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The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), headed by Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman, deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. diplomatic relations with Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Regional policy issues that NEA handles include Iraq, Middle East peace, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and political and economic reform. -Clickable Map
Treasury Targets Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Feb. 10)
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today took further action to implement existing U.S. sanctions against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by designating an individual and four companies affiliated with the IRGC pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which freezes the assets of designated proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their supporters. Full Text»
Yemen on the Brink: Implications for U.S. PolicyAssistant Secretary Feltman (Feb. 3): "U.S. strategy toward Yemen is two-pronged: (1) strengthen the Government of Yemen’s ability to promote security and minimize the threat from violent extremists within its borders, and (2 )mitigate Yemen’s economic crisis and deficiencies in government capacity, provision of services, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law." Full Text»
Secretary Clinton Meets With Iraqi Vice President Dr. Tariq HashimiSecretary Clinton (Feb. 2): "I’m delighted to welcome the vice president here today. He has already had the opportunity to meet with the President, the Vice President, and this afternoon we’ll have the chance to go into more detail about what’s happening in Iraq and the kind of challenges that are being faced and overcome every day." Full Text»
Statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on YemenAssistant Secretary Feltman (Jan. 20): "Due to increasing concerns about instability in and threats emanating from Yemen, the Obama administration decided to undertake a full-scale review of our Yemen policy, under the aegis of the National Security Council, in the spring of 2009. The primary threat to U.S. interests in Yemen and a grave threat to the security and stability of the Government of Yemen (ROYG) is the presence of Al-Qaeda-related extremists in the country." Full Text» Remarks by Coordinator for Counterterrorism Benjamin»
Assistant Secretary David Johnson Visits Beirut; Meets With ISF Command
Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs arrived in Beirut Sunday, January 10, 2010, to observe the U.S.-funded capacity building program for the Internal Security Forces (ISF). While in Beirut, Ambassador Johnson and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michele Sison met with the command staff of the ISF led by Director General Achraf Rifi. Full Text»