Are The Iranian Nuclear Talks Just Another US vs Russia (And China) Power Game?

P5+1 European Union officials and Iranian officials wait for the start of a meeting on Iran's nuclear program at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne on March 30, 2015. Reuters/Brendan Smialowski

Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge: The Iran "Talks" - Just Another US vs Russia (And China) Power Game

Update, and just as expected: IRAN NUCLEAR NEGOTIATORS MAY MISS 3RD DEADLINE: U.S. OFFICIAL

In what has been the world's longest negotiation (we are only modestly joking: the Iran P5+1 nuclear "talks" started in 2013 and have yet to achieve anything) one whose "rolling deadline" has been breached time and time again, it appears that with today's latest deadline just hours away, the most likely outcome is another deadline extension even though, as Reuters puts it, "Iran and six world powers ramped up the pace on Tuesday in negotiations over a preliminary deal on Tehran's nuclear program, while officials cautioned that any agreement would likely be fragile and incomplete."

The negotiations, which we have largely ignored covering as the past has abundantly shown that nothing ever actually gets done except for a lot of talking, posturing, gesticulating and pizza-ordering, have seen the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China trying to break an impasse in the talks, which are aimed at stopping Iran from gaining the capacity to develop a nuclear bomb in exchange for easing international sanctions that are crippling its economy.

WNU Editor: I am sure that U.S. - China - Russian politics and diplomacy between themselves are involved n these talks .... but Iran has always marched to its own tune, and I expect them to continue doing just that.

Nigeria's Opposition Party Declares Victory In Presidential Elections

Reuters: Buhari claims victory in historic Nigerian vote

(Reuters) - Nigeria's opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) declared an election victory on Tuesday for former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari and said Africa's most populous nation was witnessing history with its first democratic transfer of power.

"The people of Nigeria have taken over," an ecstatic APC spokesman Lai Mohammed told Reuters at the house in the capital where Buhari, a sandal-wearing Muslim ascetic watching the results on television.

"This is the first time in Nigeria that a sitting government will be voted out of power using purely democratic means."

More News On Nigeria's Elections

Opposition party declares victory in Nigeria election -- Al Jazeera
Nigeria election: Buhari poised for victory as governing party cries foul -- The Guardian
Buhari leads Jonathan in Nigeria election -- USA Today
Buhari Closes in on Historic Victory in Nigerian Election -- VOA
Muhammadu Buhari Holds Narrow Lead Over Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria Election -- WSJ
In Nigeria’s Election, Muhammadu Buhari Holds Lead Over Goodluck Jonathan -- NYT
Who is Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari? -- Susannah Cullinane and Stephanie Busari, CNN

Is This Al Qaeda's Strategy To Defeat President Bashar Assad?

Rebel fighters, one of them carrying a flag used by al Qaeda's Nusra Front, celebrate at the Mihrab roundabout in the Idlib city centre, after they took control of the area on March 28, 2015. Reuters/Khalil Ashawi

IBTimes: Jabhat Al-Nusra's Win In Idlib Highlights Al Qaeda's Strategy To Defeat President Bashar Assad

The Syrian civil war began as a battle between Syrian opposition groups and President Bashar Assad’s regime, but the battleground quickly evolved into a kaleidoscope of brigades and battalions fighting each other, the regime and terrorist organizations like the Islamic State group. And now, four years into a conflict that is increasingly pulling in foreign fighters and international powers, one Syrian faction has emerged as the most effective one fighting Assad: al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda’s branch in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra (JN), has capitalized on the threat of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and the increasing ineffectiveness of moderate rebel groups. And it has succeeded on the ground thanks to a military strategy that relies on partnerships with other rebel groups, many of whom JN said it would be willing to include in a post-Assad Syrian government.

WNU Editor: One of the reasons why President Bashar Assad’s regime has been able to stay in power for so long has been (and still is) the disunity among his opponents .... both politically and militarily. If these rebel groups are able to unify, the military dynamics will definitely change on the ground .... but politically .... the idea of Al Qaeda being victorious in Syria .... I cannot even begin listing the nightmare scenarios that are going through my mind on that prospect.

Iraqi Prime Minister: The Islamic State Has Been Driven Out Of Central Tikrit

Reuters: Iraqi forces drive Islamic State out of central Tikrit: PM

(Reuters) - Iraqi troops aided by Shi'ite paramilitaries have driven Islamic State out of central Tikrit, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said on Tuesday, but the fight to retake all of Saddam Hussein's home town continued.

Government forces have been in a month-long fight for the city, which became a bastion for the Sunni jihadists who are at war with Baghdad and have been targeted by U.S.-led air strikes.

Hundreds of insurgents ready to fight to the death are still holed up in Salahuddin province's capital city and at least three neighborhoods remain under Islamic State control, along with a palace complex in the city's north.

The further Iraqi forces push into the city, the greater the risk of ambushes.

WNU Editor: I have heard these claims before (more than once) .... so I will wait until independent journalists are reporting from the center of Tikrit before stating that this is true.

More News On The Battle For Tikrit

Iraq premier: Troops in center of Islamic State-held Tikrit -- AP
Iraq's Prime Minister is claiming that a key city has been retaken from ISIS -- AFP
Iraqi forces take back Tikrit from ISIS, official says -- CNN
Iraqi forces take large parts of Tikrit from ISIS, prime minister says -- FOX News
Iraqi Security Forces Recapture Tikrit From Islamic State -- WSJ
Iraq forces retake government HQ in Tikrit -- Al Arabiya
Iraqi forces advance in Tikrit following U.S. strikes -- Washington Post

Saudi Arabia's New Defense Chief Faces His First War

Yemeni president Abd-Rabbu Hadi is welcomed to Riyadh by Saudi defence minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud

Financial Times: Yemen strikes are test of youthful Saudi defence minister

As Saudi jets pummelled Houthi rebel targets around the Yemeni capital Sana’a, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud was co-ordinating the strikes from the Saudi military’s operations centre.

The surprise assault is meant to stem the rapid advance of the Zaydi Shia militia that, allied with former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, has brought the Sunni Gulf allied-Yemeni government to the brink of extinction.

Update #1: Meet The Poster Boy Of Saudi Arabia’s Yemen Strikes -- Vocativ
Update #2: Saudi Arabia's Rising Stars -- Glen Carey And Kambiz Forooha, Bloomberg

WNU Editor: No one even knows how old Saudi Arabia's new defense chief is (some say 30, others say 35) .... but everyone knows that he is the son of the new king. Hmmm .... speaking of nepotism.

Yemen War News Updates -- March 31, 2015

Washington Post: Rebels push offensive in Aden, killing dozens with artillery fire

SANAA, Yemen — Artillery fire in the southern Yemeni city of Aden, the last stronghold of the embattled Yemeni government, killed 26 people overnight Tuesday, news reports said.

Iran-allied Houthi rebels along with allied army units are pressing in on the outskirts of the city despite six days of Saudi-led airstrikes meant to halt their advance. A Health Ministry official said 26 people were killed in that push, the Reuters news agency reported.

The deaths came one day after an airstrike killed dozens of people at a camp for displaced people in northern Yemen, in what appeared to be the single deadliest attack since the Saudi-led coalition started bombing its neighbor to target Shiite insurgents advancing across the country.

Yemen War News Updates -- March 31, 2015

Saudi-led strikes again hit Yemen overnight -- Reuters
Saudi-led forces pound Yemen Shiite rebels as Iran sends aid -- AP
Saudi-led forces strike Houthi rebel positions across Yemen -- AFP
'Heaviest' Arab raids rock Yemen capital -- AFP
Airstrikes shake Yemen’s capital as Shiite rebels push south -- Washington Times
Air strikes hit Sana’a as Al Houthis push south -- AP
'Disturbing' reports of civilian casualties in Yemen, Red Cross says -- CNN
Civilian deaths mount as Yemen falls apart -- CBS/AP
At least 36 dead as Yemen's Houthis shell Aden, warplanes bomb airport -- Reuters
Air strike kills at least 40 at Yemen camp for displaced -- Reuters
Artillery fire in Yemen's Aden kills 10 militiamen loyal to Hadi: eyewitness -- Reuters
Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen kill 33 people, including civilians -- Al Bawaba
Ships join Saudi-led fight in Yemen -- Irish Times
Egyptian warships strike rebel targets in Yemen -- Israel Hayom
Saudi FM condemns Iranian ‘support’ for Yemen rebels -- AFP
Iran says could cooperate with Saudi to solve Yemen crisis -- Reuters
Iran Denies Sending Arms to Rebels in Yemen -- VOA
Yemen FM calls for Arab ground intervention -- Al Arabiya
Yemen Receives 'Yes' Response to Request on Sending Ground Troops - FM -- Sputnik
Yemen minister calls for Arab ground push 'as soon as possible' -- Reuters
Pakistan may join Saudi military coalition in Yemen -- Deutsche Welle
Pakistan officials arrive in Saudi to assess Yemen mission -- Washington Post/AP
Pakistan Leaders Head to Saudi Arabia to Discuss Yemen Fight -- Bloomberg
Coalition stopping Red Cross delivering medical aid in Yemen: spokeswoman -- Reuters
Yemen's strategic importance to the Middle East -- CNN
Global perspectives on Yemen: Overview -- Euronews

Iran Nuclear Talks News Updates -- March 31, 2015

VOA: Gaps Remain in Iran Nuclear Talks

Negotiations on curbing Iran's nuclear program entered their final hours Tuesday before a self-imposed midnight deadline, with teams from Iran and a group of six world powers trying to resolve 18 months of talks into the outline of a comprehensive agreement.

Officials in Lausanne, Switzerland, expressed a mix of hope and caution about the work that remained to overcome differences on pieces such as how long the deal should last, how quickly economic sanctions against Iran should be lifted, and what to do if Iran violates the terms.

WNU Editor: My prediction .... if past talks are any indication .... expect an announcement that they will continue their talks in a month or two.

Iran Nuclear Talks News Updates -- March 31, 2015

Officials: Iran nuke talks to continue in new phase -- AP
Iran, powers push for nuclear deal as clock ticks toward deadline -- Reuters
Report: Parties prepare to issue Iran nuke talks statement -- USA Today
Iran nuclear talks: 'Good chance' of deal as deadline looms -- BBC
Iran nuclear talks reportedly close to statement on partial agreement -- The Guardian
Iran Nuclear Envoys Near Outline Agreement, Buy More Time -- Bloomberg
Diplomats scurry to reach Iran deal before deadline -- Washington Post
Iran nuclear talks enter final day -- Al Jazeera
Deadline day for Iran nuclear talks dawns with sides far apart on key issues -- FOX News
Lavrov headed back to Iran talks, prospects 'good' -- AP
Lavrov: Chances to reach Iran nuclear deal ‘pretty good’ -- RT
Russia's Lavrov to rejoin Iran talks, sees chance of success -- Reuters
Iran nuclear "deadline" may only yield a lifeline -- CBS/AP
Iran Nuclear Talks Go To The Wire With 50-50 Chance of Success, Negotiators Say -- Huffington Post
Five hurdles to an Iran nuclear deal -- Oren Dorell, USA Today
Iran's nuclear programme: what we know -- AFP
21 questions on Iran nuclear talks: What's going on? What's at stake? -- Jethro Mullen, CNN
How Iranians see the nuclear talks -- BBC
If a deal is done, would Iran cheat? -- Jamsheed K. Choksy and Carol E.B. Choksy