At a time when the Biden Democratic administration's efforts to restore the Iran nuclear deal and Republican lawmakers clashed over demands for a "stop discussion," President Moon Jae-in launched an anti-Iran alliance's arms sale to the UAE and the Houthis attacked.
110 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have called for the Biden administration to halt discussions on the restoration of the Iran nuclear deal, The Hill reported on the 12th.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea announced on the 12th that "the US side has informed the Office of Overseas Assets Control (OFAC) under the Ministry of Finance to issue a specific license on the 6th of this month for the remittance of the compensation."
Regarding South Korea's contract to export the Cheongung missile system to the UAE, Asian Economy reported on the 13th, "As the dramatic negotiations were concluded on the 12th, the final signing was signed at the same time with Hanwha Systems," an anonymous source reported.
On November 16, last year, the UAE Ministry of National Defense announced that it would import US$3.5 billion worth of M-SAM, South Korea's air defense system.
Talks to restore the Iran nuclear agreement (JCPOA) resumed on December 27, last year, and the eighth round of talks between Iran and Britain and France started on the 3rd.
On December 16, last year, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released the "Agreement to Replace Surveillance Cameras in the Karaj Nuclear Facility" in a statement, saying, "The agreement to replace surveillance cameras is an important development in verification and surveillance activities in Iran." will be installed within a few days.”
Earlier, on December 12, the Israeli Prime Minister visited the UAE and had a meeting with the Crown Prince.
Israel has previously stated its position to directly attack Iran's nuclear facilities in the event of a failure to restore the Iran nuclear deal.
The Republican Trump regime signed the 'Abraham Agreement' with Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain in September last year, and the UAE was promised a total of $24 billion in arms sales up to 50 F-35s.
After entering the Biden administration and delays in arms sales, Reuters said, citing a UAE government official, "The UAE has informed the United States that it is suspending negotiations to acquire the F-35."
US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln said on December 15 that he was ready to negotiate the sale of F-35 fighters with the UAE. “We wanted a thorough review before selling and transferring any technology to other regional partners, including the UAE,” he said in Malaysia.
UAE Police said yesterday (17th) that a fire broke out in a drone strike targeting an international airport and oil facilities, killing three people, including two Indian nationals and one Pakistani citizen. The incident occurred at a new construction site in the airport.
The Houthis rebels told the media they were behind the attack on the UAE.
The JoongAng Ilbo said, “If the summit with the Crown Prince had proceeded as it was, President Moon may have stayed in Abu Dhabi during the Houthis drone strike. The UAE is said to have also moved the opening ceremony of the 'Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week' event, which Crown Prince Mohammed personally planned to preside in Abu Dhabi, to Dubai just before President Moon's visit. '(Houthi's) drone attack was expected,' and said, '(Korea's exported) Cheongung II will increase the defense of the UAE.' It is interpreted as suggesting that the background of the cancellation of the schedule with President Moon may have something to do with the Houthis’s airstrikes.”
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on December 20 that he would visit Israel this week to discuss the Iran nuclear deal with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Negotiations to restore the Iran nuclear deal began in April last year on a promise by President Biden, but were halted in June during the Iranian presidential election and resumed in Vienna at the end of November.
The Iran nuclear deal reached in 2015 under the Democratic Obama regime is to lift all sanctions imposed on Iran if it stops developing nuclear weapons, while the Republican Trump regime withdraws from the nuclear agreement in 2018 and restores sanctions, and Iran has since neutralized the nuclear agreement.
The Biden administration has announced that Iran will return to the nuclear deal if it re-complies with the terms of the nuclear agreement, and Iran has demanded sanctions lifted.
On November 5, 2020, the Trump administration announced plans to sell 18 billion-dollar radar-equipped advanced attack drones (MQ-9B) to the UAE.
Just before this, the Trump administration notified Congress of the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the Middle East, followed by the sale of 18 MQ units to the UAE.
Reuters reported at the time that the UAE received an unofficial notice in October 2020 to purchase 50 F-35 fighters worth $10.4 billion as part of an agreement to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel under the Trump regime.