France Bombs ISIL Camp in Syria

France said today it had launched air strikes against an Islamic State training camp in eastern Syria, joining Russia as the newest countries planning military intervention against ISIL inside Syria.

A U.S.-led coalition of Western and Arab countries have been conducting airstrikes on ISIL positions in the country, and France will coordinate its combat activities in support of the coalition. Russia is also expected to start its own airstrikes in Syria soon and along with the Syrian air force, which has been conducting limited number of strikes against ISIL, could also coordinate or deconflict combat air missions with the coalition.

File photo: A French Rafale fighter jet above Iraq (AFP)

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Skies over Syria getting crowded, via @Joyce_Karam/Twitter

GCC Summit in Riyadh - UPDATE

French President Hollande Becomes First Foreign Leader to Attend GCC Summit

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states met today in Riyadh to discuss regional developments, most significantly the ongoing crisis in Yemen.

French President Francois Hollande became the first foreign leader to attend a GCC Summit since its inception in 1981. It was also the first summit for King Salman who took the throne on 23 January. New Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman also were in attendance.

Hollande has openly sided with the GCC states on major issues in the region, including the military intervention in Yemen and a possible military intervention in Syria. Hollane is also cautious about a final nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers and wants to balance any future agreement with strong guarantees to the GCC states.

UPDATE: Saudi King Salman called on fellow GCC leaders to stand up to Iran, saying there was a need to confront an external threat that "aims to expand control and impose its hegemony," threatening regional stability and creating "sectarian sedition."

Photo credit: French President Francois Hollande attends the GCC Summit in Riyadh; 5 May 2015 (AP)

France, U.S. Note Progress in Iran Nuclear Talks

French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius said today “progress” has been made in nuclear talks with Iran.

“There is progress in certain areas but there are also divergences that must be remedied, Fabius said at a joint press conference in Paris with Secretary of State John Kerry. (RFI, 7 March)

Kerry said France and the U.S. have “exactly the same analysis” regarding the nuclear talks. He added that Tehran must assert that it has a peaceful program, “It is frankly up to Iran that wants this program to show the world that it is exactly what they say.”

The two were to meet British Foreign Secretary Phil Hammond and Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier, along with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to review a week of negotiations in Switzerland, including meetings between Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.

Key Questions Remain about Iran’s Nuclear Program - France

France said on Thursday that important issues still needed to be resolved regarding Iran’s nuclear program before the 24 November deadline.

“I hope we will be able to achieve an agreement but there are still key questions to resolve,” French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. “I can’t make any prediction at this time. I think it will only be on the day of the 24th that we will be able to make an assessment.” (Reuters, 13 November)

Rouhani in New York

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had a busy schedule today in New York. In separate meetings, he has held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Francois Hollande, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and will be meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday. Rouhani and other heads of state and government are in New York to attend the 69^th session of UN General Assembly.

President Rouhani will address the General Assembly on Thursday at 9:00 AM.

Photo credit: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; New York, 23 September 2014. (Twitter@hassanRouhani)

No Deal Today - Yet ‘A Lot of Concrete Progress’

Iran and world powers were unable to seal a deal today, but set 20 November as the date of their next meeting in Geneva to work on concluding an agreement.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton held a post-meeting press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

“A lot of concrete progress has been achieved but some issues remain,” Ashton said, adding: “Our objective is to reach a conclusion and that’s what we’ll come back (to Geneva on 20 November) to try to do.” (AFP, 10 November)

Reports indicate that the French concerns over an apparent Iranian unwillingness to delay the completion of its plutonium-producing IR-40 reactor in Arak was one of the stumbling blocks that prevented an agreement today.

“The meetings in Geneva have made it possible to move forward, but we have not yet managed to conclude (a deal), because there are still some questions remaining to be dealt with,” said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

Secretary of State John Kerry was optimistic: “We made a lot of progress,” but need to ‘dot the I’s and cross the t’s’ to reach an agreement. (@StateDept/Twitter)

Photo credit: EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at a post-meeting press conference. Geneva, 10 September 2013. (AFP)

‘Victory of Moderation over Extremism’ – Rouhani

U.S. Ready to Engage Iran ‘Directly’ 

Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani praised his election as a “victory of moderation over extremism,” and urged world powers to speak to his country with respect and acknowledge its rights in order to receive an appropriate response.

“This victory is a victory of wisdom, moderation, progress, awareness, commitment and religiosity over extremism & unethical behavior,” Rouhani said. “A new opportunity has been created by this great epic, and the nations who tout democracy and open dialogue should speak to the Iranian people with respect and recognize the rights of the Islamic Republic,” he added. Then they will “hear an appropriate respons.”

In major Western response, the United States said it is ready to engage Iran “directly” after Rouhani’s election.

Britain urged the president-elect to set the Islamic republic “on a different course for the future,”
said British foreign ministry spokesman. (Reuters, 15 June)

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France was “ready to work” with the new president.

Photo credit: Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani (AFP)

Russia Insists on Iranian Presence at Syria Peace Conference

Russia has said that it is imperative for Iran to join a peace conference on Syria proposed by The U.S. and Russia.

“The issue of Iran (participation) is key for us,” said Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, while on a visit to Paris on Tuesday.

France has opposed Iran’s participation. Russia has argued that both Iran and Saudi Arabia should take part in the negotiations as part of a new push for peace agreed by Moscow and Washington.

On Monday, Lavrov said that he and US Secretary of State John Kerry had agreed in Paris that more “clarity” was needed about who could take part in the proposed negotiations before a date for them could be set.

“We must get clarity about the participants," said Lavrov. "And this concerns not only the Syrians that will represent the various levels of society, but also the foreign players.” (AFP, 29 May)

The conference will be held in Geneva. Although there is still no firm agreement on the date, but it could happen on 15-16 June.

Photo credit: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Paris on 27 May (AFP/Pool/Jim Young)