A top US diplomat is expected to brief members of Congress on Tuesday on President Donald Trump’s administration’s approach to Iran, as Washington and Tehran prepare for another round of talks later in the week.
Marco Rubio, who also serves as President Trump’s national security adviser, will meet with House and Senate leaders at the White House, according to a publicly available schedule.
President Trump will deliver a televised address to the nation on Tuesday night. Although such speeches usually focus on domestic priorities, developments in foreign policy can also feature prominently.
The official schedule does not specify the topic of the report, but sources familiar with the events say the focus will be on Iran. The presence of the so-called The “Gang of Eight,” which traditionally includes the speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate, and the chairmen and members of the intelligence committees of both houses.
President Trump has repeatedly warned that the US could take military action against Iran if Tehran does not agree to a deal that would curb its nuclear program, ballistic missile development and support for regional groups including Hamas and Hezbollah.
Due to rising tensions, the Pentagon has deployed additional military forces to the Middle East. There are currently two US aircraft carriers in the region, representing one of the largest presences of US air power in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
In a further sign of heightened concern, the State Department on Monday ordered the withdrawal of dozens of employees and their family members from the US Embassy in Beirut.
“We are continuously evaluating the security environment and based on the most recent analysis, we have deemed it reasonable to reduce the presence to the necessary personnel,” the State Department said.
(Vijesti.ba)
