Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: US intel assessment suggests Trump's Iran policy not working

[logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Wednesday, January 30 | Daily Briefing [By: Laura Rozen on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019]( Washington 1 [US intel assessment suggests Trump's Iran policy not working]( A new US intelligence assessment suggests that the Donald Trump administration’s Iran policy is not achieving its goals and may in fact be counterproductive. Turkey 2 [Putin proposes old yet novel idea for Turkey-Syria crisis]( Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested reactivating the 1998 Adana Accord to prevent Turkey from intervening east of the Euphrates River in Syria. Palestine 3 [Abbas' Cabinet resigns; new government to form soon]( The Fatah Central Committee has recommended forming a Palestinian government made up entirely of PLO factions, while excluding Hamas and the Islamic Jihad — an action that could undermine already-weak reconciliation efforts. Russia / Mideast 4 [Russia keeps plugging away at cooperation with North Africa]( During his tour around the Maghreb, Foreign Minister Lavrov showed Russia has a genuine interest in developing stronger ties with regional states, but the number of roadblocks in the way raise questions about Moscow's ability to go past "strategic declarations" anytime soon. Washington 5 [Top Democrat on foreign affairs shoots down pro-Palestinian trips]( House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., is unwilling to approve a proposed congressional delegation to the West Bank. Israel 6 [Pressured by settlers, Netanyahu ejects Hebron observers]( With elections right around the corner, it has become much easier for the settlers to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do their bidding and let them rule downtown Hebron. Palestine 7 [Hamas denies Arab media talk about new prisoner swap negotiations with Israel]( Qatar’s Al-Araby al-Jadeed reported that talks between Israel and Hamas were renewed through European intermediaries, but the Islamic movement’s spokesman denies it. Iran 8 [Iran’s defeat in Asian Cup sparks heated debate on political culture]( Iran's national soccer team had to pack its bags and head home from the AFC Asian Cup following their 3-0 defeat against Japan in a match replete with controversial scenes. Washington 9 [Syrian Kurds tell Washington they may join forces with Assad if US pulls out of Syria]( A top Syrian Kurdish official said today that US-backed fighters will consider integrating with the Syrian army, a potential frustration to US policy in the country after troops withdraw. Israel 10 [Netanyahu plays Iran threat at his convenience]( Guided by election campaign considerations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a Russian-American deal for pulling Iranian forces out of Syria. Palestine 11 [Writing on the wall: Palestinian engravings tell tales of heritage, faith]( A history and geography teacher has devoted decades to painstakingly deciphering Palestine's rich heritage as depicted on the walls of its ancient buildings. Lebanon 12 [Forgotten artisans of Beirut seek revival]( Beirut’s Armenian district, previously a vibrant center of craftsmanship and culture in the country, is going through a decline due to a lack of government planning, with only a few artisans escaping the downturn. Palestine 13 [PA opens new TV station in Damascus]( The Palestinian Authority’s official TV station inaugurated its new headquarters in Damascus, a move that was seen as paving the way for normalizing ties with the Syrian regime. Iraq 14 [Varying head counts of US forces in Iraq stir controversy]( It's hard to nail down how many US troops are in Iraq, but some Iraqi political factions say any number is too high. Turkey 15 [Shadow of foul play descends early on Turkey's local polls]( Turkey’s municipal polls are still two months away, but the opposition is already alarmed over possible vote manipulation. Iran 16 [How Iran can use rupees to build strategic trade with India]( Iran and India’s signing of an agreement for how Iranian oil export proceeds can be used could turn into a blessing in disguise for the Islamic Republic. Palestine 17 [Are men getting away with murder in Gaza?]( As more and more women die in Gaza in honor killings or in what are reported to be accidents, some are calling for tougher sanctions against the perpetrators. STAY CONNECTED [fb_icon_footer]( [twitter_icon_footer]( [instagram_icon_footer]( [rss_icon_footer]( CONTACT US [Support & Contact]( [Advertise](mailto:advertise@al-monitor.com) NEWSLETTERS [Subscribe]( TERMS OF USE [Visitor Agreement]( [Privacy Policy]( © 2019 Al-Monitor. All Rights Reserved. If you no longer wish to receive these emails you may [unsubscribe or manage your preferences]( at any time. Al-Monitor · 1850 K St NW · Suite 1225 · Washington, DC 20006 · USA