Abdullah Al-shihri, Associated Press Updated 9:04 am PST, Sunday, November 18, 2018 In this photo provided by the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi King Salman, right, walks with with Iraqi President Barham Salih, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. Salman met with Salih a day after the Iraqi official visited the kingdom's rival, Iran. Salih's back-to-back visits to Iran and Saudi Arabia reflect the delicate balance Iraq seeks to maintain in a region where its two powerful neighbors are battling for supremacy. less In this photo provided by the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi King Salman, right, walks with with Iraqi President Barham Salih, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. Salman met with Salih a day after the ... more Photo: Saudi Press Agency, AP Photo: Saudi Press Agency, AP … [Read more...] about Iraq’s president meets Saudi king after visiting rival Iran
Iran
Rouhani sees Iran-Iraq trade rising to $20 billion/year from $12 billion
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday Iran and Iraq could raise annual bilateral trade to $20 billion from the current level of $12 billion, in remarks carried live by state television. "Today, the economic relations between the two countries reach about $12 billion (per year) and, through bilateral efforts, we can raise this figure to $20 billion," Rouhani told visiting Iraqi President Barham Salih. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Gareth Jones) … [Read more...] about Rouhani sees Iran-Iraq trade rising to $20 billion/year from $12 billion
Iraq’s president visits Iran weeks after US renews sanctions
Published 11:43 pm PST, Friday, November 16, 2018 TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iraq's president is visiting Iran less than two weeks after the United States restored oil sanctions that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal. State TV says Barham Salih arrived Saturday and met with his Iranian counterpart, President Hassan Rouhani. Iran, which has had major influence over Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, is hoping to maintain exports to its neighbor despite the renewed sanctions. Iraq is Iran's second-largest market after China, buying everything from food and machinery to electricity and natural gas. Trade between the two countries was some $7 billion in 2017, and they have vowed to boost it to $8.5 billion this year. … [Read more...] about Iraq’s president visits Iran weeks after US renews sanctions
US to accuse Iran of violating chemical weapons treaty
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is poised to accuse Iran of violating an international treaty that bars the production and use of chemical weapons. Two officials said the administration plans to announce next week that Iran is not complying with the Chemical Weapons Convention. They said the non-compliance finding doesn't allege that Iran has used chemical weapons. Rather, it is based on recent intelligence showing Iran has maintained facilities and equipment to produce them. The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The determination does not carry immediate U.S. penalties but is part of the administration's effort to isolate Iran after withdrawing from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal. Lawmakers were notified of the determination on Friday. An announcement is expected as early as Monday. … [Read more...] about US to accuse Iran of violating chemical weapons treaty
Upset by Trump’s Iran waivers, Saudis push for deep oil output cut
ABU DHABI (Reuters) - When U.S. President Donald Trump asked Saudi Arabia this summer to raise oil production to compensate for lower crude exports from Iran, Riyadh swiftly told Washington it would do so. FILE PHOTO: A fisherman pulls in his net as an oil tanker is seen at the port in the northwestern city of Duba April 20, 2013. REUTERS/Mohamed Al Hwaity/File Photo But Saudi Arabia did not receive advance warning when Trump made a U-turn by offering generous waivers that are keeping more Iranian crude in the market instead of driving exports from Riyadh’s arch-rival down to zero, OPEC and industry sources say.Angered by the U.S. move that has raised worries about over supply, Saudi Arabia is now considering cutting output with OPEC and its allies by about 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) or 1.5 percent of global supply, sources told Reuters this week. “The Saudis are very angry at Trump. They don’t trust him any more and feel very strongly about a cut. … [Read more...] about Upset by Trump’s Iran waivers, Saudis push for deep oil output cut