Saudi Arabia plans new sovereign wealth fund

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made no expression of regret in his talks with Iran’s foreign minister to seek the release of 10 U.S. sailors who were taken into Iranian custody in the Gulf, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.

The talks coincided with Iran’s effort to completely satisfy the terms of last summer’s nuclear deal.

“We understand the administration is preparing sanctions against individuals and entities involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program, and we urge you to announce such sanctions without further delay”, said the letter.

The nine men and one woman were held on Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf after being detained nearby on Tuesday.

“If that’s the choice they leave us, we’re going to do what’s necessary”, he adds.

Russian Federation as well as several European and regional countries have expressed readiness to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Following an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, Riyadh announced it was severing all diplomatic ties with Iran. They say the nuclear deal that they opposed is preventing Obama from dealing assertively with Iran, because he is more concerned with protecting his signature foreign policy achievement.

Addressing a joint press briefing with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Al-Jubeir said that his country continued to support the Syria support group, the multinational peace process, which started in Vienna last October.

The U.S.is banking on its new dynamic with Iran, and particularly Kerry’s relationship with Zarif. Once Iran completes the task, probably in coming days, it should begin to reap massive economic benefits.

Kerry also said he’s conveyed similar messages to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr’s death triggered outrage in Iran, and the protest led to ransacking of the Saudi embassy, an act Riyadh blamed on Tehran. As they make good on their promises, both Kerry and Zarif have raised the prospect of even more engagement to come.