Eye on Iran: U.S. Makes Contingency Plans in Case Iran Nuclear Talks Fail

TOP STORIES U.S. Makes Contingency Plans in Case Iran Nuclear Talks Fail | Reuters The United States has had constructive talks about the Iran nuclear deal with Britain, France and Germany but is making contingency plans should they fail, the lead U.S. negotiator said on Wednesday. Israeli Minister Says 2007 Strike on Suspected Syrian Reactor a Message to Iran | Reuters Israel's 2007 bombing of a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor was a message to Iran that Israel would not allow it to obtain nuclear weaponry, the Israeli intelligence minister said on Wednesday. Trump, Saudi Prince Assail Iran over Support for Yemeni Rebels | Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty The White House and ally Saudi Arabia assailed Iran for its support for rebels in Yemen, while the Iranian supreme leader hit back in a speech saying the United States was not capable of creating stability in the region. NUCLEAR DEAL Trump Pushing Europe to Fix Iran Deal He May Blow Up Anyway | Associated Press Trump administration negotiators have a tough sales job as they pressure European allies to accept new restrictions to "fix" the Iran nuclear deal: Even if the Europeans agree, President Donald Trump may blow up the deal anyway. U.S. Taking Negotiations 'One Week at a Time' on Expiring Iran Deal | New York Times As they gathered last week, perhaps for the last time, diplomats from countries that brokered the Iran nuclear accord publicly and uniformly declared it was working - despite a death watch over the deal in Washington. But behind the closed doors of the chandeliered room, complaints spilled forth about President Trump's threats to tear up the agreement. CONGRESS & IRAN Congress: We Can't Stop Trump From Killing the Iran Deal | The Daily Beast Key lawmakers are predicting that President Donald Trump will pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal later this spring. And although there is an appetite on Capitol Hill and within Trump's own national security team to save the accord, members of Congress say they lack the immediate legislative options to save it from Trump's axe. U.S.-IRAN RELATIONS Khamenei Says Iran Has Foiled US Plans In Mideast | Agence France-Presse Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran has neutralised US plans in the Middle East, in a speech Wednesday marking the Persian New Year.  SANCTIONS ENFORCEMENT U.S. Alleges Iranian Violated Sanctions | Wall Street Journal Prosecutors charged an Iranian man with violating U.S. sanctions relating to a housing project his company agreed to build in Venezuela on behalf of the government in Tehran. d the British Virgin Islands to conceal its Iranian ties. IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS Iran Inches Closer to Dream of Gasoline Independence | Reuters Iran has sharply reduced its gasoline imports in recent weeks after starting up a new refinery, trade sources said, bringing the oil-rich country closer to its goal of fuel self-sufficiency.  Iran's Supreme Leader Says Nation Tested But Will Emerge Stronger | Bloomberg Iran's supreme leader conceded his country had been tested but insisted it would emerge stronger, in a speech that sought to counter both domestic critics and a hostile U.S. administration.  IRAQ & IRAN In Symbolic Victory, Iran Conquers Iraq's Dates Market | Reuters It isn't hard to find signs that Iran is winning a proxy war with Saudi Arabia in Iraq. There are the Iraqi Shi'ite militia who have sworn allegiance to Iran and the politicians beholden to Tehran. There are the Iranian companies that make everything from Baghdad's yellow taxis to the refrigerators and air conditioners that flood street markets. And then there are the dates. Eye on Iran is a periodic news summary from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Eye on Iran is not intended as a comprehensive media clips summary but rather a selection of media elements with discreet analysis in a PDA friendly format. For more information please email press@uani.com. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons.  UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons.