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Iran: Israeli PM Netanyahu presented evidence to the world that purports to show Iran had historically pursued nuclear weapons (perhaps as late as 2003). The signatories to the nuclear deal negotiated it due to concerns about Iran as a nuclear power so this is nothing new. Will it be enough for Trump to leave the 2015 deal? Maybe, but it will certainly add to pressure for ballistic missile development curbs/sanctions.
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Israel-Iran: the Israeli envoy to the UN claimed that 80,000 Shiite fighters had been recruited by Iran in Syria – close to Damascus. U.S. Secretary of Defence Mattis stated that an Iran-Israel war in Syria is likely.
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Saudi Arabia: U.S. press outlets reported that newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo told the Saudi administration to resolve its differences with Qatar. Saudi is looking to raise US$10bn through privatizations, while the Aramco audit found slightly higher reserves. Unemployment worries in Saudi generated greater concerns – it reached 12.8% in Q3 2017 – as the working age population increases.
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Yemen: a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in Sanaa killed two leaders of the Houthis. The Houthis have vowed to step-up rocket attacks on Saudi oil facilities, claiming to now manufacture their own ballistic missiles. Little credence is given to this assertion as Iranian support, training and material are widely blamed.
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