English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For June 01/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2025/english.june01.25.htm

News Bulletin Achieves Since 2006
Click Here to enter the LCCC Arabic/English news bulletins Achieves since 2006 

Click On The Below Link To Join Elias Bejjaninews whatsapp group
https://chat.whatsapp.com/FPF0N7lE5S484LNaSm0MjW
اضغط على الرابط في أعلى للإنضمام لكروب Eliasbejjaninews whatsapp group

Elias Bejjani/Click on the below link to subscribe to my youtube channel
الياس بجاني/اضغط على الرابط في أسفل للإشتراك في موقعي ع اليوتيوب
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOOSioLh1GE3C1hp63Camw

Bible Quotations For today
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’
John 13/31-35: “When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 31-june 01/2025
Raiding the Home of Lebanese Writer and Journalist Wissam Saadeh and Confiscating His Cell Phone: A Rejected and Condemned Act of Terror/Elias Bejjani/May 29/2025
«Save and Protect the Enduring Sanctuary of Saint Catherine's Monastery in Sinai/Cathryn Papadopoulo/change org/May 30, 2025
Video link to the interview with writer and director Yousef El Khoury on the Al-Huwiyah platform / A national and sovereigntist reading into the history, present, and future of many existential and critical Lebanese issues and files.
Video Link to an Interview with Dr. Charles/Key Headlines from Dr. Charles Chartouni’s Interview on Al-Badeel Channe
Behind closed doors: UN envoy meets Hezbollah official to discuss Resolution 1701 and Israeli violations
Israeli Strike on South Lebanon Kills One
Israel Resumes Airstrikes North of Litani Amid Hezbollah Disarmament Talks
Israeli strike in Deir al-Zahrani kills 'Hezbollah rocket commander'
MP says Hezbollah has 'nothing to offer' before govt. honors 'commitments'
Berri Says Lebanon Requests UNIFIL Mandate Renewal
Iranian Foreign Minister to Visit Beirut on Monday
MP Samy Gemayel: The Syrian regime is gone, so why are the refugees still in Lebanon?
Miss Lebanon qualifies among the Top 20 at Miss World 2025, ranks among Top 5 in Asia & Oceania
From isolation to investment: Syria's comeback highlights Lebanon's stalled crisis
The Political Challenge of Disarming Palestinian Camps in Lebanon/Élie-Joe Kamel/This Is Beirut/May 31/2025

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 31-june 01/2025
Iran has stockpiled near nuclear weapons-grade uranium, UN watchdog finds
Iran minister says Oman presented elements of a US proposal for nuclear deal
Iran's Nuclear Weapons Program Still Active… IRGC Agents Disguised in European Companies
Israel says after IAEA report, the international community must stop Iran
Iran Has Amassed Even More Near Weapons-grade Uranium, UN Watchdog Says
Hamas says Witkoff's Gaza ceasefire proposal must lead to the end of the war
Hamas seeks changes in US Gaza proposal; Witkoff calls response ‘unacceptable’
Trump Says Israel, Hamas ‘Very Close’ on Temporary Truce Deal
Hamas Suggests Releasing 10 Living Hostages, 18 Bodies
Israeli Military Says it Killed Mohammed Sinwar on May 13
Barcelona Breaks 'Friendship Agreement' with Tel Aviv Over Gaza War
Israel army says ‘several’ projectiles fired from Gaza fell in open areas
Gaza Aid Supplies Hit by Looting as Hamas Ceasefire Response Awaited
Arab ministers condemn Israel ‘ban’ on planned Ramallah visit
Israel becomes the first country to down drones in combat with a laser weapon
Saudi Arabia and Qatar to provide financial support for Syrian state employees
ISIS Attempts to Revive Operations in Syria
Israel strikes western Syria, civilian reported killed
Syrian Kurdish Commander in Touch with Türkiye, Open to Meeting Erdogan

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 31-june 01/2025
Iran Duping Trump with IAEA Inspections. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/May 31, 2025
Will the lifting of sanctions usher in a new beginning for the Syrian people?/ANAN TELLO/Arab News/May 31, 2025
Global threat report reveals Trump’s strategic priorities/Luke Coffey/Arab News/May 31, 2025
Meeting challenges, creating opportunities, sharing prosperity/Chang Hua/Arab News/May 30, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 31-june 01/2025
Raiding the Home of Lebanese Writer and Journalist Wissam Saadeh and Confiscating His Cell Phone: A Rejected and Condemned Act of Terror
Elias Bejjani/May 29/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143756/
Multiple social media outlets reported today that the home of Lebanese writer and journalist Wissam Saadeh was raided by security forces, and his mobile phone was confiscated, based on an order issued by Judge Fadi Akiki.
We affirm that this action is categorically rejected and strongly condemned, as it constitutes a direct assault on freedom of expression and the essential role of journalism in Lebanon.
This condut is, by all standards, an act of terror and a blatant violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Lebanese Constitution, foremost among them freedom of the press and freedom of speech, which are sacred pillars in any sound democratic system.
Pursuing journalists and free voices—rather than holding corrupt officials and criminals accountable for dismantling the foundations of the state—reflects a deeply troubling decline in the priorities of Lebanon’s judicial and security institutions. Wissam Saadeh is a respected Lebanese writer, widely known for his intellect, integrity, and constructive critical thinking. This blatant judicial assault against him is not merely a personal attack—it is a warning to every free voice daring to speak the truth at a time when the criminal and terrorist grip of Iranian occupation, represented by the Hezbollah gang wholly loyal to the IRGC, is beginning to falter.
In defense of truth and the preservation of freedoms, we call on the Minister of Justice to put an immediate end to Judge Fadi Akiki’s abuses of power, and in fact, to hold him accountable for the many baseless accusations he has issued—and continues to issue—against writers, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens, without legal justification.
We reaffirm that freedom of the press is not a matter of opinion—it is a cornerstone of national and democratic life. The continuation of this repressive approach, embodied by Judge Akiki and those behind him, will not intimidate the sovereign voices or silence the truth, but will further expose ongoing efforts to subjugate the nation of the Cedars to fear, suppression, and authoritarianism.
We demand an immediate end to such practices, and accountability for anyone who abuses judicial or security authority. We also express our full solidarity with writer and journalist Wissam Saadeh, and with every free voice that refuses to submit to the machinery of repression, terror, and the assault on fundamental freedoms.
Freedom of speech is a red line—and Lebanon can only be rebuilt on the foundations of liberty, dignity, and justice.

«Save and Protect the Enduring Sanctuary of Saint Catherine's Monastery in Sinai
Cathryn Papadopoulo/change org/May 30, 2025
https://www.change.org/p/save-and-protect-the-enduring-sanctuary-of-saint-catherine-s-monastery-in-sinai?recruiter=781503&fbclid=IwY2xjawKoSvVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFHanlacG96cGFXR0xyZXR6AR766riq_VwnRx4L9maK84g6KXV2854ReUuP6Ys661RQ7kTT--aWnK6vwwPXRw_aem_zBgNghilkwZSsDYPGayKUQ
To the esteemed Government of Egypt, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and global religious and civil organizations:
Saint Catherine's Monastery, nestled at the foot of Mount Sinai, stands as a profound testament to the enduring power of faith and interreligious harmony. For over fourteen centuries, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has served not only as one of the oldest continuously operating Christian monasteries but also as a significant spiritual nexus revered by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Its historical and religious importance is immeasurable, a beacon of peace and coexistence in a region rich with history.
Disturbing recent reports suggest potential actions by the Egyptian government that could infringe upon the autonomy, or even lead to the confiscation or nationalization, of this sacred site. Such actions would constitute a grave violation of its unique status and a profound loss for the world's shared cultural and spiritual heritage.
The sanctity of Saint Catherine's Monastery has been recognized throughout history, notably by the Prophet Muhammad himself, whose covenant explicitly ensured the safety and self-governance of its monastic community. To undermine this long-standing protection now would inflict an irreparable wound upon our collective memory and the principles of tolerance and respect for religious sites.
Therefore, we urgently appeal for the safeguarding of this invaluable landmark and call upon:
* The Government of Egypt: To unequivocally guarantee the full protection, autonomy, and non-interference in the life and administration of Saint Catherine's Monastery, upholding its status as a protected heritage site of global significance.
* UNESCO: To proactively investigate any indication of potential encroachment upon the monastery's sacred status and to take all necessary measures to ensure its preservation as a World Heritage Site.
* Religious and Civil Organizations Worldwide: To unite in a collective voice to defend Saint Catherine's Monastery, advocating for its continued sanctity and autonomy as a living monument to faith and interfaith understanding.
This is not merely a matter of preserving a historical site; it is a stand for religious freedom, cultural dignity, and the integrity of our shared human heritage. Let us ensure that the sacred heart of Sinai remains untouched, a testament to the enduring values of peace and faith for generations to come.
We implore you to add your voice to this urgent appeal. Please sign this petition to demonstrate global solidarity in protecting Saint Catherine's Monastery, a precious legacy for all humanity.

Video link to the interview with writer and director Yousef El Khoury on the Al-Huwiyah platform / A national and sovereigntist reading into the history, present, and future of many existential and critical Lebanese issues and files.
(Transcription and Free-form Summary by Elias Bejjani)
May 30, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143793/
The interview was conducted by Al-Huwiyah platform publisher, journalist Abdul Rahman Darnika.
*A critical reading of the sins and malicious wrongdoings committed by Maronite clergymen (Father Abdo Abou Kassem and Bishop Boulos Abdel Sater), who attacked Monsignor Labaki — the man who buried the last child after the Damour massacre. All the charges brought against him were fabricated, and the day will come when the truth is revealed and his innocence proclaimed.
*The Cairo Agreement and the Aramoun Summit that imposed it and sided with the Palestinians against the Lebanese state/PM, Rashid Karami refused to present it to Parliament and cunningly passed it through a ministerial statement.
*The Arabs’ support for the Palestinians in their war against Lebanon forced President Frangieh to halt the Lebanese Army’s battle against them.
*The Battle of Safra and its positive outcomes / Bachir Gemayel made decisive moves and seized the Christian decision-making power.
*The Taif Agreement was imposed in a way that ensured it would not be implemented; it is full of contradictions.
*The truth about the Sabra and Shatila massacre, which was carried out by Palestinian organizations to undermine Bachir Gemayel’s era.
*A definition of who qualifies as Lebanese according to Yousef El Khoury’s concepts, and who does not belong to Lebanon:
*According to Yousef El Khoury, anyone who does not dare to call for the prosecution of Hezbollah, and who does not adopt the cause of the South Lebanon Army and the brave, honorable Lebanese refugees in Israel since 2000, is not of Lebanon.
*Background on the municipal and elective elections, which were a battle between the ruling system and the traditional families.
*Lebanon’s fate is tied to a decision by Netanyahu.
*Hezbollah’s weapons will soon become a burden upon it.
*There is a possibility that the United States will abandon Lebanon to its fate if its rulers fail to implement The UN resolutions.

Video Link to an Interview with Dr. Charles
Key Headlines from Dr. Charles Chartouni’s Interview on Al-Badeel Channel
A Sovereign and Legal Perspective on the Chronic Palestinian Arms Issue — and on the Reluctance and Failure of Lebanese Leaders to Grasp and Align with International and Regional Shifts, as They Remain Hostages to the Delusional Opium of Iranian Hezbollah.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143801/
(Transcription and Free-form Summary by Elias Bejjani)
*The dangers of the chronic Palestinian arms issue, that is tied to foreign powers.
*The state's duty to assert full sovereignty over all security hotspots.
*The dangers of a state lacking both political decision-making and national will.
*The intersection between Israeli national security and regional conflicts.
*The Lebanese state’s submission to Hezbollah’s destructive agenda that blocks all potential solutions.
*National dialogue must be limited to a clear and enforceable timeline for disarmament.
*Contradictions in Nawaf Salam’s positions and the ambiguity of his sovereign vision.
*Persistent American efforts to transition Lebanon and the region from a state of war to lasting peace.
*The fallacy of the “defensive strategy” logic promoted by Aoun and Salam.
*The suicidal delusions of Iran’s ideological opium imposed on Lebanon and its people.
*Syria’s comparatively advanced inclinations for peace status under Charaa's leadership versus Lebanon’s dismal condition.
*Rapid international developments determined to dismantle Hezbollah’s dominance and push toward normalization on all fronts.
*Trump will not allow Hezbollah to maintain control over Lebanon or let peace opportunities be wasted.
*Netanyahu’s firm resolve for a decisive resolution to the northern front and Hezbollah’s threats.
*The inevitability and necessity of normalization and peace with Israel, and the urgent need to remove all obstacles to it.

Behind closed doors: UN envoy meets Hezbollah official to discuss Resolution 1701 and Israeli violations
LBCI/May 31/2025
In a discreet meeting held at an undisclosed time and place, Hezbollah's Coordination and Liaison Unit chief, Wafiq Safa, met with the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, to discuss key issues surrounding U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. According to Hezbollah, the primary focus of the meeting was the implementation of Resolution 1701, with Safa reiterating the group's commitment to the framework while presenting what he described as ongoing Israeli violations of the accord. The conversation reportedly expanded to include the upcoming renewal of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, which is scheduled for a vote at the end of August. Israel is said to be applying pressure to prevent the renewal or at least reduce the mission's mandate. The meeting also addressed concerns over potential escalation along the southern border and emphasized the need for all parties to adhere to Resolution 1701 to maintain regional stability strictly. While Hezbollah insisted the meeting was part of routine coordination and not intended for message delivery or backchannel negotiations, the involvement of Hennis-Plasschaert—who previously served as the Netherlands' first female defense minister and U.N. Special Representative for Iraq—adds weight to the encounter. Her presence suggests a deeper diplomatic interest, especially given the current tensions and Israeli pressure on both Hezbollah and the U.N. mission. No official statement has been issued from the U.N. envoy's office regarding the meeting or its contents. However, the mere occurrence of such a meeting is seen by some observers as potentially significant, raising questions about whether Plasschaert was seeking to convey specific international concerns or simply assessing Hezbollah's position amid mounting geopolitical pressure.

Israeli Strike on South Lebanon Kills One
Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
Lebanese official media said an Israeli strike killed one person in the south on Saturday despite a six-month-old ceasefire, as Israel said it targeted a Hezbollah member.
The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said a man was killed when an Israeli drone targeted his car as he was heading to pray at a mosque in Deir al-Zahrani, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Israeli border. Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon despite the November 27 truce that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of open war. The Israeli army said the strike killed a regional commander "of Hezbollah's rocket array". It charged that during the conflict, the operative "advanced numerous projectile attacks... and was involved recently in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure" in south Lebanon. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle military infrastructure to its south.
Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon but it has kept troops in five areas it deems "strategic". The Lebanese army has deployed in the south and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure.

Israel Resumes Airstrikes North of Litani Amid Hezbollah Disarmament Talks
Beirut: Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
Israel has resumed heavy airstrikes north of the Litani river amid discussions among Lebanese leaders on a possible agreement to disarm Hezbollah. President Joseph Aoun met on Friday with Speaker Nabih Berri at the Baabda Palace. Berri described the talks as "excellent” without giving further details. Aoun also held Friday a security meeting with the Minister of Defense, the Army Commander, and the Intelligence chief to discuss the security situation in the country, mainly in south Lebanon as Israel continues to carry out attacks that hinder the deployment of the Lebanese army. The officials also discussed the disarmament of Palestinian camps in Lebanon, which are set to start in mid-June in three Beirut camps. For the first time in three weeks, Israel carried out more than a dozen airstrikes overnight Thursday to Friday in south and east Lebanon, in areas lying north of the Litani river. The Israeli army said it targeted “several military sites and terrorist infrastructure belonging to ... Hezbollah across Lebanon.”“Among the targets was terrorist infrastructure containing combat equipment in the Sidon area, which had recently witnessed Hezbollah attempts to rebuild after it had been bombed in the past,” the Israeli army said. It added that Israel will “continue to operate to eliminate any threat” and “prevent any attempt by ... Hezbollah to establish itself.”The escalation came as Lebanese officials hold talks to limit illegitimate arms to state control, an issue that is set to be discussed by US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who is set to visit Beirut next week. Development and Liberation bloc MP Michel Moussa told a local radio station that the authorities haven’t been informed yet about the timing of the visit or the agenda of her meetings. “Ortagus is scheduled to follow up on discussions on major issues such as the implementation of Resolution 1701, reforms and the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate by the UN Security Council next August,” Moussa said.

Israeli strike in Deir al-Zahrani kills 'Hezbollah rocket commander'
Agence France Presse/May 31/2025
Lebanese official media said an Israeli strike killed one person in the south on Saturday despite a six-month-old ceasefire, as Israel said it targeted a Hezbollah militant. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said a man was killed when an Israeli drone targeted his car as he was heading to pray at a mosque in Deir al-Zahrani, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Israeli border. Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon despite the November 27 truce that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of open war. The Israeli army said the strike killed a regional commander "of Hezbollah's rocket array." It charged that during the conflict, the operative "advanced numerous projectile attacks... and was involved recently in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure" in south Lebanon. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle military infrastructure to its south. Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon but it has kept troops in five areas it deems "strategic".The Lebanese Army has deployed in the south and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure.

MP says Hezbollah has 'nothing to offer' before govt. honors 'commitments'
Naharnet/May 31/2025
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah on Saturday said “the stances we’re hearing from some of the government components do not only contravene the Ministerial Statement, but are against it and its total opposite.” These stances “evade the responsibilities that were pledged to the Lebanese people,” Fadlallah added. He noted that the first three clauses of the Ministerial Statement talk about post-war reconstruction, deterring Israel and taking steps to liberate Israeli-occupied Lebanese territory. “But what have they done regarding these three clauses? Has the government implemented what it had committed itself to in the reconstruction file? There are five or six clauses that should be implemented before tackling the issue of defending Lebanon, which requires a national security strategy,” Fadlallah added, referring to the thorny issue of Hezbollah’s arms. “Let no one ask us to implement the Ministerial Statement in a reversed manner, in a way putting the cart before the horse. Implement your obligations first and then request things from us, because we no longer have anything to offer to anyone in any form, neither in south Lebanon, nor outside south Lebanon, nor in any region, because we have offered what we have and we’ve implemented what we had committed ourselves to on all levels,” the lawmaker went on to say. “According to the constitutional and legal texts, the incumbent government is obliged to implement the stipulations of this Ministerial Statement, and we have no other words about anything else. When they implement these clauses we would talk about the other things,” Fadlallah added.

Berri Says Lebanon Requests UNIFIL Mandate Renewal
This is Beirut/May 31/2025
President of Parliament Nabih Berri told the newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that the issue of renewing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was at the top of the agenda of his recent meeting with President Joseph Aoun. Berri said that a committee had been formed to draft a letter to the UN Security Council requesting renewal without any changes. He stressed that Lebanon, as Aoun had told him, was not aware of any intention to change anything concerning UNIFIL and had not been informed by any international party of a reduction in the number of international forces or a revision of their missions. He added, "We are awaiting the upcoming visit to Beirut by the US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, to ascertain the real position of the United States, beyond speculation. It is on this basis that we will be able to define our own position, reaffirming our commitment to UNIFIL's current role without any amendments and our demand for an Israeli withdrawal with a view to implementing Resolution 1701."Berri expressed his satisfaction with the atmosphere during his meeting with Aoun, praising France's position. He stated, "No change in the US position has been communicated to us at this stage, despite rumors of differences within the US administration. Lebanon will base its final position on the decision taken by the Security Council regarding the renewal, as well as on the Council's position regarding the content of the letter sent by Lebanon to the UN."
Berri said that “Lebanon has respected all of its commitments under the ceasefire agreement sponsored by the US and France, unlike Israel.” He added, "Hezbollah remains committed to respecting it. It has cooperated with the Lebanese Army, facilitating its deployment south of the Litani River in areas from which Israel has withdrawn, with the support of UNIFIL. It has surrendered its weapons and has not objected to the dismantling of its military installations by the Army. It continues to respect the ceasefire and refrains from responding to Israeli violations and attacks: not a single shot has been fired since Lebanon committed to this agreement, which Israel has violated."The head of Parliament also emphasized the role of the monitoring committee, and in the background, that of the United States, in the need to get Israel to respect the ceasefire. He said there was no reason to doubt Hezbollah's cooperation with the Lebanese Army, nor its alignment with the state's position, which calls for pressure on Israel to withdraw from the south. Berri will begin his meetings in Beirut on Monday morning with a meeting with Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji.

Iranian Foreign Minister to Visit Beirut on Monday
This is Beirut/May 31/2025
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to arrive in Lebanon on Monday, June 2, 2025, for an official visit, according to a statement released by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will begin his meetings in Beirut on Monday morning with a meeting with Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji. The visit takes place at a delicate moment for Lebanon, as internal debate intensifies over the future of Hezbollah’s weapons arsenal. Araghchi’s arrival also coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts by the administration of United States President Donald Trump to forge a new nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Adding to the heightened atmosphere, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has just published a stark report revealing a significant acceleration in Iran’s undeclared nuclear activities – developments that may bring Tehran closer to the capability to produce nuclear weapons. Araghchi’s visit is expected to draw close attention both regionally and internationally, as it unfolds against the backdrop of growing geopolitical uncertainty.

MP Samy Gemayel: The Syrian regime is gone, so why are the refugees still in Lebanon?
LBCI/May 31/2025
Kataeb Party leader and MP Samy Gemayel warned that Lebanon is now one of the most overcrowded countries in the world, citing the presence of over 1.7 million Syrian refugees. Speaking at a panel during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Budapest, Hungary, Gemayel highlighted the strain this has placed on Lebanon, a country with a land area of just 10,452 square kilometers and approximately 5 million citizens. He said the refugee population amounts to nearly a 50% increase in the country's original population. "To grasp the scale of the crisis, imagine if France received 32 million additional refugees," he said. Gemayel noted that this situation has persisted for 12 years and argued that the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime removed the justification for Syrian refugees to remain in Lebanon. "What is the excuse today? The regime is gone. Why are the refugees still in Lebanon?" he asked. He called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to reassess its policies regarding the Syrian crisis, emphasizing that the top priority should be securing the refugees' return to their homeland. Gemayel added that the issue does not concern Lebanon alone but also affects Jordan, Turkey, and several European countries.

Miss Lebanon qualifies among the Top 20 at Miss World 2025, ranks among Top 5 in Asia & Oceania
LBCI/May 31/2025
Miss Lebanon Nada Koussa advanced to the Top 20 finalists at the Miss World 2025 pageant held in India. In addition to securing a spot among the global contenders, Koussa also ranked in the Top 5 for the Asia & Oceania region, standing out among contestants from across the continent.

From isolation to investment: Syria's comeback highlights Lebanon's stalled crisis
LBCI/May 31/2025
As U.S. sanctions on Syria are lifted, the war-torn country is witnessing a wave of Arab and international investment, including a $7 billion agreement signed with a consortium of leading energy companies. The rapid influx of capital is viewed as a significant endorsement of Syria's newly formed government and its efforts to re-enter the regional economic landscape after more than a decade of isolation. According to LBCI sources, the pace of development projects in Syria is driven by multiple factors. Among them is President Ahmed al-Sharaa's determination, since taking office, to act swiftly to gain both domestic and international trust and to assert his legitimacy as the country's leader despite early skepticism. Government ministers are also reportedly competing internally to launch successful initiatives, while the state has adopted a thoroughly liberal economic policy aimed at reducing the public sector's dominance and encouraging both Syrian and foreign private investment. This surge in foreign investment in Syria comes in stark contrast to Lebanon, which continues to suffer from a lack of investor confidence. Is Lebanon's problem purely political, or does it stem from the absence of a coherent national economic strategy? The current situation draws comparisons to 1992 when the late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri took office during a similarly dire economic period. Back then, Lebanon was dealing with a deep recession, high inflation, soaring unemployment, and a collapsing currency—conditions that echo today's crisis. Hariri responded with a clear vision for economic recovery, launching the ambitious "HORIZON 2000" reconstruction plan. His initiative focused on revitalizing Beirut as the heart of the country, rebuilding its downtown district, and rehabilitating essential infrastructure, including the Beirut port and international airport. The renewed trust in Lebanon that followed helped Hariri attract significant investment from Lebanese, Arab, and international sources in tourism, real estate, finance, and industry. Beirut reemerged as a hub for global conferences and business forums, drawing investors and political leaders alike. Throughout his tenure, Hariri maintained and strengthened Lebanon's Arab and international ties, leveraging those relationships to rebuild the nation's economy. Today, as Lebanon faces one of its worst crises, can the country find its way back by reviving the Hariri model of leadership and economic diplomacy?

The Political Challenge of Disarming Palestinian Camps in Lebanon
Élie-Joe Kamel/This Is Beirut/May 31/2025
The disarmament of Palestinian camps in Lebanon is set to begin in mid-June 2025 under a plan jointly developed by the Lebanese government and the Palestinian Authority. This initiative was a key focus of President Mahmoud Abbas’s recent visit to Beirut and was the main topic of a security meeting convened by President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Palace, where officials reviewed the proposed implementation measures. The plan will be implemented in phases, starting with the camps surrounding Beirut—Bourj el-Brajneh, Shatila, and Mar Elias—considered the least problematic from a security perspective. The second phase, scheduled for early July, will target the Al-Jalil camp in the Bekaa, followed by Beddawi in northern Lebanon. Lebanon officially hosts 12 Palestinian refugee camps recognized by UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), scattered across the country. Military experts consulted by This is Beirut highlight the difficulty of precisely assessing arms stockpiles within the camps, as reliable intelligence is limited to a few agencies. There is broad consensus that the Beirut-area camps pose a limited security risk, while those in southern Lebanon—where Hezbollah-affiliated factions are active—present far more complex challenges. At this stage, disarmament is primarily viewed as a test of political will rather than a purely technical or military operation.
Retired General Khalil Helou emphasizes that armed presence in the Beirut camps is currently minimal. “These camps were largely disarmed in the 1980s, following clashes with the Amal movement and the Israeli invasion of 1982,” he notes.
According to Helou, securing the Beirut-area camps does not constitute a major challenge for the Lebanese State. The true test will be disarming Ain el-Helweh camp in Saida—the largest in Lebanon, with an estimated population between 40,000 to 70,000, including many Palestinian refugees from Syria.
Ain el-Helweh is home to a complex array of armed groups. Fatah fields between 400 and 500 fighters split into several factions, some openly hostile to President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas maintains a significant presence with roughly 300 fighters, similar to its strength in camps near Tyre. Additionally, about 500 members of radical Islamist groups and fighters from other Palestinian factions are active. The camp’s security is officially managed by a joint force of approximately 75 fighters and officers representing most of these groups. Over the years, Ain el-Helweh has become a fortress where Lebanese security forces are barred entry, effectively turning it into a refuge for outlaws. It harbors a sizable arsenal, evidenced by deadly clashes between July and September 2023 involving Fatah loyalists and Salafist groups such as Osbat al-Nour, reportedly backed by Hezbollah.General Helou clarifies that “these weapons are not heavy.” He explains, “There are no longer anti-aircraft missiles, artillery or tanks—mainly small arms, mortars and anti-tank missiles remain.”
While these weapons can still fuel armed conflict, the military capacity of these groups has notably weakened over time. Helou stresses that “possession of weapons alone is insufficient; they require maintenance and fighters need funding and structured command”—all of which are increasingly lacking.
He recalls that during Lebanon’s civil war, some Palestinian factions had budgets larger than the Lebanese Army’s. Regarding external support, Helou expresses skepticism that countries like Iran or Qatar currently provide significant funding to Hamas in Lebanon: “If such funding exists today, it is very limited.”
Conditions and Challenges
The obstacles to disarming the Palestinian camps extend beyond logistical issues. Several factions link their cooperation to demands including the regularization of wanted individuals—nearly 2,500 in Ain el-Helweh, with approximately 1,200 accused of terrorism-related offenses—a general amnesty, and improvements in camp living conditions. Complicating matters is significant uncertainty over post-disarmament security arrangements, as no clear framework has been established for managing the camps once weapons are surrendered. General Helou underscores that the success of disarmament heavily depends on the regional context, particularly the situation in Gaza and ongoing US-Iran negotiations, which strongly influence local dynamics. It is noteworthy that the 2023 clashes in Ain el-Helweh erupted amid attempts at reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority—efforts reportedly undermined, but unsuccessfully, by Hezbollah. Ultimately, disarming the Palestinian camps in Lebanon represents a major political test. The Lebanese State is determined to reassert full territorial control and monopolize arms possession but appears to be avoiding direct confrontation for the time being. Meanwhile, Hezbollah remains resolute, neither disarming nor relinquishing its influence over certain Palestinian factions. “It’s not about weapons, but political will,” concludes General Khalil Helou—a will that, given Lebanon’s internal divisions and regional tensions, remains to be proven.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 31-june 01/2025
Iran has stockpiled near nuclear weapons-grade uranium, UN watchdog finds
Sky News/May 31, 2025
Iran further increased its stockpile of uranium to near weapons-grade levels and has carried out secret nuclear activities, the UN watchdog has said. A report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that as of 17 May, Iran has amassed 408.6kg of uranium enriched up to 60% - an increase of 133.8kg since the IAEA's last report in February. That material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Issuing a stern warning, the IAEA said Iran is now "the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material", which it said is of "serious concern". IAEA chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels to make "several" nuclear bombs, if it chose to do so. A separate IAEA report also found traces of uranium at two to four sites that indicated Tehran had hosted secret experiments. It concluded that "these three locations, and other possible related locations, were part of an undeclared structured nuclear programme carried out by Iran until the early 2000s and that some activities used undeclared nuclear material". The findings of this report, in particular, are important, as they could lead to Iran being referred to the UN Security Council. European countries could also reimplement sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the original Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015. More immediately, it is likely to complicate recent talks between Iran and the US over a possible nuclear deal that Donald Trump is trying to reach.
On 29 May, senior Iranian officials dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the US, emphasising that any agreement must fully lift sanctions and allow the country's nuclear programme to continue. Tehran has always said it wants to master nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and has long denied accusations by Western powers that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. However, the IAEA report spelt out that Iran's cooperation with the IAEA continues to be "less than satisfactory" in "a number of respects". Israel said the IAEA report was a clear warning sign that "Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons programme", according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. It said the IAEA's report "strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years - the purpose of Iran's nuclear program is not peaceful". It comes after Mr Trump told Mr Netanyahu to hold off striking Iran to give his government more time to push for a new nuclear deal with Tehran. Mr Trump said on Friday that he still thinks a deal could be completed in the "not too distant future". "They don't want to be blown up. They would rather make a deal," the US president said, adding: "That would be a great thing that we could have a deal without bombs being dropped all over the Middle East

Iran minister says Oman presented elements of a US proposal for nuclear deal
Agencies/May 31, 2025
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his Omani counterpart presented elements of a US proposal for a nuclear deal between Tehran and Washington during a short visit to Tehran on Saturday. Araghchi said in a post on X that Iran “will respond to the US proposal in line with the principles, national interests and rights of people of Iran.”His statement came ahead of an anticipated sixth round of talks between Washington and Tehran to resolve a decades-long dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. The date and venue of talks have not been yet announced. Iran’s foreign ministry on Saturday also accused Israel of providing “unreliable and misleading information” to the United Nations nuclear watchdog to be used in its new report on Tehran’s nuclear program. “Relying on unreliable and misleading information sources provided by the Israeli regime ... is contrary to the IAEA’s principles of professional verification,” the ministry said in a statement.

Iran's Nuclear Weapons Program Still Active… IRGC Agents Disguised in European Companies
London: Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
The Austrian intelligence agency said in a report that Iran is continuing with its active nuclear weapons program, which it says can be used to launch missiles over long distances. Also, the IRGC, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, is accused of planting spies in European companies and factories to learn expertise and transfer new technologies, the report showed according to Fox news. It said the intelligence gathering of Austrian officials contradicts the assessment of the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate Intelligence Committee in March that the American intelligence community “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003.” Austria’s version of the FBI - the Directorate State Protection and Intelligence Service - wrote Monday in the intelligence report, “In order to assert and enforce its regional political power ambitions, Iran is striving for comprehensive rearmament, with nuclear weapons to make the regime immune to attack and to expand and consolidate its dominance in the Middle East and beyond.”In the 211-page report that covers pressing threats to Austria’s democracy, the agency said that the “Iranian nuclear weapons development program is well advanced, and Iran possesses a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads over long distances.”
Shell Companies
The report said that Iran’s intelligence seeks to exploit its relations with research institutes and academic centers in war zones to use their expertise for its own military-industrial development. According to the intelligence document obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital, Iranian regime intelligence actively targets Western technologies and dual-use goods, often using front companies and shell corporations tied to the Revolutionary Guards. These networks enable Iran to acquire components for WMDs and high-tech military equipment. “Western military technology from war zones - such as captured Israeli or US drones - is disassembled, studied, and replicated,” the report said. “Iranian intelligence services are familiar with developing and implementing circumvention strategies for the procurement of military equipment, proliferation-sensitive technologies, and materials for weapons of mass destruction,” the Austrian intelligence agency added.In October 2022, the Ukrainian military showcased a captured modern Iranian “Mohajer-6” attack drone that was recovered from the Black Sea. It said the reconnaissance drone is equipped with an aircraft engine manufactured by the Austrian company Rotax, signaling Tehran’s non-compliance with the EU's arms-related sanctions. In October 2020, after the US imposed new sanctions on the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, the National Iranian Oil Company and the National Iranian Tanker Company “for their financial support to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps – Quds Force,” Rotax said it stopped selling aircraft engines to Iran. Austria's counter-terrorism authority reported a rise in job applications from Iranians to Austrian companies, particularly those specialized in the metal and electrical engineering industries, raising security concerns about Iran’s attempt to seek sensitive knowledge to support its weapons programs. The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), also reported an increase in espionage activities, particularly targeting economic and research institutions in Austria by foreign actors seeking to obtain economic and scientific information. Earlier, European countries imposed strict measures on Iranian students applying to technical universities and sectors related to nuclear technology. Noting Iran’s interference in regional conflicts, the Austrian intelligence agency said that since the 2010s, the Iranian regime’s arms shipments have fueled regional conflicts, especially in Syria and Palestine.
Disguised Intelligence Officers
The Austrian intelligence findings could be an unwanted wrench in President Trump’s negotiation process to resolve the atomic crisis with Iran’s rulers because the data outlined in the report suggests the regime will not abandon its drive to secure a nuclear weapon, Fox News said. The report comes as the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose headquarters are in the Austrian capital, will in the coming days publish its own review of Iran’s nuclear activities. The Fox news report said, “Vienna is home to one of the largest embassies of Iran in Europe, which disguises intelligence officers with diplomatic.”
The Austrian intelligence report noted that, “Iranian intelligence services are familiar with developing and implementing circumvention strategies for the procurement of military equipment, proliferation-sensitive technologies, and materials for weapons of mass destruction.”In 2021, a Belgian court convicted Asadollah Asadi, a former Iranian diplomat based in Vienna, for planning to blow up a 2018 opposition meeting of tens of thousands of Iranian dissidents held outside Paris. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as Trump’s personal lawyer at the time, attended the event in France.
When asked about the differences in conclusions between the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Austrian intelligence report, David Albright, a physicist and founder and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, DC, told Fox News Digital, “The ODNI report is stuck in the past, a remnant of the fallacious unclassified 2007 NIE [National Intelligence Estimate].”
“The Austrian report in general is similar to German and British assessments. Both governments, by the way, made clear to (the) US IC [intelligence community] in 2007 that they thought the US assessment was wrong that the Iranian nuclear weapons program ended in 2003.”"The German assessment is from BND [Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service] station chief in DC at that time. The British info is from a senior British non-proliferation official I was having dinner with the day the 2007 NIE was made public. The German said the US was misinterpreting data they all possessed.”
Iran’s Response
Iran on Friday called for an “official explanation” from the Austrian government following a recent report by the country’s intelligence agency concerning Iran’s nuclear program. In a statement, Esmail Baghaei, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, decried the Austrian intelligence agency's report about Iran's “active nuclear weapons program” as “false and baseless,” according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. Referring to Iran's membership in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the obvious fact that Iran's nuclear program is subject to the strictest inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Foreign Ministry spokesman considered Austria's move as undermining the credibility of the IAEA. “Unlike Austria and some other European countries that are deceitfully silent about the arming of Israel with all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, Iran is strongly opposed to nuclear weapons and other types of mass destruction weapons,” he said. Also, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister and lead nuclear negotiator, responded to the report on Thursday, saying “Media is speculating about an imminent Iran-US deal. Not sure if we are there yet.” On X, he wrote, “Iran is sincere about a diplomatic solution that will serve the interests of all sides. But getting there requires an agreement that will fully terminate all sanctions and uphold Iran's nuclear rights -- including enrichment.”

Israel says after IAEA report, the international community must stop Iran
Reuters/May 31, 2025
Israel said on Saturday that the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency showed that Iran’s nuclear program was not peaceful and that Tehran remained determined to complete its nuclear weapons program. “The international community must act now to stop Iran,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, adding that the level of uranium enrichment Iran had reached “exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever.”

Iran Has Amassed Even More Near Weapons-grade Uranium, UN Watchdog Says
Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog said Saturday. In a separate report, the agency called on Tehran to urgently change course and comply with its years-long probe. The report comes at a sensitive time, as the administration of US President Donald Trump seeks to reach a deal with Tehran to limit its nuclear program. The two sides have held several rounds of talks, so far without agreement. The report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency — which was seen by The Associated Press — says that as of May 17, Iran has amassed 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%. That’s an increase of 133.8 kilograms (294.9 pounds) — or almost 50% — since the IAEA’s last report in February. The 60% enriched material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. A report in February put this stockpile level at 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds). There was no immediate comment from Tehran on the new IAEA report. What does the report say? The IAEA report raised a stern warning, saying that Iran is now “the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material" — something the agency said was of "serious concern.”Approximately 42 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium is theoretically enough to produce one atomic bomb, if enriched further to 90%, according to the watchdog.
The IAEA report, a quarterly, also estimated that as of May 17, Iran’s overall stockpile of enriched uranium — which includes uranium enriched to lower levels — stood at 9,247.6 kilograms (20,387.4 pounds). That's an increase of 953.2 kilograms (2,101.4 pounds) since February's report.
Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but the IAEA chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi, has warned that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels to make “several” nuclear bombs if it chose to do so. Iranian officials have increasingly suggested that Tehran could pursue an atomic bomb. US intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program, but has “undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so.”The IAEA also circulated to member states on Saturday a second, 22-page confidential report, also seen by the AP, that Grossi was asked to produce following a resolution passed by the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors last November. In this so-called “comprehensive report,” the IAEA said that Iran’s cooperation with the agency has "been less than satisfactory” when it comes to uranium traces discovered by IAEA inspectors at several locations in Iran that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites. Western officials suspect that the uranium traces discovered by the IAEA could provide evidence that Iran had a secret military nuclear program until 2003. One of the sites became known publicly in 2018 after Netanyahu revealed it at the United Nations and called it a clandestine nuclear warehouse hidden at a rug-cleaning plant.
Iran denied this but in 2019 IAEA inspectors detected the presence of manmade uranium particles there. What is the IAEA inspecting in Iran? After initially blocking IAEA access, inspectors were able to collect samples in 2020 from two other locations where they also detected the presence of manmade uranium particles. The three locations became known as Turquzabad, Varamin, and Marivan. A fourth undeclared location named as Lavisan-Shian is also part of the IAEA probe but IAEA inspectors never visited the site because it was razed and demolished by Iran after 2003. In Saturday’s comprehensive report, the IAEA says that the “lack of answers and clarifications provided by Iran" to questions the watchdog had regarding Lavisan-Shian, Varamin and Marivan "has led the agency to conclude that these three locations, and other possible related locations, were part of an undeclared structured nuclear program carried out by Iran until the early 2000s and that some activities used undeclared nuclear material.”What's next? Saturday’s comprehensive report could be a basis for possible further steps by European nations, leading to a potential escalation in tensions between Iran and the West. European countries could move to trigger snap-back sanctions against Iran that were lifted under the original 2015 nuclear deal ahead of October, when the deal formally expires. On Thursday, senior Iranian officials dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the United States, emphasizing that any agreement must fully lift sanctions and allow the country’s nuclear program to continue. The comments came a day after Trump said he has told Netanyahu to hold off on striking Iran to give the US administration more time to push for a new deal with Tehran. Trump said on Friday that he still thinks a deal could be completed in the “not too distant future.”“They don’t want to be blown up. They would rather make a deal,” Trump said of Iran. He added, “That would be a great thing that we could have a deal without bombs being dropped all over the Middle East.”

Hamas says Witkoff's Gaza ceasefire proposal must lead to the end of the war
Reuters/May 31, 2025 at 11:51 a.m. EDT·2 min read
CAIRO -Hamas said on Saturday it had responded to a ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to mediators and included a demand for an end to the war, which had previously been a red line for Israel. The Palestinian group said in a statement that under the deal, it will release ten living hostages and 18 bodies in return for Israel's release of a number of Palestinian prisoners, comments in line with Witkoff's proposal. The Hamas statement added: "This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip." It said its response came "after conducting a round of national consultations". The statement did not mention that it was seeking any changes in the proposal, but a Palestinian official familiar with the talks told Reuters that Hamas sought some amendments while its response was positive. The Israeli Prime Minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israeli media reported earlier this week that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted the deal presented by Witkoff. The prime minister's office declined to comment at the time. Deep differences between Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March. Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely, be dismantled as a military and governing force and return all 58 hostages still held in Gaza before it will agree to end the war. Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the war. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack in its south on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 Israelis taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, Gaza health officials say, and has left the enclave in ruins.

Hamas seeks changes in US Gaza proposal; Witkoff calls response ‘unacceptable’
Reuters/May 31, 2025
Witkoff wrote in a posting on X: “It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward”
CAIRO/JERUSALEM: Hamas said on Saturday it was seeking amendments to a US-backed proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, but President Donald Trump’s envoy rejected the group’s response as “totally unacceptable.” The Palestinian militant group said it was willing to release 10 living hostages and hand over the bodies of 18 dead in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. But Hamas reiterated demands for an end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, conditions Israel has rejected. A Hamas official described the group’s response to the proposals from Trump’s special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff as “positive” but said it was seeking some amendments. The official did not elaborate on the changes being sought by the group. “This response aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to our people in the Strip,” Hamas said in a statement. The proposals would see a 60-day truce and the exchange of 28 of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza for more than 1,200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, along with the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave. A Palestinian official familiar with the talks told Reuters that among amendments Hamas is seeking is the release of the hostages in three phases over the 60-day truce and more aid distribution in different areas. Hamas also wants guarantees the deal will lead to a permanent ceasefire, the official said. There was no immediate response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office to the Hamas statement. Israel has previously rejected Hamas’ conditions, instead demanding the complete disarmament of the group and its dismantling as a military and governing force, along with the return of all 58 remaining hostages. Trump said on Friday he believed a ceasefire agreement was close after the latest proposals, and the White House said on Thursday that Israel had agreed to the terms.Saying he had received Hamas’ response, Witkoff wrote in a posting on X: “It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward. Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week.”On Saturday, the Israeli military said it had killed Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas’ Gaza chief on May 13, confirming what Netanyahu said earlier this week.
Sinwar, the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the group’s deceased leader and mastermind of the October 2023 attack on Israel, was the target of an Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza. Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied his death.The Israeli military, which relaunched its air and ground campaign in March following a two-month truce, said on Saturday it was continuing to hit targets in Gaza, including sniper posts and had killed what it said was the head of a Hamas weapons manufacturing site. The campaign has cleared large areas along the boundaries of the Gaza Strip, squeezing the population of more than 2 million into an ever narrower section along the coast and around the southern city of Khan Younis. Israel imposed a blockade on all supplies entering the enclave at the beginning of March in an effort to weaken Hamas and has found itself under increasing pressure from an international community shocked by the desperate humanitarian situation the blockade has created. On Saturday, aid groups said dozens of World Food Programme trucks carrying flour to Gaza bakeries had been hijacked by armed groups and subsequently looted by people desperate for food after weeks of mounting hunger. “After nearly 80 days of a total blockade, communities are starving and they are no longer willing to watch food pass them by,” the WFP said in a statement.

Trump Says Israel, Hamas ‘Very Close’ on Temporary Truce Deal
Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
US President Donald Trump has said that an agreement between Israel and Hamas on the Gaza Strip is “very close."“They’re very close to an agreement on Gaza, and we’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow,” Trump told reporters on Friday.
Trump’s optimistic outlook comes after the White House announced Thursday that Israel has accepted a new US proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hamas. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Israel “backed and supported” the new proposal. Hamas officials, however, gave the Israeli-approved draft a cool response, but said they wanted to study the proposal more closely before giving a formal answer.

Hamas Suggests Releasing 10 Living Hostages, 18 Bodies
Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
Hamas announced on Saturday that it has submitted its response on a ceasefire proposal presented by US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to mediators, saying it is offering the release of ten Israeli captives held by the Palestinian movement. Hamas said in a statement that under the deal, it will release ten living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies in return for Israel's release of a number of Palestinian prisoners. The Hamas statement added: "This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip." Hamas sources told Asharq Al-Awsat earlier Saturday that the movement had submitted its response to the mediators in the morning regarding the proposal on a ceasefire lasting 60 days. According to Hamas sources, the movement engaged in extensive discussions and held meetings with leaders from various Palestinian factions in Qatar and other capitals, including Beirut, in an effort to form a unified Palestinian stance. The Hamas leadership and the factions viewed the response as largely positive, although it included some conditions necessary to ensure a successful implementation, the sources said. All requests for amendments on the proposal were made through factional consensus, and it is expected that they will be accepted if there is genuine US pressure on Israel, they added. One key remark aims to prevent the release of Israeli captives only on two specific days in the first week, as outlined in Witkoff’s proposal. Instead, the release will occur in stages, similar to the previous deal, to ensure the agreement is fully implemented over the course of two months, which is the proposed 60-day period. Other Hamas sources stated that the response was neither strictly positive nor negative but included precise comments to ensure that any final agreement meets the bare minimum of Palestinian demands.

Israeli Military Says it Killed Mohammed Sinwar on May 13
Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
The Israeli military said on Saturday it killed Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza chief on May 13, confirming what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week. Mohammad Sinwar was the target of an Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza earlier this month. Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he had been killed. Mohammad Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the Palestinian militant group's deceased leader and mastermind of the October 2023 attack on Israel. Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied his death.

Barcelona Breaks 'Friendship Agreement' with Tel Aviv Over Gaza War
Barcelona: Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
Barcelona City Council voted Friday to sever institutional ties with the Israeli government and suspend its friendship agreement with Tel Aviv, citing violations of international law and the need to uphold the basic rights of the Palestinian people.
The motion, which includes nearly 20 provisions, was backed by the ruling Socialist party along with far-left and leftist pro-independence groups. It calls for an end to all official relations with Israel “until respect for international law” and the “basic rights of the Palestinian people” are restored. Barcelona will also suspend a 1998 friendship agreement with Tel Aviv-Jaffa. “The suffering and death in Gaza over the past year and a half, and recent attacks by the Israeli government, make any relationship unviable,” Barcelona's Mayor Jaume Collboni said during the council session, according to AFP. Among other symbolic measures, the City Council urged the trade fair organizer Fira de Barcelona not to host Israeli government pavilions or companies involved in the arms trade or profiting from the conflict in Gaza. A similar recommendation was made to the Port of Barcelona.
It is not the first time Barcelona has moved to suspend ties with Israel. In 2023, then-mayor Ada Colau took similar steps, which were later reversed when Collboni won local elections. While the move has little practical impact, the decision by Spain's second-largest city -- a top tourist destination and home to one of the world's best-known football clubs -- adds to a growing list of critics of Israel's devastating war in Gaza. Barcelona's move comes a year after Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognized a Palestinian state in a coordinated decision slammed by Israel. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is one of the most outspoken critics in the European Union of Israel's military operations in Gaza.

Israel army says ‘several’ projectiles fired from Gaza fell in open areas
Reuters/May 31/2025
The Israeli military said air raid sirens sounded in the country's south after several projectiles were launched from Gaza, adding that they fell in empty areas.“Following the sirens that sounded at 19:01 (1601 GMT), in Ein HaShlosha and Nirim, several projectiles were identified crossing into Israel from the Gaza Strip and fell in open areas,” the military said in a statement. Hamas said on Saturday it had responded to a ceasefire proposal presented by US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to mediators and included a demand for an end to the war, which had previously been a red line for Israel. The Palestinian group said in a statement that under the deal, it will release ten living hostages and 18 bodies in return for Israel’s release of a number of Palestinian prisoners, comments in line with Witkoff’s proposal. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack in its south on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 Israelis taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, Gaza health officials say, and has left the enclave in ruins.

Gaza Aid Supplies Hit by Looting as Hamas Ceasefire Response Awaited
Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
Armed men hijacked dozens of aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip overnight and hundreds of desperate Palestinians joined in to take supplies, local aid groups said on Saturday as officials waited for Hamas to respond to the latest ceasefire proposals. The incident was the latest in a series that has underscored the shaky security situation hampering the delivery of aid into Gaza, following the easing of a weeks-long Israeli blockade earlier this month, Reuters reported. US President Donald Trump said on Friday he believed a ceasefire agreement was close but Hamas has said it is still studying the latest proposals from his special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The White House said on Thursday that Israel had agreed to the proposals. The proposals would see a 60-day truce and the exchange of 28 of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza for more than 1,200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, along with the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave. On Saturday, the Israeli military, which relaunched its air and ground campaign in March following a two-month truce, said it was continuing to hit targets in Gaza, including sniper posts and had killed what it said was the head of a Hamas weapons manufacturing site. The campaign has cleared large areas along the boundaries of the Gaza Strip, squeezing the population of more than 2 million into an ever narrower section along the coast and around the southern city of Khan Younis. Israel imposed a blockade on all supplies entering the enclave at the beginning of March in an effort to weaken Hamas and has found itself under increasing pressure from an international community shocked by the increasingly desperate humanitarian situation the blockade has created. The United Nations said on Friday the situation in Gaza is the worst since the start of the war began 19 months ago, with the entire population facing the risk of famine despite a resumption of limited aid deliveries earlier this month. Israel has been allowing a limited number of trucks from the World Food Programme and other international groups to bring flour to bakeries in Gaza but deliveries have been hampered by repeated incidents of looting. At the same time, a separate system, run by a US-backed group called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been delivering meals and food packages at three designated distribution sites. However, aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF, which they say is not neutral, and say the amount of aid allowed in falls far short of the needs of a population at risk of famine. "The aid that's being sent now makes a mockery of the mass tragedy unfolding under our watch," Philippe Lazzarini, head of the main UN relief organization for Palestinians, said in a message on the social media platform X.

Arab ministers condemn Israel ‘ban’ on planned Ramallah visit
Arab News/May 31, 2025
DUBAI: Israel’s decision to prevent an Arab delegation from visiting Ramallah and meeting with Palestinian officials “represents a blatant violation of Israel’s obligations as the occupying power,” Jordan’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. Members of the ministerial committee, assigned by the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza, decided to postpone the visit to Ramallah after Israel refused the delegation’s entry through the airspace of the occupied West Bank, which it controls. “It reflects the extent of the Israeli government’s arrogance, its disregard for international law, and its continued illegitimate measures and policies that besiege the brotherly Palestinian people and their legitimate leadership, perpetuate the occupation, and undermine the chances of achieving a just and comprehensive peace,” the foreign ministry said. The delegation included ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Palestinian Authority officials said. The ministers would require Israeli consent to travel to the West Bank from Jordan.
An Israeli official said the ministers intended to take part in “a provocative meeting” to discuss promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state. “Such a state would undoubtedly become a terrorist state in the heart of the land of Israel,” the official said. “Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security.” A Palestinian Authority official said that the issue of whether the meeting in Ramallah would be able to go ahead was under discussion.The move comes ahead of an international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, due to be held in New York on June 17-20 to discuss the issue of Palestinian statehood. Israel has come under increasing pressure from the United Nations and European countries which favor a two-state solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict, under which an independent Palestinian state would exist alongside Israel. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that recognizing a Palestinian state was not only a “moral duty but a political necessity.”Israel this week announced the creation of 22 new West Bank settlements, which are regularly condemned by the United Nations as illegal under international law, and are seen as one of the main obstacles to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. On Friday, visiting one of the areas slated for recognition, Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to build a “Jewish Israeli state” in the West Bank.Taking aim at foreign countries that would “recognize a Palestinian state on paper”, he added: “The paper will be thrown into the trash bin of history, and the State of Israel will flourish and prosper.”– with agencies

Israel becomes the first country to down drones in combat with a laser weapon
Chris Panella/Business Insider/May 31, 2025
Israel's military used new laser weapons to kill enemy drones, making it the first country to do so in a war. It marks a major development in the fielding and use of these experimental weapons, which militaries worldwide are developing to deepen their defenses against drones and missiles, reducing the strain on other missiles and other projectiles. Israel's Ministry of Defense announced that soldiers from Israeli Air Force Aerial Defense Array deployed and operated a high-power laser system prototype, which successfully intercepted enemy threats. It is a big step closer to strategists' vision of a future battlefield where the expanding threat of missiles and drones can be countered by the zaps of laser weapons that have an unlimited magazine. A video shared by the Israeli Ministry of Defense showed the laser systems in action, in at least 3 interceptions. One engagement shows the laser igniting the drone's wingtip, causing it to spiral and crash. Brig. Gen. Yehuda Elmakayes, head of the ministry's defense and research directorate, said prototypes have previously been deployed "culminating in the world's first successful high-power laser interceptions on the battlefield."Feedback from the use of the weapons will continue to inform their use and development, he and other officials said in a statement shared with BI. The systems are made by Israeli-based defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. They're directed energy weapons that point an intense beam of light at a target and use heat to damage or destroy it; these processes demand pinpoint accuracy and high power. The defense ministry said the weapons "complement the more powerful Iron Beam system," a larger network of similar systems that's in the works. Iron Beam is estimated to cost $500 million and would add another layer to Israel's layered air defenses — one especially useful against the kinds of drones that Hamas and Hezbollah wield. Laser weapons have been a priority for militaries around world, especially in the Middle East, where countries are racing to field the technology. Besides Israel, Saudia Arabia is using Chinese systems to develop laser air defense capacities, while the United Arab Emirates is working on its own system. A side view of a laser weapon sitting on a tarp with sandbags nearby. The sky in the background is light and overcast. The US, too, is actively working on laser prototypes, such as the AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System made by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, as well as microwave emitters and other directed-energy weapons. Officials have suggested lasers are particularly useful for taking out cheaper enemy targets like drones rather than expending expensive missile interceptors. That's been at the forefront of conversations around conflicts in waters around the Middle East, where the US has expended over a billion dollars in munitions to shoot down Houthi drones. With Israel's landmark use of the weapon, Rafael CEO Yoav Tourgeman said the system "will fundamentally change the defense equation by enabling fast, precise, cost-effective interceptions, unmatched by any existing system." There remain issues, though, surrounding the amount of power and accuracy needed for a laser to destroy its target. Lasers have struggled to work around water or through clouds or smoke, because moisture or other particles diffuse the laser's beam. And even a functional laser weapon requires a high-voltage energy source and an accurate sensor system that are likely to become targets of attack.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar to provide financial support for Syrian state employees
Arab News/May 31, 2025
DAMASCUS: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Saturday that the Kingdom will offer with Qatar joint financial support to state employees in Syria.
His statements came during a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani in Damascus, who welcomed the foreign minister and his delegation on his arrival in the Syrian capital. “The Kingdom will provide, with Qatar, joint financial support to state employees in Syria,” Prince Faisal said.
Syria and Saudi Arabia had previously discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations in the financial sectors. Prince Faisal referred to his country’s role in helping to lift economic sanctions on Syria, saying that Saudi Arabia would continue to be one of the main backers to Syria in its path for reconstruction and economic recovery. He said he was being accompanied with a high-level economic delegation from the Kingdom to “hold talks (with the Syrian side) to bolster aspects of cooperation in various fields.”Several visits would then follow in the coming days by Saudi businessmen to Syria to discuss investments in energy, agriculture, infrastructure and other sectors, he said. The Kingdom and Qatar reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the stability and development of Syria, highlighting their shared historical and fraternal ties with the Syrian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The two countries stressed the importance of improving living conditions and promoting economic and social stability in Syria. They also expressed a strong desire to work in coordination with the international community and development partners to ensure sustainable, effective support through a comprehensive and unified vision, SPA added.
Later on Saturday, the two foreign ministers toured the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Prince Faisal also met with interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Saturday during his visit and “the high-level economic delegation” held talks with Syrian officials about ways of cooperating “that contribute to supporting Syria’s economy and strengthen institution building.”On a visit to Riyadh earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said he would lift US sanctions on Syria, a move that paves the way for economic recovery in the war-torn country. The European Union also recently lifted economic sanctions on Syria.
In February, Sharaa visited Saudi Arabia in his first trip abroad as president. Last month, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, another key backer of the new authorities, announced they would settle Syria’s debt to the World Bank totaling roughly $15 million.
Damascus is hoping that the lifting of sanctions, particularly by the United States, will pave the way for support from the international community. Years of war and sanctions have battered the country’s economy, infrastructure and industry. A recent United Nations Development Programme report estimated Syria’s “lost GDP” during the 2011-2024 war to be around $800 billion. Prince Faisal first visited Syria’s new authorities in January.
* With AFP

ISIS Attempts to Revive Operations in Syria
London: Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
ISIS has claimed responsibility for its first attack on Syrian government forces since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime last December. The announcement, made on Thursday, suggests the militant group is seeking to exploit Syria’s fragile transitional period to rebuild its presence and revive its operations. According to SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity, ISIS issued a statement claiming it had detonated an explosive device targeting a vehicle belonging to what it described as the “apostate Syrian regime” in the southern province of Suwaida. The group referred to the new government as “apostate” despite its origins in Islamist factions that played a role in Assad’s ouster, underscoring ISIS’ continued rejection of any authority outside its own ideology. SITE reported that this marks the group’s first confirmed attack against Syria’s new government forces. Local sources reported that the blast, which occurred Wednesday, killed one person and injured three others from a unit of the Syrian army. Separately, local news outlet Suwayda 24 reported an explosion Thursday morning on the Arika-Najran road in western Suwaida. Citing a source in the Engineering Unit of the “Men of Dignity” movement - active in the predominantly Druze region - the report said an IED damaged an ambulance but caused no casualties. The device, weighing several kilograms and recently planted, appeared intended to strike any passing vehicle. The source described the incident as a “terrorist act,” though it appears distinct from the attack claimed by ISIS. The group’s renewed activity coincides with an intensifying crackdown by Syrian government forces on ISIS sleeper cells. In recent weeks, Syria’s Interior Ministry released images of alleged group members captured during a raid in eastern Aleppo. Officials said the cell was involved in attacks on security personnel, including the killing of an officer. Authorities also confiscated weapons, explosives, and suicide vests. Earlier this month, Damascus’ regional internal security chief, Hossam Al-Tahan, announced the arrest of several ISIS suspects in western Ghouta. The detainees were reportedly operating in areas such as Kiswa, Deir Khabiyeh, and Zakiyah. Security forces seized a cache of light and heavy weapons, including rocket launchers and IEDs. The regime also claims to have dismantled a separate ISIS cell earlier this year that was allegedly plotting an attack on a Shiite religious site near the capital. ISIS has not limited its threats to government forces. The group has continued attempts to destabilize the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the country’s east. Though the group was territorially defeated in 2019 in the town of Baghouz, its fighters have reverted to guerrilla tactics, maintaining cells across central and eastern Syria.

Israel strikes western Syria, civilian reported killed
Agence France Presse/May 31, 2025
Israel struck western Syria overnight, the Israeli military and Syrian state media said, with one civilian reportedly killed in the first such attack on the country in nearly a month. It came after Damascus announced earlier this month indirect talks with Israel to calm tensions, and the United States called for a "non-aggression agreement" between the two countries, which are technically at war. "A strike from Israeli occupation aircraft targeted sites close to the village of Zama in the Jableh countryside south of Latakia," state television said. State news agency SANA reported one civilian was killed "as a result of an Israeli occupation airstrike targeting the vicinity of Zama". The Israeli military said it had "struck weapon storage facilities containing coastal missiles that posed a threat to international and Israeli maritime freedom of navigation, in the Latakia area of Syria". "In addition, components of surface-to-air missiles were struck," it said, adding it would "continue to operate to maintain freedom of action in the region, in order to carry out its missions and will act to remove any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights meanwhile reported that jets likely to be Israeli struck military sites on the outskirts of Tartus and Latakia. Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and has carried out hundreds of strikes and several incursions since the overthrow of longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December. Israel says its strikes aim to stop advanced weapons reaching Syria's new authorities, whom it considers jihadists.

Syrian Kurdish Commander in Touch with Türkiye, Open to Meeting Erdogan
Asharq Al Awsat/May 31, 2025
The commander of Kurdish forces that control northeast Syria said on Friday that his group is in direct contact with Türkiye and that he would be open to improving ties, including by meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. The public comments represented a significant diplomatic overture by Mazloum Abdi, whose Syrian Democratic Forces fought Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syrian opposition during Syria's 14-year civil war. Türkiye has said the main Kurdish group at the core of the SDF is indistinguishable from the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which decided earlier this month to disband after 40 years of conflict with Türkiye.Abdi told regional broadcaster Shams TV in an interview aired on Friday that his group was in touch with Türkiye, without saying how long the communication channels had been open. "We have direct ties, direct channels of communication with Türkiye, as well as through mediators, and we hope that these ties are developed," Abdi said. There was no immediate comment from Türkiye on Abdi's remarks, according to Reuters. He noted his forces and Turkish fighters "fought long wars against each other" but that a temporary truce had brought a halt to those clashes for the last two months. Abdi said he hoped the truce could become permanent. When asked whether he was planning to meet Erdogan, Abdi said he had no current plans to do so but "I am not opposed... We are not in a state of war with Türkiye and in the future, ties could be developed between us. We're open to this."The Al-Monitor news website reported on Friday that Türkiye had proposed a meeting between Abdi and a top Turkish official, possibly Türkiye's foreign minister or its intelligence chief. A Turkish diplomatic source denied the report, saying "the claims about Türkiye and our country's authorities" in the story were "not true", without elaborating. In December, Türkiye and the SDF agreed on a US-mediated ceasefire after fighting broke out as rebel groups advanced on Damascus and overthrew Bashar al-Assad. Abdi in March signed a deal with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to incorporate the semi-autonomous administration of northeast Syria into the main state institutions based in Damascus. On Thursday, Erdogan accused the SDF of "stalling" implementation of that deal. In the interview, Abdi denied accusations that the SDF was in contact with Israel. "People have accused us of this. In this interview, I am saying publicly that we have no ties with Israel," he said. But he said his group supported good ties with Syria's neighbours. When asked if that included Israel, Abdi responded, "with everyone."

he Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 31-june 01/2025
Iran Duping Trump with IAEA Inspections. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/May 31, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143813/
Iran knows exactly what it is doing. It is playing a game it has mastered for decades: stall, confuse, buy time, bring in the well-intentioned but toothless International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). All the regime needs to win the negotiations is to entrench enforceability and retain the ability to work in secret down the pike.Iran could, at any moment, declare itself part of the nuclear weapons club. The mullahs could also negotiate a deal that grants them partial sanctions relief, re-entry into the global financial system, and access to international trade — all while keeping key parts of their nuclear program intact.
Giving Iran any daylight to enrichment is not diplomacy — it is surrender. US President Donald Trump seems shocked that he is being duped by the superstar of KGB (now the FSB) whose entire purpose is to dupe Americans and the West: You mean he is not really my good friend Volodya? Russian President Vladimir Putin has not gone crazy; we were crazy for believing him. The same holds true for Communist China's President Xi Jinping. Iran does not want "peace." Iran wants victory. Why don't we? The only "peace" Iran is interested in is one strictly on its terms. With nuclear weapons, there will be "peace," all right -- the Iranian regime's survival, power and domination -- that kind of peace.
Meanwhile, Trump's "deadlines" with Hamas and Iran have come and gone, thoroughly eroding his credibility with Putin, Xi, Kim, NATO and everyone else. There have been no consequences, no accountability and no results.
This is not about compromise or Munich 2.0. This is about survival. Ours, not theirs. Stop being played. Iran does not want "peace." Iran wants victory. Why don't we? The only "peace" Iran is interested in is one strictly on its terms. With nuclear weapons, there will be "peace," all right -- the Iranian regime's survival, power and domination -- that kind of peace. Once again, the United States has sat down with Iran for yet another round of nuclear negotiations — this time the fifth. And once again, we are told that there will be another round in the "near future." Sound familiar? It should. Iran's cat-and-mouse diplomatic theater is not a breakthrough; it is a rerun. Just as the past rounds, this latest episode concluded without any meaningful agreement, while Iran continues to advance in its nuclear program, intercontinental ballistic missiles -- not needed to attack Israel -- and rebuild its air defense.
Iran knows exactly what it is doing. It is playing a game it has mastered for decades: stall, confuse, buy time, bring in the well-intentioned but toothless International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). All the regime needs to win the negotiations is to entrench enforceability and retain the ability to work in secret down the pike.This endless cycle of negotiations is not a good-faith diplomatic process. It is a maneuver, a delaying tactic, most likely with a plan on how successfully to deceive. Whenever pressure mounts, Iran opens the door just enough to create the illusion of cooperation. Then it floods the conversation with talk of "complexity" and nuance.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a seasoned veteran of these talks, recently said, "The negotiations are too complicated to be resolved in two or three meetings." This quote is not a revelation; it is a tactic. These negotiations are not "complicated." At the same time, he claimed that this was "one of the most professional rounds of negotiations." That is how Tehran works — sound serious, appear engaged, stall for time, press forward to achieve the goal. Iran has been playing this game for over 20 years. The goal is always the same: to outmaneuver American officials. Iranian diplomats are working under the direct strategy of a regime that has survived international pressure and sanctions for decades by learning how to manipulate the Western diplomatic process and the West's failure of backbone ever to hold them seriously to account. Every meeting is an opportunity for Tehran to gather intelligence, to gauge the U.S. political climate, to exploit partisan divides in Washington, and most importantly — to manipulate.
So, what exactly does Iran get from dragging the United States along these endless talks? Everything. Every day that passes without a deal is another day Iran gets to enrich more uranium, build new secret sites, continue amassing stockpiles of highly-enriched, easily weaponized uranium.
Iran could, at any moment, declare itself part of the nuclear weapons club. The mullahs could also negotiate a deal that grants them partial sanctions relief, re-entry into the global financial system, and access to international trade — all while keeping key parts of their nuclear program intact.
It never was "complicated." The core demand is simple — no uranium enrichment, no centrifuges, no exceptions. Period. That should be the unshakable foundation of any deal. Once that line is crossed or blurred, any deal becomes meaningless. An agreement that allows just the more international observers than the IAEA, rather than more international observers from the US and Israel or any fancy-sounding so-called "monitoring mechanisms," is not a real agreement. It is an American surrender. The Iranian regime's mottos are still "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."
Giving Iran any daylight to enrichment is not diplomacy — it is surrender.
US President Donald Trump seems shocked that he is being duped by the superstar of KGB (now the FSB) whose entire purpose is to dupe Americans and the West: You mean he is not really my good friend Volodya? Russian President Vladimir Putin has not gone crazy; we were crazy for believing him. The same holds true for Communist China's President Xi Jinping. For years, some Washington elites and so-called foreign policy experts have insisted that Iran is a "rational actor" and that the issues are "complex"; But that language only serves to justify paralysis. The truth is much simpler. The Iranian regime is driven by Islamist ideology, by expansionism, by deep-rooted anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism. Iran's is not a normal government. It is a revolutionary theocracy that funds terror groups -- Hezbollah and Hamas, the Houthis -- and sends weapons across the Middle East.
Iran does not want "peace." Iran wants victory. Why don't we? The only "peace" Iran is interested in is one strictly on its terms. With nuclear weapons, there will be "peace," all right -- the Iranian regime's survival, power and domination -- that kind of peace.
Iran's nuclear clock is ticking faster and louder every day. While American negotiators shake hands and make polite statements about "progress" and "bridging gaps," Iranian physicists and engineers are able to make nuclear bombs. We are not watching diplomacy — we are watching a slow-motion disaster. The disaster could be stopped, but only if we stop being spineless and pretending it's "complicated." Iran is duping the United States once again, with precision and confidence. Another round of negotiations has passed. Another is on the calendar. Meanwhile, Trump's "deadlines" with Hamas and Iran have come and gone, thoroughly eroding his credibility with Putin, Xi, Kim, NATO and everyone else. There have been no consequences, no accountability and no results.
Trump, while having good intentions, is being played and does not even know it.
This is not about compromise or Munich 2.0. This is about survival. Ours, not theirs. Stop being played. *Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on the US foreign policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
*Follow Majid Rafizadeh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 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.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21655/iran-duping-trump-with-iaea-inspections-what

Will the lifting of sanctions usher in a new beginning for the Syrian people?
ANAN TELLO/Arab News/May 31, 2025
LONDON: When news broke that Western sanctions on Syria would be lifted, Marwah Morhly finally allowed herself to imagine something she had not dared to in years: a stable life in her hometown of Damascus.
A Syrian writer and editor now living in Turkiye, Morhly once navigated a precarious existence back home — trying to earn a remote income in a country cut off from global banking systems and mired in uncertainty.
Returning to Damascus always felt like a distant dream — too risky and too complicated. But with sanctions easing, that dream is beginning to look attainable.
“It’s a different kind of freedom — the freedom to dream,” she told Arab News.
“As someone who works remotely, the lifting of sanctions lets me imagine a future where I can work from my home in Damascus, receive my salary through a bank transfer directly to my account there, without any form of danger or exploitation.”
Under sanctions, she said, Syrians working with foreign clients had to operate in secrecy.
“We were working in the shadows … like ghosts,” she said. “We weren’t allowed to be visible, like unknown soldiers, because the moment it became clear (to employers abroad) that the work was happening inside Syria, it could jeopardize our livelihoods.”
The breakthrough came on May 13, when US President Donald Trump, during a visit to Riyadh, announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria. He framed the move as a historic opportunity for economic recovery and political stabilization.
Ten days later, the US Treasury Department issued General License 25, authorizing transactions with Syria’s new transitional government, led by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa. In parallel, the State Department suspended the Caesar Act sanctions for 180 days, signaling a pivot toward reconstruction and humanitarian relief.
The EU soon followed suit, announcing the end of its own economic sanctions in a coordinated effort to support a nation fractured by more than a decade of civil war.
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud announced from Damascus a joint effort with Qatar to fund salary support for Syria’s state employees. The move built on the two countries’ decision earlier in May to pay off the $15.5 million debt Syria owed to the International Development Association, a World Bank fund that provides zero- or low-interest loans and grants to the world’s poorest countries. This policy shift did not happen in a vacuum. Ibrahim Al-Assil, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said years of grassroots advocacy were pivotal.
“Of course, the Saudi role was huge, and many Syrians appreciate that, and same for the Turkish role,” Al-Assil told CNN.
“But also, many Syrians have been working on that — from students to academics to activists to business leaders and journalists writing and talking about this and pushing more and more towards lifting sanctions.”
The impact of these efforts goes beyond international politics. “Why? Because it allows Syrians to breathe again,” he said, adding that sanctions are often viewed only on a macro level as something that affects an entire country. In reality, they have a serious impact on daily life. “We forget that they affect the lives of the individuals on the tiny details — from medicine to connectivity and being able to check their email normally … also to what industries they can have, where they can travel, what kind of machines they can buy for their factories.”
For ordinary Syrians, these limitations posed immense challenges. Now, Al-Assil said, the situation is changing. “It’s still challenging, but the major obstacle seems to have been moved out of the way for Syrians, allowing them to move ahead and rebuild their country.”Beyond basic needs, the lifting of sanctions opens new possibilities for professionals still living in Syria — many of whom have endured years of isolation, limited access to technology, and restricted earning potential.
Salma Saleh, a graphic designer based in Damascus, says she has spent 13 years building her career under the weight of sanctions, along with the years before that dedicated to her education. “The challenges have been endless,” she told Arab News. “We struggled to access most technologies and tools. Often, we had to use workarounds just to get hold of banned software or platforms.”
Freelancing is no easier. “Syrians are blocked from PayPal and most global payment platforms used by freelancing platforms,” she said.
“Even sites essential for our work like Shutterstock, Freepik, and Envato are inaccessible. We can’t even purchase courses on Coursera or Udemy, nor the software we work with, such as Adobe programs. “We can’t promote our work on social media platforms due to the ban on paid advertisements in Syria. Clients are afraid to work with Syrian freelancers because of the difficulty with payment methods and fears of being accused of funding terrorism.”Electricity outages posed further challenges. “My heart nearly stopped every time the power cut while I was rendering a video on my laptop,” said Saleh.
“It happened so many times we eventually got used to it. Syrian designers have become the most resilient professionals out there.”
Syria’s electricity sector has all but collapsed owing to infrastructure damage, fuel shortages, and economic sanctions. Once relatively stable, the system now delivers just a few hours of electricity per day. In some areas, that is as little as 30 minutes.
“We had to jump through hoops just to keep up with the rest of the world,” said Saleh. “We gave it everything. I consider the Syrian designer a super designer — and rightfully so.”For Syrians across the diaspora, the developments mark a fragile but significant turning point. Cautious optimism is beginning to take root — even as the country remains divided and the road to recovery is long.
Lama Beddawi, a Syrian-American DevOps environment analyst based in the US, echoed that sentiment. “The recent decision to lift sanctions on Syria marks a pivotal turning point, and I am hopeful that it signals a move in the right direction,” she told Arab News. “This development brings a sense of optimism that the country’s long-strained economy may begin to recover, opening the door for increased stability and renewed international investment,” she said. “With fewer restrictions, Syria has the potential to rebuild its infrastructure, strengthen its institutions, and create opportunities for its people, paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future.”
Still, the benefits remain largely theoretical for now. On the ground, daily challenges persist, and progress will take time. “Everyone understands this isn’t a magic fix — the effects will take time to show,” said Morhly. “As one man from central Damascus put it: ‘For now, we’ll take a hit from the dollar rate, but in a couple of months, more people will actually be able to afford meat again.’”There is also cautious optimism that basic services might begin to improve. “There’s hope the electricity situation might improve — which is the second biggest concern after water, especially with summer approaching and the heat already setting in,” she added. From an economic perspective, the lifting of sanctions presents both opportunities and challenges. Mohamed Ghazal, managing director of Startup Syria, a community-led initiative supporting Syrian entrepreneurs, believes translating sanctions relief into concrete gains such as jobs, investment, and basic services “will be a complex and gradual process.”He remains optimistic about certain sectors. “Quicker gains are possible in transport and trade,” Ghazal told Arab News. However, critical areas like general business development and startups are experiencing slower momentum. “Lifting sanctions can take months,” said Ghazal. “Capital flow issues persist due to a crippled banking system.
“Syria’s banks lack access to SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), suffer low liquidity, and operate under opaque regulations.
“Attracting foreign capital requires a modern investment law, clear property rights, business licensing frameworks, and financial repatriation mechanisms.
“The speed of progress depends on comprehensive reforms, institutional rebuilding, international investment, and continued humanitarian support.
“The lifting of sanctions is expected to open up channels like new funding, banking, or investment channels for Syrian startups.”
Diaspora and foreign investors could offer the capital injection needed to get the economy off its knees. There are “positive signs from the Syrian diaspora and potential foreign direct investment, especially from GCC countries and Turkiye,” said Ghazal. “Interest from impact investors seeking financial returns and social and environmental impact.”
He identified several immediate priorities for revitalizing the economy, including restoring access to SWIFT, enacting a modern investment law with clear legal protections, and easing import restrictions on essential technology to enable the use of software, cloud services, and digital tools. The SWIFT system is a global messaging network that enables financial institutions to exchange transaction details — like money transfer instructions — quickly, securely, and accurately across borders.
Before Lebanon’s 2019 financial collapse, many Syrians used its banking system to bypass sanctions, parking billions in assets and accessing US dollars and trade channels. When the system froze, transfers stopped, savings were locked, and Syrians lost access to critical funds. The Syrian pound then collapsed, inflation surged, and the economy worsened. While some estimates once placed Syrian deposits as high as $40 billion, remaining deposits in 2025 were estimated at just $3 to $4 billion, according to the Karam Shaar Advisory consultancy. Some experts believe sanctions relief could signal a path forward. Ghassan Ibrahim, a London-based Syria analyst and founder of the Global Arab Network, believes sanctions relief could unlock trade and investment.
“Lifting Western sanctions removes long-standing barriers to Syria joining the global market,” he told Arab News. “It restores credibility and sends a message that Syria is on the right path.” Investor interest is already growing. “Next week, a few American investors are heading to Damascus. We’re also seeing engagement from GCC countries and Chinese firms already operating there. “Any relief, especially from the US, will help get Syria back on track. It boosts the government’s legitimacy and strengthens its diplomatic hand.” The broader economic and political impact cannot be understated. “President Al-Sharaa will be able to travel more freely, engage in diplomacy, and attract serious development partnerships,” said Ibrahim. “That’s critical for reconstruction.
“Ultimately, this shift could improve quality of life, create jobs, and drive long-term growth.”Still, Syria’s path to recovery remains long. Nearly six months after the fall of Bashar Assad, the country is still plagued by deep sectarian divisions, persistent violence, and political fragmentation.
In March 2025 alone, more than 1,100 people were killed in attacks targeting the Alawite minority following coordinated assaults on government forces. Survivors remain fearful of further violence, and many perpetrators have not been brought to justice.
Foreign threats compound internal instability. Israel has launched multiple airstrikes, including one near the presidential palace, citing threats to the Druze minority. Syria’s new leadership condemned the attacks, highlighting the fragility of foreign relations.
Internally, law and order remains weak. Women and minorities still face abuse, rights protections are unevenly enforced, and extremist groups continue to assert control in some regions, several news agencies have reported. The humanitarian crisis also endures. Around 16.7 million Syrians rely on aid, while millions remain displaced. Israel maintains a military presence, and Turkiye has voiced opposition to any settlement between Damascus and Kurdish factions — complicating efforts toward national unity.
Though US, EU, and UK sanctions relief is meant to support Syria’s transition, the UN warns of “real dangers of renewed conflict.”Meanwhile, the interim government faces the daunting task of rebuilding a country where 90 percent of the population lives in poverty and millions remain displaced. The door may be open, but walking through it will require more than hope. It will take time, trust, and tangible change.

Global threat report reveals Trump’s strategic priorities
Luke Coffey/Arab News/May 31, 2025
The US Defense Intelligence Agency recently released its annual threat assessment report. While these official government documents are often bland and filled with bureaucratic language, this year’s publication stands out — both for its substance and what it reveals about how the new administration views today’s geopolitical challenges. This is the first threat assessment of President Donald Trump’s second term, and it offers an early insight into the administration’s strategic priorities.
A few things jump out right away. This year’s threat assessment is longer than last year’s, and offers a more detailed and nuanced analysis across multiple sections. But two major changes in this year’s report, when compared with the final assessment produced under the Biden administration, are particularly striking. The most notable difference is the inclusion of a dedicated section on US homeland defense and border security — placed not as an afterthought but as the first item in the report. This marks a sharp departure from last year’s assessment, which focused almost exclusively on global threats and challenges. The placement and tone of the new homeland security section clearly bear Trump’s personal stamp. One of his most effective political narratives has been that US policymakers focus too much on problems abroad, while neglecting the security of Americans at home. This report reflects that view.
The homeland security section places particular emphasis on the national security implications of illegal immigration, transnational organized crime, and the influx of deadly narcotics by drug cartels into small American communities. These are not just political talking points; they represent real and growing threats to the safety and well-being of Americans. But the political savvy of the framing should not be overlooked.
While the average American may not be deeply familiar with issues such as Taiwan’s security or freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, they are certainly familiar with the devastating impact of fentanyl or cartel violence. Including homeland security at the top of the Defense Intelligence Agency’s global threat assessment makes the report more relevant to the American public and highlights Trump’s emphasis on border security as a matter of national defense.
The second striking difference is the prominent section, entitled “Growing Cooperation Among US Competitors and Adversaries,” which comes immediately after the homeland security section. For the first time, a US threat assessment explicitly links and highlights the emerging coordination among America’s adversaries and competitors. The report states: “Building on activities over the past two years, leaders in Beijing, Moscow, Tehran, and Pyongyang will strengthen their nations’ ties in their drive to undermine the influence of the US and its allies.”
This is an important — and overdue — acknowledgment of a multipolar and interconnected world. For years, much of the US foreign policy establishment has resisted the concept of multipolarity, preferring to see the world in unipolar or bipolar terms. This resistance is rooted in Cold War-era thinking, when power was viewed through a US-versus-Soviet lens. But a new generation of American strategists understands that multiple centers of power exist — and are increasingly coordinating with one another to challenge US interests around the globe.
The coming months will be critical for the future of America’s role in the world.
Recognizing the reality of this multipolar environment does not mean conceding that all powers are equal. It simply acknowledges the complexity of today’s geopolitical landscape. The inclusion of this section in the threat assessment is a necessary step toward grappling with the way these regimes are learning from each other, cooperating diplomatically, militarily, and economically, and exploiting US vulnerabilities.
To illustrate the shift, if you took a diplomat from 1980 and one from 1880 and brought them both to 2025, it might be the latter — accustomed to a world of competing empires and power centers — who would better recognize the dynamics at play today.
Recognizing these trends is one thing, acting on them another. Within the new administration, there are competing schools of thought on how to respond. Some believe China is the primary threat and argue that all instruments of US power should be directed toward countering Beijing. Others, often aligned with more isolationist instincts, believe the US should focus exclusively on homeland security and reduce its global footprint. Then there are more traditional Republican voices who argue that the US must be able to address multiple threats simultaneously and maintain its global leadership role.
Though the administration is still filling out its national security team, the contents of the Defense Intelligence Agency report suggest that the latter group is gaining the upper hand, at least for now. That could signal a more balanced approach in future, one that prioritizes US security at home, while maintaining engagement and vigilance abroad.
In the coming months, the Department of Defense is expected to publish a new National Defense Strategy, which should provide additional clarity on how the US plans to counter the threats identified in the Defense Intelligence Agency assessment. Likewise, the National Security Council is likely to release a similar document outlining a more comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to these challenges.
Importantly, all these strategies must be backed by resources. The White House will need to work with Congress to ensure that the budget aligns with these stated priorities. It is one thing to acknowledge that America’s adversaries are coordinating their efforts, but quite another to craft a strategy — and appropriate the funds — to counter them effectively. Some in the Biden administration may have understood that this emerging coordination by America’s competitors posed a threat, but were reluctant to spotlight it publicly for fear of being forced to act. The Trump administration, by contrast, has put these challenges front and center. But in doing so, it has also raised the stakes. Having declared that homeland defense is national security — and that America’s adversaries are working together — the administration will now be judged on how it responds.
The coming months will be critical, not only for America’s national security and that of its allies, but also for the future of America’s role in the world.
**Luke Coffey is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. X: @LukeDCoffey

Meeting challenges, creating opportunities, sharing prosperity
Chang Hua/Arab News/May 30, 2025
Participants at the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations-China-GCC economic forum in Kuala Lumpur last week recognized the importance of strengthening cooperation to promote development goals and safeguard regional peace and prosperity.
The forum was an important step forward in deepening practical cooperation. There was consensus on strengthening the partnership, advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and enhancing collaboration in areas such as connectivity, trade and economy, industrial and supply chains, agriculture, energy, and finance. The meeting also emphasized the importance of mutual learning among civilizations, closer coordination in multilateral frameworks, and joint efforts to promote integrated development.
In his speech to the forum, Chinese Premier Li Qiang noted that if we drew a line on the world map connecting China, ASEAN and the GCC, we would create a large triangle — the most stable of structures. The forum marked not only a new milestone for emerging Asian economies in advancing regional integration, but also a significant endeavor by Global South countries to inject more positive energy into world peace and development.
Geopolitical conflicts and confrontations are intensifying around the world. Protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise, decoupling practices, supply-chain disruptions and trade barriers are becoming more frequent. As a result, economic globalization is undergoing unprecedented shocks. In the face of these challenges, the three forum participants remain committed to deepening mutual trust and enhancing solidarity, expanding openness and removing barriers, sharing resources and empowering one another. By doing so, they can jointly create long-term strategic opportunities, vast market opportunities, and opportunities for transformation and upgrading.
Such cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit, openness and inclusiveness, pragmatism and efficiency, will contribute to the international community’s common efforts to uphold multilateralism and free trade. China will work with ASEAN and GCC countries to step up communication and coordination in mechanisms including the UN, vigorously defend the common interests of developing countries, categorically oppose hegemonism and power politics, and make global governance more just and equitable.
China, ASEAN and the GCC account for roughly a quarter of the world’s population and economic output. Our markets, if fully connected, will generate even greater space for development and more substantial economies of scale. China and ASEAN are each other’s largest trading partners, while economic and trade cooperation between China and GCC countries continues to deepen, with expanding collaboration in areas such as energy, infrastructure, and high-tech industries. Looking ahead, as cooperation continues to deepen, China will actively advance the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the development strategies of ASEAN and GCC countries. The resulting continuous growth in trade and investment will strongly support national development and enterprise growth across all sides. The smooth flow of production factors and enhanced industrial coordination will significantly boost the competitiveness and resilience of their economies, as well as their strength and standing in the global innovation landscape. The China–ASEAN–GCC framework is poised to become one of the most dynamic poles of global economic growth.
More than 2,000 years ago, the earliest camel caravan from China reached the Middle East, and the first Chinese fleet landed in Nanyang: from the ancient Silk Road to the Belt and Road Initiative, China, ASEAN and GCC countries have a long history of friendly interactions, and more importantly, answered the call of the times. They are home to diverse and vibrant civilizations, and share the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness. It is essential to promote deeper people-to-people exchanges to further strengthen the foundation of mutual trust, effectively manage differences through mutual understanding, and foster mutually beneficial cooperation through the exchange of ideas and wisdom.
We in China are ready to work with ASEAN and the GCC to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, promote mutual learning among civilizations, create more consensus and pool our strengths for peace and development.
Premier Li Qiang said at the summit that China would extend unilateral visa-free access to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain for a one-year trial, which will effectively give visa-free status to all GCC countries. It reflects China’s confidence, inclusiveness, and openness, and demonstrates the country’s broad-minded commitment to promoting people-to-people connectivity and mutual learning among civilizations.
From June 9, 2025 until June 8, 2026, ordinary passport holders from Saudi Arabia will be eligible to enter China visa-free for business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchanges, or transit, for stays of up to 30 days. As the Chinese saying goes: “Is it not a joy to have friends coming from afar?” We warmly welcome more Saudi friends to seize the opportunity brought by the visa-free policy and embark on a spontaneous journey to China — to explore the vast and diverse landscapes, to savor the rich variety of regional cuisines, to make friends with the warm and hospitable Chinese people, and to experience the prosperity and dynamism of modern China.
• Chang Hua is China’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. X: @AmbChangHua