to spark international outrage. A recent attack on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital on Palm Sunday forced patients into the streets. Israel claimed the site was being used as a Hamas command center. “The genocidal war in Gaza is not justified in any way you look at it,” Aghabekian said. “And bombing a hospital that is partially operating and part of a system that has been devastated in the last 19 months is not justified by any means. Bombing a Christian hospital on a Palm Sunday is extremely telling.”Israel’s military campaign in Gaza came in retaliation for the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people and saw another 250 taken hostage. In 18 months, the war has killed at least 51,065 people, according to Gaza health officials. Last week, Hamas formally rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal, saying it was ready to negotiate a deal that would see the release of all 59 hostages it is still holding, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, in return for an end to the war. Israel had offered a 45-day ceasefire in return for the release of 10 hostages.
Aghabekian said the continued killings of Palestinian civilians — including aid workers — in Gaza are a stark indicator of unchecked brutality. “Even after the ceasefire, we have seen that over 2,000 Palestinians have been killed, and these Palestinians are civilians; they have absolutely nothing to do with Hamas,” she said. “Today, nothing has been done because everything passes with impunity.”
Efforts to establish peace through regional diplomacy are ongoing. Aghabekian pointed to a three-stage Gaza reconstruction plan presented by the Arab League and backed by the Islamic world and parts of Europe. But she acknowledged the resistance it faces, particularly from the US and Israel. “We have to continue using our diplomatic efforts,” she said. “We know that this military route is getting us nowhere. And our military efforts are directed at mobilizing the international community with several ventures today on ending occupation. We have the forthcoming international conference, spearheaded by France and Saudi Arabia, to take place in New York mid-year. And we have the global alliance on the materialization of the State of Palestine. And we will continue our efforts on the recognition of Palestine and the full membership efforts, as well as our efforts with international organizations, such as the Human Rights Council and UNESCO.”Despite the challenges, she sees momentum building. “We’ve seen that in the latest summit, and we are seeing support and unity from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). We’ve seen unity from European countries and others giving us positive vibes about the plan and the possibility of sustaining that plan in the future,” she said. “This is the only plan today on the table that may move us forward. It is very much — there’s a consensus on it, and it is in line with the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002.” Still, the obstacles remain formidable. Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal reportedly calls for the disarming of Hamas and the release of all living hostages. Aghabekian warned such conditions are unrealistic given the devastation Palestinians have endured.
“A durable ceasefire entails, of course, meeting the demands of both parties, but today, the Palestinians have been crushed for the last 19 months,” she said. “A durable peace should bring them an opening of the borders, feeding the people, starting immediate relief on the ground, and doing whatever it takes to have this genocidal war stop. We hope that reason prevails on all sides, and we reach the stage today before tomorrow.”
Addressing criticism about the Palestinian Authority’s legitimacy, especially in Gaza, she acknowledged that ongoing hardships and political stagnation have eroded public trust. “If we see something moving on the political track, people will start realizing that there is a hope for the future,” she said. “And today, whoever is responsible or who has the mandate on the occupied State of Palestine is the Palestinian Authority. And that authority needs to be empowered to be able to meet the needs of its people.”
The Palestine Liberation Organization, she said, remains the umbrella under which all factions must gather if unity is to be achieved. “Anyone can join the PLO, but you need to accept what the PLO stands for, accept agreements signed by the PLO, and accept the political vision of the PLO,” she said. Asked whether ordinary Palestinians still have confidence in the PLO, Aghabekian said that trust is conditional. “I think that confidence can fluctuate based on what is happening on the ground,” she said. “And, as I said earlier, if people see something moving in terms of the vision of the PLO on a free Palestine, a sovereign Palestine, the liberation of the Palestinian people, bringing people a better future soon, then people will rally behind the PLO, and the PLO can look inwards and think of reform of the PLO.”
Turning to the West Bank, she expressed alarm at the scale of ongoing settlement expansion. “We’ve seen more and more land grab, we’ve seen increased brutality, we’ve been seeing increased violations on the ground, withholding of our tax money, displacement of people, attacks on UNRWA and refugee camps, grabbing of more land for agricultural herding — and this is something new for the Palestinians,” she said. “There is entrenchment and emboldening of occupation on all levels.” She called for greater pressure on Israel to comply with international law. “Statements are void if no actual measures are taken on the ground,” she said. “What needs to be done is holding Israel to account.”
Citing hundreds of UN resolutions and a landmark International Court of Justice opinion calling for the end of Israel’s occupation, she said enforcement mechanisms are long overdue. “There are steps that are doable now in terms of what do we do with settler violence, with the settlers who are sitting on occupied stolen land. What do we do with settlement products? How do we deal with settlers who have dual citizenship. How do we deal with arms sent to Israel or sold to Israel?” Aghabekian said, adding that it was time for the international community to show its teeth. While warning of the risk of a third intifada, she said the PA leadership is focused on avoiding further civilian casualties. “We do not want to transfer what is happening in Gaza to the West Bank, and partly it is already being transferred,” she said. “So, the leadership needs to spare the lives of the people.”Aghabekian said the ICJ ruling provides a legal basis for action. “It has told the whole world that this is not a contested territory, this is an occupied territory, and this Israeli belligerent occupation needs to be dismantled,” she said. “There are steps that are doable.” The PA is also preparing for governance in Gaza, should the violence end. “The Palestinian Authority is doing its homework and it is preparing and ready to shoulder its responsibilities in Gaza,” Aghabekian said. “There is a plan accepted by 57 countries for Gaza’s rehabilitation, immediate relief and reconstruction. And we hope that we are enabled to start working on that plan.”However, she said implementation hinges on external support. “Those plans need billions of dollars, they need the empowerment of the Palestinian Authority in terms of actually practicing governance on the ground.”Asked whether Israel or its allies might eventually accept a modified version of the Arab League’s plan, Aghabekian said all parties must be willing to talk. “It’s a give-and-take thing,” she said. “In the final analysis, what we want is to reach the goal of stopping this genocidal war and letting aid move in and for us to be able to start our relief and construction efforts. If this needs further discussion, I think we’re open for discussion.”But the human toll continues to mount. “Palestinians will continue to lose their lives because Israel has no intent on stopping this war,” she said. “There is no justification for the continuing of the war, and an agreement can be reached if there is genuine intent.”

Israeli opposition leader fears political violence over Shin Bet affair
AFP/April 21, 2025
TEL AVIV: Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said he feared an outbreak of political violence connected to what he called a campaign of hate against the country’s internal security chief, whom the government has moved to sack. “The red line has been crossed. If we don’t stop this, there will be a political murder here, maybe more than one. Jews will kill jews,” Lapid said at a press conference in Tel Aviv, adding that “the most serious threats are directed at the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar.”Bar’s dismissal as head of the internal security agency has been challenged in court by the opposition, which decried it as a sign of anti-democratic drift on the part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government. Bar has suggested his ouster was linked to investigations into Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack “and other serious matters,” while Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has warned of “a personal conflict of interest on the part of the prime minister due to the criminal investigations involving his associates.”The supreme court froze the government’s initial attempt to sack Bar, and earlier this month it gave the cabinet and the attorney general’s office until the end of the just concluded Passover holiday to work out a compromise. Bar could resign soon, according to media reports, which would bring the matter to a close. Lapid, leader of the center-right Yesh Atid party, argued that Bar should resign over his agency’s failure to prevent the October 7 attack, and acknowledged the government had the legal authority to dismiss him, provided it was done through due process and “approved by the court.”But he also held Netanyahu responsible for a campaign of threats levelled at Bar. Lapid presented screenshots of social media posts containing death threats against the security chief, telling Netanyahu: “Stop this.” “Instead of supporting incitement (to hatred), support the Shin Bet, the security forces, the systems that keep this country alive,” he added.In 1995, the assassination of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin by a Jewish extremist after a campaign of violent rhetoric against him sent shockwaves through Israel. Some accused then-opposition leader Netanyahu of not doing enough to discourage incitement to violence at the time.

Netanyahu says to return hostages without giving in to 'Hamas dictates'
Agence France Presse/April 20/2025
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to bring home the remaining hostages in Gaza without yielding to Hamas' demands, insisting the military campaign in the Palestinian territory had reached a "critical stage". "I believe we can bring our hostages home without surrendering to Hamas' dictates," Netanyahu said, in his first comments since Hamas, seeking a permanent end to the Gaza war, rejected a new truce proposal from Israel. "We are at a critical stage of the campaign, and at this point, we need patience and determination to win."The remarks drew a swift rebuttal from an Israeli campaign group representing the hostages' families, which accused Netanyahu of having "no plan" for securing the captives' freedom. "There is one clear, feasible, and urgent solution that can be achieved now: reach a deal that will bring everyone home -- even if it means stopping the fighting," Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement. Netanyahu, however, insisted that ending the war now would embolden the country's enemies. "Ending the war under these surrender conditions would send a message to all of Israel's enemies: that abducting Israelis can bring Israel to its knees. It would prove that terrorism pays -- and that message would endanger the entire free world," he said. Hamas, Netanyahu said, was "demanding the end of the war and the continuation of its rule", as well as a full Israeli withdrawal, "which would enable Hamas to rearm and plan more attacks against us"."If we commit to ending the war, we will not be able to resume fighting in Gaza," he said. "So I ask you -- did our soldiers fight in vain? Did our heroes fall and suffer for nothing?"

Israel Tightens Restrictions on Palestinian Leadership's Movements
Ramallah/Asharq Al Awsat/April 20, 2025
Israel has intensified its restrictions on the movements of Palestinian Authority (PA) officials, both domestically and internationally, as part of a long-standing policy that often resurfaces during times of heightened political or security tensions—particularly when the PA pursues diplomatic initiatives. Since the start of the war in Gaza, Israel has ramped up these measures. On Saturday, Israeli authorities barred Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa from visiting several towns in the West Bank, including communities in the Ramallah and Nablus governorates. According to the Palestinian Commission Against the Wall and Settlements, Israeli forces abruptly blocked Mustafa’s planned tour of Duma and Qusra in the Nablus area, and Burqa and Deir Dibwan near Ramallah. The commission described the move as part of “a series of discriminatory actions” aimed at “undermining trust between the Palestinian government and its citizens.”In a separate incident, Israeli authorities reportedly attempted to obstruct Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to Jordan en route to Syria by delaying approval for his use of a Jordanian military helicopter.
Following days of Israeli stalling and behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts, Abbas ultimately traveled to Amman by land—an unusual step for the Palestinian leader. Although Palestinian officials initially insisted Abbas would fly, no formal comment was made after he crossed by road. The PA has also remained silent on the ban imposed on Mustafa’s West Bank visit. It remains unclear whether the restrictions were related to Abbas’ meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa—whom Israel continues to label a “terrorist”—or broader Palestinian diplomatic efforts. Abbas and Sharaa met on Friday. In recent months, the PA has worked in coordination with European powers, including France, and Saudi Arabia to push for international recognition of a Palestinian state within the framework of a two-state solution. These moves have drawn sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly attacked France’s role and statements by President Emmanuel Macron supporting Palestinian statehood. Israeli authorities have not issued any official statements regarding the travel restrictions, and Israeli media have mentioned the incidents only in passing, with no formal response from the government. Observers view these measures as part of Israel’s broader political and military pressure campaign in the West Bank, which has intensified since October 7, 2023.Over the past months, the Israeli military has carried out near-daily raids, erected new checkpoints, imposed movement restrictions, and increased enforcement measures—such as issuing costly traffic fines—in a sweeping effort to control movement across Palestinian areas.

King Abdullah invited to attend Arab Summit in Baghdad as Jordan and Iraq discuss regional cooperation
Arab News/April 20, 2025
AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Sunday received an official invitation from Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid to attend the 34th Ordinary Session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the Summit Level, scheduled for Baghdad on May 17. The invitation was delivered by Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein during a meeting with King Abdullah at Al-Husseiniya Palace, the Jordan News Agency reported. The king asked Hussein to convey his greetings to Rashid and expressed Jordan’s eagerness to ensure the success of the upcoming summit. He also highlighted the importance of Arab solidarity and joint efforts to support Arab causes, particularly in light of current regional developments. Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, also attended the meeting. Earlier in the day, Safadi received Hussein upon his arrival in Jordan. The two ministers held talks focused on enhancing relations and exchanging views on the latest developments in the region, JNA reported. They reaffirmed the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Iraq and underscored the commitment of both leaderships to advancing cooperation across various sectors in service of mutual interests, JNA added. The discussions touched on preparations for the upcoming Arab Summit, with both sides emphasizing the importance of bolstering joint Arab action and strengthening coordination to address challenges facing the Arab world and to promote regional stability and development.

Houthi health ministry counts 12 dead, 30 wounded in latest US strikes on Sanaa
AFP/April 20, 2025
SANAA: Yemen's Houthi rebels said early Monday that at least 12 people were killed in strikes on Sanaa by the US military. The Houthi-run Saba news agency cited the militia's health ministry as saying 30 others were wounded in strikes overnight Sunday-Monday “by the American enemy” on a market in the Farwa district. Earlier Sunday, the ministry reported two deaths and 11 injured in the “US aggression” on other parts of Sanaa. A report by the Iran-backed group’s Al-Masirah channel said one person was killed in an air strike on the governorate’s Bani Matar area, where a deadly US raid was reported a week ago. Beyond Sanaa, the Houthis said Sunday that air strikes also hit Yemen’s Marib and Amran provinces. Earlier this week, the group said that US strikes on the fuel port of Ras Issa killed at least 80 people and wounded 150 in the deadliest attack of Washington’s 15-month campaign against the Houthis. The US military has hammered the Yemeni Houthis with near-daily air strikes for the past month in a bid to stamp out their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Claiming solidarity with Palestinians, the rebels began attacking the key maritime route and Israeli territory after the Gaza war began in October 2023. The US strikes began in January 2024 but have multiplied under President Donald Trump, starting with an offensive that killed 53 people on March 15.
Houthi attacks on the Red Sea shipping route, which normally carries about 12 percent of global trade, have forced many companies into costly detours around the tip of southern Africa.

Baghdad Divided Over Invitation of Syria's Interim President to Arab Summit
This is Beirut/With AFP/April 20/2025
Several powerful pro-Iran Iraqi politicians have in recent days voiced opposition to a potential visit by Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Iraq for the upcoming Arab League summit. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said earlier this week that Baghdad has invited al-Sharaa to attend the summit, scheduled to take place in the capital on May 17. If he attends, it would mark al-Sharaa’s first official visit to Iraq as Syria’s leader. He was previously imprisoned in Iraq for years on charges of belonging to Al-Qaeda following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The Shiite Dawa Party, led by former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said Sunday it rejects Baghdad hosting anyone who has committed "crimes" against Iraqis. Maliki is a key figure in Iraqi politics and a leading member of the Coordination Framework, the main pro-Iran coalition that holds a parliamentary majority and helped bring al-Sudani to power. "It is essential that the judicial record... of anyone participating in the Arab summit at any level is free of charges and crimes," the Dawa Party added, without naming al-Sharaa directly. Several Iraqi security sources told AFP that an old arrest warrant for al-Sharaa remains active from his time as a member of Al-Qaeda. However, authorities may choose not to enforce it, prioritizing stable relations with Syria’s new leadership to help maintain regional stability. Earlier this week, al-Sudani met with al-Sharaa in Doha in a meeting facilitated by Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. U.S.-sanctioned Qais al-Khazali, head of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq force — which is part of the Coordination Framework — warned on X (formerly Twitter) Saturday that a visit by al-Sharaa "could have consequences if the law were enforced and he got arrested" due to the outstanding warrant. "It is too soon for al-Sharaa to visit Iraq," he said. A spokesperson for Iraq’s powerful Kataeb Hezbollah faction, Abu Ali al-Askari, said Saturday that the Arab summit "would definitely not stop due to the absence of the convicted Abu Mohammed al-Jolani," using al-Sharaa’s former nom de guerre, which he abandoned after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad.Pro-Iran Kataeb Hezbollah previously fought in Syria alongside Assad's forces. The ouster of Assad — a close ally of Baghdad — has complicated relations between the neighboring countries. Iraq, a majority Shiite Muslim country, remains deeply scarred by decades of conflict following the U.S.-led invasion, which triggered sectarian violence and the rise of Sunni jihadist groups including Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

First wheat shipment since Assad's ouster arrives in Syria's Latakia
Reuters/April 20, 2025
CAIRO (Reuters) - A ship carrying wheat has arrived in Syria's Latakia port, the first delivery of its kind since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebels in December, the government said on Sunday. Officials of the new Islamist-led government say that while imports of wheat and other basics are not subject to U.S. and U.N. sanctions, challenges in securing financing for trade deals have deterred global suppliers from selling to Syria. The Syrian General Authority for Land and Sea Borders said in a statement that the ship carried 6,600 tonnes of wheat. It did not identify the nationality or destination of the boat, but one regional commodity trader told Reuters it was from Russia. "A step that is considered a clear indication of the start of a new phase of economic recovery in the country," the borders authority said of the shipment, adding that it should pave the way for more arrivals of vital supplies. Traders say Syria has this year been largely relying on overland imports from neighbours. Russia and Iran, both major backers of the Assad government, previously provided most of Syria's wheat and oil products but stopped after the rebels triumphed and he fled to Moscow. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government is focused on economic recovery after 14 years of conflict.

Pope Francis, Trump Critic, Meets US VP Vance on Easter Morning
Asharq Al Awsat/April 20, 2025
Pope Francis held a private meeting at the Vatican on Sunday morning with US Vice President JD Vance, the Vatican said in a statement. Vance, a Catholic who has clashed with the pontiff over the Trump administration's immigration policies, met Francis at his Vatican residence to exchange Easter greetings, the statement said. "Pope Francis had a brief private encounter ... lasting a few minutes, in order to exchanges good wishes on Easter day," said the statement. Vance, who has been visiting Italy with his family this weekend, met senior Vatican officials for more formal talks on Saturday. The pope, who is recovering from double pneumonia, did not take part in those discussions. The pope and Vatican officials have criticized several of the policies of President Donald Trump's administration, including his plans to deport millions of migrants from the US and his widespread cuts to foreign aid and domestic welfare programs. Francis has called the immigration crackdown a "disgrace". Vance, who became Catholic in 2019, has cited medieval-era Catholic teaching to justify the policy. The pope rebutted the theological concept Vance used to defend the crackdown in an unusual open letter to the US Catholic bishops about the Trump administration in February, and called Trump's plan a "major crisis" for the United States.

Pope Francis Makes Brief Easter Appearance, Calls for Gaza Ceasefire
Asharq Al Awsat/April 20, 2025
Pope Francis reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in an Easter Sunday message read aloud by an aide as the pontiff, still recovering from pneumonia, looked on during a brief appearance on the main balcony of St Peter's Basilica. The 88-year-old pope, limiting his workload on doctors' orders, did not preside over the Vatican's Mass for Easter but appeared at the end of the event for a twice-yearly blessing and message known as the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world). Before a five-week hospital stay for pneumonia, which nearly killed him, Francis had been ramping up criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave "very serious and shameful" in January. In the Easter message, the pontiff said the situation in Gaza was "dramatic and deplorable". The pope also called on Palestinian group Hamas to release its remaining hostages and condemned what he said was a "worrisome" trend of antisemitism in the world. "I express my closeness to the sufferings ... of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people," said the message. "I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace," it said. Hamas last week rejected an Israeli proposal for another temporary truce, instead demanding a deal to end the war in exchange for the release of hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday he had instructed the Israeli military to intensify pressure on Hamas. The war was triggered by the Hamas-led October 7 attack on southern Israel in 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities. The Gaza health ministry says 1,600 people have been killed in the past month. Earlier on Sunday, Francis held a meeting at the Vatican with US Vice President JD Vance, who has been visiting Italy over the weekend. The Vatican said the meeting with Vance was brief, "lasting a few minutes", in order to exchange Easter greetings.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on April 20-21/2025
Iran Murdering Pakistanis: 'They Were Slaughtered Like Sheep. If We Stay Silent Now, It Means We Are Sheep Too.'
Kaswar Klasra/Gatestone Institute/April 20, 2025
Pakistanis are asking why these terrorists, these enemies of peace, continue to find shelter inside Iran. For years, groups like the BNA and its sibling, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), have launched attacks...
Behind the scenes, officials acknowledge the seriousness of the moment. There is discussion not just about diplomacy, but about deterrence.
The Iranian regime, meanwhile, remains cagey. Their official statement condemned the attack but offered little detail about any arrests or investigations.
The international community has remained muted. Western governments — so quick to condemn terrorism elsewhere — have yet to speak out. There have been no statements from the UN.
In Islamabad, the Foreign Office is reportedly considering a range of responses, from diplomatic measures to more direct action.... Among cabinet members, there is now open debate: What is the cost of silence? What is the risk of restraint?
On April 12, eight Pakistani migrant laborers in Iran were murdered in their sleep by the "Baloch Nationalist Army" terrorist organization. And Iran's regime, days later, still has no answers, no arrests, no accountability.
ISLAMABAD — The workshop was nothing more than a room carved out of metal and concrete. A few oil drums, rusted toolboxes, and eight tattered mattresses stood lined up against the wall. These were not barracks or hideouts—just a makeshift dormitory for eight Pakistani laborers who had crossed into Iran looking for honest work. That night, they were exhausted after working through the day repairing broken-down trucks in the remote Iranian village of Haiz Abad. They had no enemies, no weapons — just calloused hands and quiet dreams of returning home with enough money to feed their families. But as they slept on April 12, darkness brought something other than rest.
The eight men — citizens of Pakistan, fathers, sons, brothers — were found with their hands bound, and their bodies riddled with bullets. Executed. Slaughtered. Their corpses were discovered in the same positions in which they had gone to sleep, the narrow room now soaked in red. The murderers? The Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) — a terrorist outfit long known to have sanctuaries inside Iranian territory — was quick to claim responsibility. They had carried out the massacre on Iranian soil. And Iran's regime, days later, still has no answers, no arrests, no accountability.
But across the border in Pakistan, there were answers — fury, grief, and a growing demand for justice. The killings sent shockwaves through the nation. Social media was ablaze within hours. Television anchors abandoned their planned segments to address the massacre. And in Pakistan's Balochistan Province, where most of the victims hailed from, families buried their loved ones under cloudy skies and with prayers that turned quickly into protests.
One widow, her face covered with a floral chador, stood outside her small brick house in Bahawalpur, a city in the south of Punjab Province, and sobbed into the microphone of a local news station. "This is not just a security failure," she said. "This is an attack on our national dignity. My husband went to Iran to earn livelihood for our kids. He repaired engines, not politics. What was his crime?"
Her words captured the soul of a nation in mourning. They were echoed, again and again, by politicians, columnists, and ordinary citizens who see this not merely as a tragedy, but as a test. A test of whether the Pakistani state will protect its people even when they are murdered across the border. A test of whether the country can afford to stay silent when its citizens are executed like animals — while their murderers remain free, just miles away.
This was not the first time Pakistani blood has been spilled across the Iranian border. It was not even the first time in the past year. But this — this act of premeditated murder against civilians — feels different. It was not war. Those killed were not soldiers. It was not a clash. It was a calculated statement by the BNA, made with bullets instead of words: "We can kill your people, even in their sleep."
Pakistanis are asking why these terrorists, these enemies of peace, continue to find shelter inside Iran. For years, groups like the BNA and its sibling, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), have launched attacks inside Pakistan — on security forces, civilians, and infrastructure — only to disappear across the border. The Pakistani state has repeatedly provided to Tehran dossiers, satellite intelligence, and even intercepted communications. The message was always the same: These are not shadows. These are real people, with real weapons, planning real attacks — from your soil.
On January 18, 2024, Pakistan lost patience. After a series of deadly attacks on its security personnel in Balochistan, Pakistan launched precision strikes targeting terrorist hideouts inside Iranian territory. These were not casual operations — they were carefully coordinated responses aimed at known camps. The message was unmistakable: If Iran cannot or will not stop these groups, Pakistan reserves the right to defend its citizens, even beyond its borders.
And now, after this massacre, the question returns: Will Pakistan act again?
Public pressure is rising like a tide. In Lahore, demonstrators held up signs that read, "Pakistani Blood Is Not Cheap." In Quetta and Bahawalpur, people are taking to the streets and chanting slogans for justice. Television hosts no longer speak in cautious tones; they demand action. Online, thousands of Pakistanis are asking a single question: How long will Islamabad stay silent?
"The people have awakened," said one activist in Karachi. "We demand Iran conduct a full and transparent investigation. We demand they bring the culprits to justice. If not, Pakistan must act."
The state has taken some diplomatic steps. A strong démarche was issued to Tehran. Statements were made from the Foreign Office. The Prime Minister's Office called the killings "unacceptable" and promised that "no stone would be left unturned in seeking justice." But the stone of justice is heavy, and for many Pakistanis, these words feel too familiar — too often spoken, too rarely followed with resolve.
Aamir Ghauri, an expert in foreign policy and geopolitics, and founder-director of London-based South Asia Future Forum told Gatestone:
"These killings can open a new can of worms for both Tehran and Islamabad. Groups that claim responsibility for such terror acts across Pakistan-Iran bordering areas are hitherto unknown. Admission by an insignificant Baloch militant outfit like BNA carry more questions than answers. Possibility of a larger plot by more sophisticated and sinister forces cannot be ruled out."
Behind the scenes, officials acknowledge the seriousness of the moment. There is discussion not just about diplomacy, but about deterrence. Last year's strikes proved that Pakistan is willing to act when provoked. Yet what happened this month was not just provocation — it was murder. Not soldiers in uniform, but laborers in their sleep. Not confrontation, but execution.
"This isn't about retaliation," said a former Pakistani diplomat who had served in Iran for years. "It's about prevention. If Iran will not dismantle these terror networks, then Pakistan must. Otherwise, how many more of our people will die?"
It is not just security experts sounding the alarm. Even seasoned diplomats, long champions of regional cooperation, are beginning to shift in tone.
"We cannot be the only ones playing by the rules," one former ambassador said bluntly. "We cannot continue to absorb these shocks while smiling across the table. Our goodwill is being tested beyond its limits."
The intelligence is already available. Pakistani security forces have spent years mapping the network of camps, supply routes, and safe houses used by groups like BNA and BLA. Many of these are just across the border in Iran's Sistan-Balochistan Province — an area historically neglected by Tehran and increasingly used as a launchpad for anti-Pakistan militancy. While Iran claims to combat terrorism within its borders, it is clear that significant blind spots — or willful negligence — remain.
The real tragedy here, beyond the murders themselves, is the predictability of it all. Pakistani laborers in border provinces are often forced by economic desperation to seek work in Iran. They travel without security. They live in open camps. They are easy targets. And groups like BNA, craving international headlines and political leverage, see them as disposable. A press release. A body count. A message scrawled in blood.
This time, the message has backfired. Murdering labourers inside Iran has made millions of Pakistanis furious. This anger, if ignored, may become policy.
Among the families of the deceased, the grief is laced with a desperate, burning question: Will this country let our dead be forgotten? A father in Multan, in southern Punjab Province, waiting for dead body of his only son, said quietly to a local reporter, "They were slaughtered like sheep. If we stay silent now, it means we are sheep too."
The Iranian regime, meanwhile, remains cagey. Their official statement condemned the attack but offered little detail about any arrests or investigations. There has been no public mention of the BNA's claim of responsibility, no signal that they intend to hand over suspects. For Pakistan, this ambiguity is an insult.
Friendship, Pakistanis now believe, must be mutual. If Iran considers Pakistan a partner in regional peace, then it must also respect its pain, and acknowledge its dead. A true friend does not provide sanctuary to your enemies.
The international community has remained muted. Western governments — so quick to condemn terrorism elsewhere — have yet to speak out. There have been no statements from the UN.
Research done by this correspondent and off-the record conversations with high-ranking Pakistani government officials have revealed that Pakistan is taking the matter seriously. In Islamabad, the Foreign Office is reportedly considering a range of responses, from diplomatic measures to more direct action. Security officials are reviewing border protocols and intelligence sharing. Among cabinet members, there is now open debate: What is the cost of silence? What is the risk of restraint?
Over the rugged borderlands of Balochistan, there is little comfort in condolences. The real comfort — if it can ever come — will arrive only when Pakistan asserts, in deed not word, that its citizens matter, and that those who are murdering them, whether at home or abroad, will be found. And punished.
A senior government official stated to this correspondent:
"This is not just a moment of mourning. It is a moment of reckoning. A test of national resolve. The lines have been drawn not by maps but by martyrdom. The people of Pakistan are watching, waiting, and demanding: Pakistan cannot let its citizens' blood dry on foreign soil. Pressure is mounting on us to respond to terrorists who are taking refuge inside Iran. Pakistan will definitely act but at an appropriate time."
*Kaswar Klasra is a veteran Pakistani journalist and the founding editor-in-chief of The Islamabad Telegraph, a publication recognized for its in-depth coverage of global affairs, geopolitics, and human rights issues. With more than 19 years of experience, Klasra has contributed to numerous international media outlets, including NBC, the South China Morning Post, The Nation (Pakistan), Global Asia (South Korea), Bild ( Germany) and the Los Angeles Times.
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Iran and the Deception of the Leaks
Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al Awsat/April 20/2025
Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, leaks about Iran and its nuclear file have not stopped – whether it is what he is saying openly or what is being leaked by his administration or the Israelis or even the Iranian lobby in Washington.
The leaks only increased with the second round of negotiations between the Iranians and Americans in Rome on Saturday. Tehran itself, as well as its allies and opponents in the region, have also been behind some leaks. The abundance of leaks has made it difficult to ascertain which way the negotiations are going. Will there be a diplomatic breakthrough in the Iranian file or is war inevitable? The abundance of leaks, especially those from the US and Israel, does not mean that there is division between the American and Israeli allies as some sides would like to believe. I believe that the leaks all have the same message at heart and that the situation is similar to the one that preceded the war on Iraq in 2003.
At the time, the first person to read those leaks and wrongfully believed that they reflected divisions was Saddam Hussein himself. I will never forget late Prince Saud al-Faisal's statement before the invasion: “The American solution means cutting off the Iraqi head. The French solution means strangling it to death.”
Back then, I was editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat in Jeddah. I wrote the article that broke the news, and it was on the front page. It caused a stir. The regional head of AFP telephoned me to confirm the news. “Are you sure of it? Does this mean war is inevitable?” he asked me. “The news is exactly as I have reported it. I am not a side in the story. I do not confirm or deny,” I replied. And so, the events unfolded afterwards as we all know, and the war erupted.The developments today remind me of that time. I am not saying that we are headed towards war to oust the Iranian regime, but perhaps we are going to be faced with a different kind of war.
I don’t see any discrepancy in the positions of parties that are allied against Iran. Iran itself sees this, which is why it agreed to embark on a second round of negotiations despite all the contradictory statements it has made and the escalation from the US and Israel.
Iran is certainly taking the threats seriously. The leaks are also definitely not implying that anyone will be backing down against Iran. They are, though, focusing on how to stop its nuclear project. Trump has openly said that he prefers the diplomatic solution, and yet, he does not rule out the possibility of war. As for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his stance on Iran has always been clear. He wants war with American cover and support. For nearly seven years, he has not for a moment stopped from making this position. He has spoken of striking Iranian facilities, whether through sabotage or intelligence operations. Since October 7, 2023, Netanyahu has been targeting all of Iran’s proxies in the region. He has taken out Hamas and Hezbollah from the equation, and Washington is now working on eliminating the Houthis in Yemen. This is all to say that any upcoming military confrontation will be limited to Iran. This is why Iran has taken the threats seriously and has not preoccupied itself with the leaks. Everyone must also not preoccupy themselves with them because war is possible now more than ever.

Building Confidence in Elections… How?
Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Former Iraqi Prime Minister/Asharq Al Awsat/April 20/2025
Before delving into whether or not to participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for next November, the kinds of electoral and political alliances that should be formed, or even the results and turnout, we must take a moment to think deeply about the electoral system. That entails deep contemplation and diligent assessment, especially since November's elections will be the sixth since the fall of the dictatorship. Accordingly, the process must comply with proper protocol and reflect a genuine commitment to accurately representing the wishes of the electorate, and the interests of ruling political parties and forces must not be allowed to get in the way. The electoral process is the essence of democracy; it is the pillar of trust between voters and their representatives. In Iraq, parliamentarians do not believe in this process; they see elections as nothing but a means for legitimizing their power by tailoring the electoral law to their interests. Iraq’s elected representatives do not believe in democratic values or their mechanisms or processes. They see politics as a tool for maximizing gains and profits.
Consequently, they pass laws that do not reflect the ruling parties’ wishes rather than the will of the people. Unfortunately, these parties constantly seek electoral laws that grant them the greatest number of votes and seats. Our electoral system is plagued by constant fluctuation, as it is “periodically” amended, before each election cycle, to align with the interests of the political parties and forces that dominate parliament.
Our electoral system currently has several challenges, which can be summed up into three broad patterns. First, the periodic changes to electoral laws; second, the neglect of “organic” changes; and third, the absence of fixed rules.
Changing the law, before every election cycle, in line with the interest of the ruling parties and political forces allows them to reshape the electoral landscape. They decide the rules of the game in ways that serve their interests, meaning ways that misrepresent citizens.
Disregarding “organic” changes (demographic, social, and economic shifts) has distorted the distribution of parliamentary seats through uneven districting. This is not to imply that we must increase the number of parliamentary seats, but to call for giving this issue the attention and consideration it deserves.
This leads us to the third pattern: the lack of fixed rules. In Iraq, we have adopted a baseline of one deputy for every 100,000 citizens, but this ratio fluctuates from one cycle to another. Disputes over how seats are distributed, how votes are counted, and the mechanisms behind them all open the door to manipulating the results. This sometimes leads to the overrepresentation of certain groups and the marginalization of others, effectively dismantling and hollowing out the democratic process. Accordingly, it is crucial that we set stable mechanisms that can keep pace with “organic,” non-political changes.
To address these obstacles (which have been raised in closed-door meetings, with some becoming public) we have seen serious efforts to push for the adoption of a stable and fair electoral system that every government would be required to adhere to. I am not here to debate the form or nature of the law, but to outline what it should look like, based on meetings and discussions I’ve had with various stakeholders in the political scene.
A fair law must ensure the broadest possible representation, which the proportional representation system typically does best. Thus, it is important to point out the following:
The allocation of seats should be done on the basis of objective criteria, with the total number divided into three segments: the first (which makes up the overwhelming majority) goes to those who receive the highest number of votes, the second to ensure that we meet quotas set for women and minorities, and the third to a fixed number of compensatory seats, guaranteeing relative fairness on a national level and offsetting the discrepancies that result from imbalanced population distribution.
The country should be divided into fixed electoral districts that are proportionate to their population and periodically redrawn, especially when we see changes in population density or demographic shifts.
Who do we elect: the candidate or the party? This is a debate that requires deep dialogue between the political parties, the government, and the country’s social elites. It is a discussion that must be settled. Far too often, the electorate, who generally favor local figures, is often ignored in favor of the dominant party’s will. The 2021 election attests to the fact that voters prefer independents over partisan candidates or electoral blocs.
In both cases - whether the vote goes to a party or an individual candidate - tensions and resentments arise the day after the election, spreading the local neighborhood to the governorate and, finally, the center.
Some argue that voting for a political party rather than an individual candidate enhances the stability of the electoral and political process. On the other hand, others believe that each party should present a list of candidates for each electoral district and give voters the opportunity to cast a preferential vote within that list. In doing so, the era of a single list being imposed on the people would come to an end, creating space for independent figures, provided that they cross the threshold.
It is also important to discuss the “threshold,” which should be fixed to ensure that parties and independents can enter parliament on equal footing, contingent upon whether they can secure a certain number or percentage of the votes.
Another crucial task is regulating electoral campaigns in all their forms. State resources must not be allowed to be exploited for personal gain, and the public treasury cannot be drained to buy votes, whether early on or under flimsy, transparent pretexts.
These broad features would strengthen citizens’ trust in the electoral process first, and in the political process more broadly. In turn, increased public confidence would reinforce the foundations of political stability. Moreover, defining the size and popular weight of parliamentary blocs reinforces this stability and national decision-making, enhancing the processes for appointing the prime minister and his cabinet, and strengthening opposition, oversight, evaluation, and accountability.
Fair representation brings greater transparency to the democratic process and allows for engagement with future generations, allowing them to become involved in the development and reconstruction of a political system that we all agree, unfortunately, remains distorted.
Here, it is essential to reflect on the 2021 experience, the elections that were described as the most transparent and fair in Iraq’s modern history. I would like to address an important component of the legal framework for the electoral process, the Independent High Electoral Commission. I insist that its leadership and members not be associated with partisan forces and that this responsibility be entrusted to judges known for their integrity who are appointed in coordination with the judicial authority. These criteria reinforce trust in the process and reassure candidates, their backers, and voters alike.
By contrast, if the Commission, as is the case today, remains in the hands of ruling parties and political forces, it raises serious questions and concerns.
In conclusion, stabilizing the foundations of the electoral system and adopting objective and consistent standards is the cornerstone of a mature democracy - a system that genuinely reflects society’s will and adapts to demographic and social shifts. Reforming the electoral system along these lines is not merely an option. It is necessary for ensuring a more just and stable democratic future in Iraq. This discussion will continue, at the appropriate time and place.

Who has Trump’s ear on Iranian negotiations?
Eric R. Mandel, opinion contributor/The Hill/April 20, 2025
Now that nuclear talks with Iran have begun, it behooves Americans to ask whether the president is willing to compromise to get a deal and claim a victory or whether his threats to act militarily if Iran doesn’t dismantle its nuclear program are real or theatre. A third possibility is the most effective path to an enforceable agreement is only after a military strike when Trump will have maximum leverage.
The last deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiated by former President Barack Obama in 2015, legitimized the world’s leading state sponsor of terror’s right to enrich uranium, which was unprecedented. Reports say the Trump administration may have already accepted Iran’s right to a civilian nuclear program.
According to his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, he is looking for a verifiable deal, not to dismantle the atomic program. That is a hard sell to our Israeli allies, who uncovered Iran’s nuclear archive in 2018, revealing the regime’s longstanding desire and ability to create nuclear weapons despite the protestations to the contrary of the supreme leader and isolationist American think tanks.
For Trump, a new and improved Iranian agreement is a tantalizing brass ring to wave over the heads of the despised Obama administration. For the Israelis, how enforceable and strong the deal is will be a life and death question.
So, to whom does the president listen? It has been said that the last person in the room is the one who leaves a lasting impression and has the most influence on Trump. But who will be in that room, and what will Trump hear?
Trump prioritizes loyalty, and his Iran representative, Steve Witkoff, seems to have his trust. Given that he never engaged in Middle East negotiating until given the Hamas file, it is reasonable to be skeptical of his ability to outwit the professional Iranian negotiators who practice religiously sanctioned dissimulation (lying), known as “taqiyah.” Hopefully, the team he surrounds himself with has an in-depth understanding of the Shiite Islamists and nuclear matters. I know of at least one who is certainly qualified.
However, Witkoff may be given marching orders based on the advice that Trump’s team of rivals at home has given him. National security advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, are of the same mind regarding Iran: Distrust and then verify.
The rivals speaking into Trump’s other ear are the non-interventional isolationists like Vice President Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, and Tucker Carlson, who has the ear of Trump and his entire political movement.
“It’s clear that now is the worst possible time for the United States to participate in a military strike on Iran. We can’t afford it,” Carlson recently posted on X. “Thousands of Americans would die. We’d lose the war that follows. Nothing would be more destructive to our country. And yet, we’re closer than ever, thanks to unrelenting pressure from neocons. This is suicidal. Anyone advocating for conflict with Iran is not an ally of the United States, but an enemy.”
“Neocons” is a dog whistle for Jews, and since many in Israel believe the only way to stop Iran’s production of a nuclear weapon is a military strike against its nuclear facilities, Carlson moved Israel from an indispensable ally of both Democrats and Republicans to an enemy state. Carlson has a close relationship with Vance and is credited with convincing Trump to choose him over Rubio as his running mate.
Today, Rubio’s hawkish views are not welcomed by Carlson and his isolationist audience as the best way to get a deal most advantageous to America. The history of American isolationism isn’t pretty, and retrenchment has more often led to war, most notoriously forcing America to enter World War II ill-prepared when it was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941, by the Japanese.
Rubio, Waltz and Huckabee are three people who understand Iran’s intentions. Unfortunately, they are not in President Trump’s favor. This is evident as the president has chosen his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to negotiate with Iran. This should be the purview of the secretary of State.
Another person who gets Iran, but it is uncertain of his current influence with the president is Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), who said any agreement with Iran “must recognize Iran’s decades of cheating, the regime’s barbaric nature and its open commitment to destroying the state of Israel.”President Trump blindsided Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House by announcing American direct talks with Iran. The Iranians are a stone’s throw from a nuclear weapon. They are rearming Iraqi militias they control with American blood on their hands, continue to send missiles to the Houthis to attack our maritime shipping, have been transferring weapons to rearm Hezbollah via the Beirut port and continue to try to kill Iranian dissidents on our soil.
Iran has abundant strategic patience and is willing to wait decades for its religiously inspired goals. It has no intention of giving up on its desire for hegemony, the destruction of Israel, the diminution of American influence in the region, or its ability to have nuclear weapons to intimidate its adversaries. Supporters of the U.S.-Israel relationship give Trump the benefit of the doubt on Iran, as he did things in his first term that no other president dared — moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, acknowledging Jerusalem as Israel‘s capital, cutting off funds to the corrupt and disingenuous Palestinian Authority, and recognizing Israel‘s sovereignty in the Golan Heights.
If direct talks do not lead to a verifiable dismantling of the Iranian nuclear program, ending support of its proxy network and terrorist reach overseas, then expect the Iranian file to land on a future American president’s desk in a disadvantageous state of play.
So, who is in ascendancy on the Trump foreign policy team: isolationists or the highly experienced Rubio, Waltz and Huckabee team? Will Trump’s choices on Iran and Middle East policy be according to the trilogy of isolationism, non-intervention and protectionism, or are his ears still open to those in the Republican Party, like Rubio, Graham and Waltz, who believe that credible military threats are the best way to get a strong nuclear agreement, create stability and avoid wars. Trump’s rhetoric is aligned with the latter.
Mr. President, please bring Rubio, Waltz, Huckabee and Graham back into the fold for America’s security interests in meeting your goal that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.
Eric R. Mandel is the senior security editor of the Jerusalem Report and the director of the Middle East Political Information Network.
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