EU warns Iran: Take steps or face UN ‘snapback’ sanctions
(JNS) — Tehran must take concrete steps to curb its nuclear program or risk the reimposition of U.N. “snapback” sanctions, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Tuesday.
“Diplomacy has a chance. The deadlines are running, and let’s see. We need to see some real action also on the Iranian side,” said Kaja Kallas.
Earlier on Tuesday, the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany — the so-called E3 — met with their Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, joined by Kallas.
“In light of the unjustified and illegal move to begin reinstating the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions, some ideas and proposals for continuing diplomacy were raised during the meeting, and it was agreed that consultations will continue,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Hours later, Reuters reported, citing a French diplomatic source, that Tehran has yet to meet the conditions to avert the reimposition of U.N. sanctions.
“But discussions will continue to explore all possibilities to the fullest,” the source was cited as saying. “We remain mobilized until the last moment. The ball is in Iran’s court.”
On Aug. 28, the E3 launched a 30-day process to reimpose U.N. sanctions, accusing Tehran of failing to comply with the 2015 deal designed to prevent it from developing nuclear bombs.
Trump admin bars Iranian diplomats from shopping at wholesale stores in US
(JNS) — The Trump administration has officially barred Iranian diplomats based in or visiting New York from shopping at wholesale stores, such as Costco and Sam’s Club, without prior authorization, the U.S. State Department stated on Monday.
“We will not allow the Iranian regime to allow its clerical elites to have a shopping spree in New York while the Iranian people endure poverty, crumbling infrastructure and dire shortages of water and electricity,” the department stated.
Under the new regulations, Iranian diplomats and their dependents must obtain approval from the department to shop at wholesale retailers. This includes permission to purchase luxury goods valued at over $1,000 and vehicles costing more than $60,000.
The only country whose diplomats were specifically targeted by the U.S. government is Iran, according to the Associated Press. Iranian diplomats are known to shop at such wholesalers to purchase items in bulk and at discount rates that aren’t available back home due to sanctions and other economic restrictions.
While the new U.S. restrictions were announced as the Iranian delegation and other world leaders gathered in New York for the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly, they will permanently apply to any Iranian diplomats representing their country at the United Nations, AP reported.
Netanyahu in US to address UN, meet with Trump
(JNS) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed Thursday, September 25 in New York, where he will address the United Nations General Assembly before meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.
“At the Assembly, I will speak the truth — the truth of Israel’s citizens, the truth of IDF soldiers, the truth of our state,” said Netanyahu before his departure early Thursday morning. “I will denounce those leaders who, instead of condemning the murderers, rapists and child-burners, seek to grant them a state in the heart of the Land of Israel. That will not happen.”
On Wednesday night, Netanyahu condemned the recognition of a Palestinian state by several Western countries — including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and Monaco — as a “shameful surrender,” asserting that capitulating to Palestinian terrorism would not obligate Israel in any way.
“A Palestinian state will not be established,” he declared.
Netanyahu said that in Washington he would meet for the fourth time with Trump to discuss the opportunities created by Israel’s recent victories, as well as the need to complete the objectives of the war: securing the return of all 48 hostages, defeating Hamas and expanding the circle of peace.
“This is also an opportunity to wish you, citizens of Israel and the Jewish people as a whole, a happy new year — a year of security, prosperity and peace,” added the premier.
Trump presents Gaza peace plan to Muslim leaders at UN
(JNS) — U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a peace plan for Gaza and the Middle East to leaders of several Muslim-majority countries during a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
“We had a very productive session. We presented what we call the Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Mideast and Gaza. I think it addresses Israeli concerns and, as well, the concerns of all the neighbors in the region,” Reuters quoted U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff as saying at the 15th annual Concordia global affairs summit in New York on Wednesday.
“We’re hopeful, and I might say, even confident that in the coming days, we’ll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough,” he said.
Trump met with leaders and officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan to discuss the nearly two-year-long war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The war started when Hamas led a mass invasion of the northwestern Negev on Oct. 7, 2023.
According to Axios, it is the first time that Trump has presented an American plan for ending the war in Gaza. Journalist Barak Ravid cited sources as saying that the president told the leaders at the meeting of the urgency of ending the war and that he was presenting the plan because every day that the war continues, Israel become more isolated internationally.
