Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton asserted that Iran seeks to dominate the Middle East, criticizing the Biden administration for ignoring this threat.
In statements made to “Al Arabiya/Al Hadath” on Thursday, Bolton claimed that Iran has brought a major war to the Middle East, noting that the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran has undermined Iran’s credibility in the region. Regarding the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, he mentioned that Hamas’s absence from the Doha talks reduces the chances of their success.
“Significant Disagreements”
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Al-Qahera News Channel reported, citing sources familiar with the ceasefire talks in Gaza, that significant disagreements between the parties remain unresolved.
The channel quoted a “high-ranking Egyptian source” who stated that the Egyptian security delegation is making intensive efforts to reach a consensus between the parties on a ceasefire agreement, with talks continuing in Doha. It was noted that a new round of negotiations over a Gaza truce began on Thursday in Doha, as the death toll from the ongoing ten-month conflict has surpassed forty thousand, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The negotiations come after ten months of devastating war between Israel and Hamas, amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran and its allies.
New Round in Doha
Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated that a new round started in the Qatari capital on Thursday, aimed at reaching a truce that could facilitate the exchange of prisoners held in Gaza and Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
In Washington, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby described the negotiations as having a “promising start,” predicting that they would continue on Friday. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy also remarked that these talks are “crucial for global stability.”
