-

The Alpha-Omega Report's

-

-

-

Middle East News Spotlight

-

-

-

For 01-03-10

-

-

-

Op-Ed From Israel

-

+++++++++++

-

Iran's Foreign Minister Mottaki issued an ultimatum to the West. He gave the Western nations until the end of January to accept a compromise offer by Iran concerning uranium enrichment. He gave no details of the compromise. He went on to add that failure to accept Iran's compromise offer will result in Iran continuing to enrich uranium at a 20 percent rate.

For more on this story, LINK HERE.

-

+++++++++++

-

Israeli officials say they will support President Obama's move to impose sanctions on Iran as a next step in the standoff over the country's nuclear program, though the narrower measures being considered by the White House may fall short of the "crippling" restrictions advocated here.

With the expiration of the United States' year-end deadline for Iran to resolve the issue, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is "focused on working with the international community to upgrade the pressure on Iran in a way that makes the Iranian regime know that its nuclear program is unacceptable, that they are going to pay a price that will make them rethink," said spokesman Mark Regev. Obama "has been successful in galvanizing an international coalition that many people were cynical about. We are on the same page."

More details, LINK HERE.

-

+++++++++++

-

Iran continues to be a boiling sea of unrest amongs its peoples. This past week saw two days of protests met by stiff government resistance.

There were rumors of a military coup in the works but nothing materialized. Instead, opposition leaders were threatened with death and arerst.

One political opponent fled into hiding after his nephew was assassinated by government agents. It was interpreted as a warning that more bloodshed was yet to come. Even so, the regime and its opponents remain at an impasse.

For more details on the week's events inside Iran, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++++

-

-

+++++++++++++

-

Iran will once again conduct large-scale military war exercises in February as part of its readiness to defend itself against any Israeli or U.S. agression. Details, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++++++

-

-

+++++++++++++

-

-

+++++++++++++

-

-

+++++++++++++

-

Saudi military units continue to join Yemeni military forces in battling rebel forces and Al Qaeda in Yemen. More details, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++++++

-

China is reportedly considering building a naval base in the Middle East along the Gulf of Aden to protect Chinese Ships against Somali Pirates. More details, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++++++

-

-

-

-

-

-