🧵 New from me: Senior Biden admin official says US still prepared to work out Iran deal return before Iran elections, but it does not control the pace. diplomatic.substack.com/p/us-says-prep…
“Even though Iran keeps saying …‘you left, you go back in,’ it is harder than that...We need some level of mutual understanding of where we are going and how to get there.”
“It would be infinitely easier if we could sit down at same table,” US official diplomatic.substack.com/p/us-says-prep…
“There are many reasons why things have not moved as fast as they ought to have moved. But we are not dragging our feet. …
We could go at a good pace...It could go faster if we sit down with them, and have significantly more effective discussions.” diplomatic.substack.com/p/us-says-prep…
Was struck the US official repeatedly appealed for direct talks with Iran, making the case that it would be more efficient and avoid the misunderstandings resulting from going via intermediaries and from public statements (and posturing) on all sides diplomatic.substack.com/p/us-says-prep…
“We could go at a good pace,” he said. “It could go faster if we sit down with them, and have significantly more effective discussions.”
Was also struck the US official seemed to be downplaying a gesture for gesture idea he said was originally proposed by the Iranians. But “now they seem to have switched to the view of let’s see if we can define what full compliance would be,” diplomatic.substack.com/p/us-says-prep…
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“Should anyone inquire about their relationships, one person said, Gaetz told the women to say that he had paid for hotel rooms and dinners as part of their dates.”
Just like his talking points to Axios the other day
“One of the women who had sex with both men also agreed to have sex with an unidentified associate of theirs in Florida Republican politics, according to a person familiar with the arrangement.”
“unidentified associate involved in Florida Republican politics”
“About $90,000 was spent to build and install equipment cryptocurrency mining devices from a Chinese company called Antminer in a locked room inside Greenberg’s private office.” mynews13.com/fl/orlando/new…
“More than $1 million was ‘wasted’ on consultants, the report said. The consulting companies were created after Greenberg took office and dissolved after he quit. Staffers couldn’t say what the consultants did.” mynews13.com/fl/orlando/new…
The Biden admin had been expecting a possible proposal from Iran FM Zarif to be issued this week. But it did not materialize, amid growing signs that Iran pre elections politics are hindering prospects to come to an understanding diplomatic.substack.com/p/iran-electio…
Rouhani yesterday blasted internal rivals as betraying the Iranian nation by denying them possible economic relief, adding to the impression that there is a lack of consensus in Iran to move forward diplomatic.substack.com/p/iran-electio…
Rouhani’s language about denying Iranians economic relief seemed to echo comments Iran’s Sup. Leader made a few months ago, that Iran should not hesitate one hour to seek sanctions relief, so perhaps the effort to seek consensus or an opening is not over diplomatic.substack.com/p/iran-electio…
🧵House Intel chair Schiff on ODNI report: “The Intelligence Community Assessment released today underscores what we all knew already – that Russia interfered to support former Pres. Trump, hurt Pres. Biden, &undermine confidence in our electoral process. Through proxies, Russia
“ran a successful intel operation that penetrated the former president’s inner circle. Individuals close to the former president were targeted by agents of Russian intelligence inc. Andriy Derkach & Konstantin Kilimnik, who laundered misinformation into our political system
“with the intent of denigrating now-President Biden and damaging his candidacy.” ...
Jake Sullivan, on Iran: We are waiting to hear further from the Iranians how they would like to proceed. It is not going to be easy.
But we believe we are in a diplomatic process now that we can move forward now.
referred to communication through the Europeans
Asked about apparent Pompeo charge the ayatollahs only understand strength, & asking if Biden showing weakness for not retaliating for rocket attack on base in Iraq, Sullivan says if look at pattern of attacks in 2019-2020, not sure the former Sec in position to give advice.