NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN INTENDED TO CURTAIL ITS DEFENSE INDUSTRY. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME WHILE IRAN’S TOP DIPLOMAT WAS IN HIS FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING WITH WESTERN LEADERS SINCE FIGHTING WITH ISRAEL BEGAN ONE WEEK AGO. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT AHTRA ELNASHAR HAS THE LATEST FROM WASHINGTON. >>PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE’LL MAKE HIS DECISION ON WHETHER TO STRIKE IRAN IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, PROVIDING A WINDOW FOR DIPLOMACY. IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER MEETING WITH HIS EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS FOR A FULL DAY OF TALKS IN GENEVA FRIDAY.
>>AND WE URGE IRAN TO CONTINUE THEIR TALKS WITH THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS A PERILOUS MOMENT. >>IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS THEY’RE READY TO CONSIDER DIPLOMACY ONCE THE AGGRESSION STOPS. MINUTES LATER, FROM NEW JERSEY, PRESIDENT TRUMP DOWNPLAYING EUROPE’S ABILITY TO BROKER PEACE. >>THAT DIDN’T HELP.
NO, IRAN DOESN’T WANT TO SPEAK TO EUROPE. THEY WANT TO SPEAK TO US.
EUROPE IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP ON THIS ONE. >>MEANWHILE, THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENING FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING. >>I HAVE A SIMPLE AND CLEAR MESSAGE.
GAVE PEACE A CHANCE. THE EXPANSION OF THIS CONFLICT COULD IGNITE A FIRE THAT NO ONE CAN CONTROL. >>ISRAEL’S AMBASSADOR SAYING THIS ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. >>IF THERE WILL BE A GENUINE EFFORT TO DISMANTLE THE CAPABILITIES OF IRAN, THEN THAT’S SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER. BUT IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE ANOTHER SESSION AND DEBATES.
THAT’S NOT GOING TO WORK.
>>IRAN’S AMBASSADOR ACCUSING ISRAEL OF WAR CRIMES AND CLAIMS IRAN IS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE. >>THE ALREADY DIRE SITUATION HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY MOUNTING AN IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE OF DIRECT INVOLVEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES IN THIS ILLEGAL WAR OF AGGRESSION. >>HERE IN WASHINGTON. SENIOR DEMOCRATIC SENATORS ARE URGING PRESIDENT TRUMP TO USE THIS TIME TO CONSULT WITH CONGRESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN TROOPS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
>>AND WHAT HIS INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, OUR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, ASSESSES AS THE COSTS, THE RISKS, AND WHAT WOULD BE THE PLAN FOR THE DAY AFTER. >>HOUSE MINORITY LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES SAYS PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION MUST REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING IN OFFENSIVE MILITARY ACTION IN IRAN WITHOUT EXPLICIT APPROVAL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE.
WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE WAS ASKED WHETHER THE PRESIDENT WOULD SEEK CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL, PRESS SECRETARY CAROLINE LEAVITT SAID SHE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN HYPOTHETICALS. IN WASHINGTON, I’M AHTRA ELNASHAR REPORTING..
