Denying plot to kill

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🇮🇷 IRAN
Iran Denies Assassination Plot

Iran has strongly denied any involvement in a plot to assassinate former US President Donald Trump, calling the accusations “unsubstantiated and malicious.”

Tehran’s Response

• Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani stated that Iran "strongly rejects any involvement in the recent armed attack against Trump."

• A spokesman for Iran’s UN ambassador also dismissed the accusations as "unsubstantiated and malicious."

US Media Reports

US media reported increased security around Trump due to a potential Iranian plot.

• CNN and NBC reported that the US Secret Service had boosted security around Trump after receiving intelligence from an unnamed “human source.”

• The reports indicated no connection between the alleged plot and a recent shooting at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

Social Media

• When CNN first reported this story, users on X were puzzled about how the security level at Saturday’s Trump rally was considered “increased.”

• While some are blaming Iran, which has a clear motive for wanting to assassinate Trump, most suspect that the US Secret Service’s timely “leaking” of this information is too convenient, suggesting they did it to avoid blame for their incompetence or, even worse, their failed attempt to eliminate Trump.

Soleimani’s Death

Still to this day, Iran remains determined to seek justice for the killing of General Qasem Soleimani.

• Tehran holds then-President Trump responsible for the 2020 drone strike that killed Soleimani.

• Iran has vowed to pursue legal action against Trump for his role in the assassination.

🇴🇲 OMAN
ISIS Claims Responsibility For Suicide Attackers

The jihadist group ISIS has claimed responsibility for an attack on a Shiite Muslim mosque in Oman that killed six people on Monday evening.

Attack Details

• The attack occurred on Monday evening near a mosque in Wadi Al-Kabir.

• Three of its “suicide attackers” fired on worshippers at the mosque and exchanged gunfire with Omani security forces.

• At least six people were killed, including one police officer.

• More than two dozen people were injured, including four Omani first responders.

• Three perpetrators were identified and killed during the exchange.

Background

• ISIS is a Sunni Muslim Islamist terror group that considers Shiite Muslims heretics.

• It declared a state in Iraq and Syria a decade ago and has been seeking to expand its influence throughout the Arabian Peninsula, hence its name “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.”

🇨🇳 CHINA
China Halts Nuclear Talks

China has decided to suspend arms control consultations with the US following the American administration’s sale of weapons to Taiwan.

Strong Opposition

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Lin Jian, confirmed the suspension due to the US’s continued arms sales to Taiwan.

• Despite numerous negotiations, the US has persisted in selling arms to Taiwan.

• China has expressed firm opposition to these sales.

• The suspension was announced during a briefing in Beijing.

America’s Responsibility

China places the responsibility for the suspension on the US and emphasizes the need for mutual respect and cooperation.

• Beijing emphasized its readiness to maintain appropriate contacts with Washington.

• Once again, China is urging the US to respect its core interests. However, isn’t selling weapons to Taiwan also a core interest for the US?

US Arms Sales

The US continues to support Taiwan with military sales.

• The US approved two military sales to Taiwan in June.

• The sales are worth approximately $300 million.

• They include spare and repair parts for F-16 fighter jets.

Historical Context

Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949, but Beijing considers it a province of China.

• The US severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 to establish ties with China.

• Despite adhering to China’s “One China” policy, the US has been steadily moving closer to Taiwan. Note the visit to Taiwan by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2022.

• The US is Taiwan’s primary arms supplier, with sales exceeding $70 billion in recent years.

🇷🇺🇺🇦 RUSSIA V. UKRAINE
On This Day in 2014…

On this day in 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Malaysia was shot down over the Ukraine-Russia border, killing all 298 passengers, mostly Dutch citizens.

Investigation

Dutch investigators confirmed in 2015 that a Russian-made missile caused the crash. Despite international calls for accountability, Russia denied involvement, blaming Ukrainian forces.

Thoughts

Even though it happened a decade ago, this incident highlights the ongoing tension between the two warring nations. The victims in all such cases are innocent civilians.

🇷🇺 RUSSIA
Russia Calls Out US for Holding the West “At Gunpoint”

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov chaired a UN Security Council meeting about global cooperation, accusing the US of impeding international cooperation, while the US ambassador called out Russia’s hypocrisy.

Lavrov’s Accusations

Lavrov criticized the US for its exceptionalism and NATO’s expansion.

• He accused the US of holding the West “at gunpoint.”

• Lavrov claimed the US is trying to contain Russia, China, and other independent countries.

• He called for peace in Ukraine on Russia’s terms and recognition of a multipolar world.

Joint Statement

Right before the meeting kicked off, Sergiy Kyslytsya, the UN Ambassador from Ukraine, delivered a joint statement.

• It emphasized that the international community must not be distracted from Russia’s “flagrant violations” of Ukraine’s territorial integrity or from Moscow’s “cynical attempt to present itself as the guardian of the multilateral order.”

• This statement represented the views of around 50 countries, including the US.

• The statement condemned North Korea’s military support to Russia, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and Iran’s violations of UN sanctions.

US Response

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield denounced Lavrov’s claims.

• She accused Russia of eroding confidence in international institutions.

• Thomas-Greenfield highlighted Russia’s violations of the UN Charter.

• She dismissed Lavrov’s calls for cooperation as hypocritical.

🇹🇭 THAILAND
Update: Cyanide Found

As anticipated, poisoning appears to be the cause of death for the six individuals discovered in a high-end hotel in Bangkok.

Reminder

Six people were found dead in the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok.

• The victims included two Vietnamese Americans and four Vietnamese nationals.

• The last sighting of them alive was on Monday afternoon when their room service meal was delivered.

• They were discovered by a housekeeper on Tuesday afternoon due to their failure to check out.

Forensic Findings

Initial autopsy results confirmed cyanide in the blood of all six victims.

• Traces of cyanide were found in cups and thermoses in the room.

• A CAT scan showed no signs of blunt force trauma.

• The forensic team concluded that cyanide was likely the cause of death.

Possible Motive

A bad investment might have led to the poisoning.

• Among the deceased, a couple had invested approximately 10 million baht (equivalent to $278,000) with two other individuals for the construction of a hospital in Japan.

• The group might have been meeting to settle the matter.

• Police said that one of the six poisoned the others but have not identified the suspect.

• The possibility of mass suicide was dismissed as some of the individuals had made arrangements for subsequent segments of their journey.

Scare

Prime Minister Thavisin reassured that a conference with Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev would not be affected.

• This is significant because in 2023, Thailand’s first female serial killer, Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, also known as “Am Cyanide” poisoned 15 people with cyanide over several years.

• She primarily targeted those who owed her money.

• Of these, 14 died while one survived.