IDF intel chief, Saudi defense minister in DC for talks with US on potential Iran strikes

IDF intel chief, Saudi defense minister in DC for talks with US on potential Iran strikes – report

ToI Staff

 Times of Israel is liveblogging Thursday

Senior Saudi and Israeli defense and intelligence officials are in Washington, DC, this week for talks with the Trump administration over potential US strikes on Iran, Axios reports, citing two US officials and two other sources with knowledge.

According to the outlet, Israeli officials including IDF Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder are sharing intelligence on potential targets in Iran, whereas the Saudis are trying to head off a war through diplomatic means.

Binder met senior Pentagon, CIA and White House officials on Tuesday and Wednesday, say the two US officials.

Meanwhile, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman — younger brother of powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — is meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday and Friday.

The Saudi crown prince has told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Riyadh would not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Tehran, state news agency SPA reported earlier this week.

Trump is weighing options against Iran that include targeted strikes on security forces and leaders to inspire protesters, sources have told Reuters.

According to CNN, talks between Washington and Iran failed to make inroads on a deal to end the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and that has increased Trump’s openness to major intervention.

Putin, UAE president to discuss Iran tensions at Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin tells his UAE counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan that Russia is closely monitoring the situation in Iran and wants to discuss it with him in Kremlin talks.

Putin makes the comment at the start of talks with the UAE president whose country has recently hosted peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the potential for talks between the US and Iran had not yet been exhausted, and that any use of force against Tehran could create “chaos” in the region and lead to dangerous consequences.

EU sanctions target Iran’s interior minister, prosecutor general over protest crackdown

The EU imposes sanctions on Iran’s interior minister, prosecutor general and regional Revolutionary Guard commanders over a deadly crackdown on mass protests.

The 27-nation bloc in total adds 15 officials and six entities to its asset freeze and visa ban blacklist, according to the EU’s official journal.

The adoption of the sanctions comes as EU foreign ministers are expected separately to agree to add Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to the bloc’s list of “terrorist” organizations.

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