Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7

WH spox discusses key plans, priorities of US foreign affairs

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Oct 2022 21:47
4 Min Read

Some highlights of today's briefing included talks on NATO's upcoming nuclear military drills, the unlikelihood of the JCPOA being revived, as well as disagreements with Saudi Arabia over the recent OPEC+ decision to slash oil production by two million barrels a day.

  • x
  • Kirby discusses key plans, priorities of US foreign affairs
    National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Washington (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Thursday about a wide range of issues concerning US foreign policy at present. 

Some highlights of today's briefing included talks on NATO's upcoming nuclear military drills, the unlikelihood of the JCPOA being revived, as well as disagreements with Saudi Arabia over the recent OPEC+ decision to slash oil production by two million barrels a day.

NATO 'Steadfast Noon' drills unrelated to Russia or other world events.

Kirby told reporters during today's briefing that the annual NATO nuclear military drills 'Steadfast Noon' is not related to Russia or any other world events.

"Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced yesterday an exercise, a strategic exercise that NATO is going to be conducting later on here this fall," Kirby said.

"It's called 'Steadfast Noon' and the US is going to be proud to participate in that. It is an annual strategic nuclear exercise." 

The exercise, dubbed “Steadfast Noon,” is held annually and usually runs for about one week.

It involves fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads but does not involve any live bombs. https://t.co/BZlJ1X1K6H

— ABC News (@ABC) October 11, 2022

Kirby said that the drills are carried out annually during the fall season and have been planned "well, well in advance."

"In fact, in this particular case... it was planned, even in advance of the February 24 invasion of Ukraine by Russia. So this exercise is not linked to any real-world events or to what Russia is doing," he said.

According to Kirby, the drills will include fighter jets that will not be equipped with live munitions and the US plans to utilize numerous capabilities, including B52 bombers. 

"Some 14 NATO nations are going to be involved in this exercise. And it'll be held well away from Russia, some more than 600 miles away," Kirby said.

"I would also note that, quite frankly, we expect Russia to conduct its annual strategic nuclear exercise they call it ‘Grom’ as early as this month, which will be large-scale maneuvers of strategic nuclear forces on the Russian side," he said.

"I would like to emphasize that this exercise too occurs every year. And we anticipate the exercise will span several days. It'll include actions within the normal bounds of what Russia has done in the past to include live missile launches, and the deployment of strategic assets," he added.

A return to the JCPOA deal is not "likely" 

Kirby also mentioned that the possibilities for the Biden administration reach an agreement with Iran and revive the JCPOA deal are unlikely.

"We are not close to securing a reimplementation of the JCPOA at this time," Kirby said, adding that "It’s not that we don’t want to see the JCPOA reimplemented, we of course do. We’re just not in a position where that’s a likely outcome anytime in the near future."  

Yesterday, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price stated that reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is "not our focus right now," adding that it was concentrating on supporting Iranian riots after which Price said, "It is very clear and the Iranians have made very clear that this is not a deal that they have been prepared to make. The deal certainly does not appear imminent."

This is despite Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Nasser Kanaani conveying a reminder to Europe on Monday of Iran's capability of satisfying part of the global demand amid inflation rises, after denying connections between the JCPOA revival talks and Europe’s energy crisis. 

Causing riots in Iran doesn't help west w/ energy crisis! Do you know what does?! Revival of JCPOA!

- Video is of France pic.twitter.com/M3J9iJHhfU

— 𝐄𝐡𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐝 🇮🇷 (@Safarnejad_IR) October 10, 2022

Disagreement with Saudi Arabia

Kirby further spoke of the US's disagreement with Saudi Arabia about the economic necessity of the OPEC+ decision to cut oil production.

Kirby said he showed them alternative analyses proving it was not economically necessary.

However, he did praise Saudi Arabia for its vote at the recent UNGA summit condemning the referenda in formerly Ukrainian regions that decided to join Russia, calling the move a "welcome vote."

The Saudi Foreign Ministry published a  statement this morning in which it criticized other statements criticizing it after an OPEC+ decision last week to cut its oil production target despite US objections.

The statement said, "the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has viewed the statements issued about the Kingdom following the OPEC+ decision announced on October 5- 2012, which have described the decision as the Kingdom taking sides in international conflicts and that it was politically motived against the United States of America."

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the statements issued about the Kingdom following the OPEC+ decision. pic.twitter.com/Bo7JVPDzFo

— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) October 12, 2022

Read more: US re-evaluating ties with KSA following OPEC+ decision: WH

  • Steadfast Noon
  • JCPOA
  • nuclear weapons
  • OPEC+
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS