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UP FRONTSaturday 13 January 2018

Insurgents lure US, Afghan team to meeting, then open fire

By LOLITA C. BALDOR and a coalition airstrike on to a security shura meeting quickly claimed credit for jahid told The Associated
Associated Press the compound, the U.S. mil- Thursday. Once the meet- the attack but overstated Press the attackers had
WASHINGTON (AP) — In- itary said Friday. U.S. Navy ing was over, the Taliban- the casualties, the U.S. mili- infiltrated the local force
surgents posing as friendly Capt. Tom Gresback said linked insurgents opened tary said. The Taliban said months earlier. In Afghani-
militia members lured a the insurgents baited the fire, killing the militia leader the attack was carried out stan, local militias are paid
U.S. and Afghan team to a team, inviting an Afghan and wounding the Ameri- by two insurgents disguised by the U.S. and are part-
meeting in eastern Afghan- militia leader, a U.S. service can service member and as local militiamen. Taliban nered with them in opera-
istan, triggering a shootout member and an interpreter the interpreter. The Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mu- tions in remote regions.q

Trump hands nuke deal ‘last chance,’ waives Iran sanctions

President Donald Trump arrives to an event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the Roosevelt Iran. Trump wants them to These penalties largely
help the U.S. devise a new cut Iran out of the interna-
Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, in Washington. agreement designed to tional financial system, until
prevent Iran from escalat- they were suspended by
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ing nuclear activity again Obama under the nuclear
next decade, as permitted deal. Trump is also waiving
By MATTHEW LEE key economic sanctions on ment that outlined several under the 2015 arrange- other U.S. penalties cov-
ment reached by President ered by the agreement,
AP Diplomatic Writer Iran, keeping the accord tough new rules on Iran. Barack Obama. including on Iran’s oil and
Iran has said it’s not inter- gas sectors, which were up
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- alive at least for now. But “In the absence of such ested in any renegotiation for renewal next week.
and would almost certainly Those hit by the sanctions
dent Donald Trump on Fri- his explicit warning to Eu- an agreement, the United view a side agreement be- include: Iranian judiciary
tween the U.S. and Europe chief Sadegh Amoli Lari-
day delivered an ultima- rope that the deal must be States will not again waive as a violation of the deal. jani; the Rajaee Shahr Pris-
The Europeans, meanwhile, on and its director, Ghol-
tum to America’s Europe- fixed by the time the next sanctions in order to stay in have said they are willing amreza Ziaei; the Islamic
to discuss the matter with Revolutionary Guard Corps
an allies to fix the “terrible sanctions waivers are due the Iran nuclear deal.” the U.S. but have shown lit- Electronic Warfare and Cy-
tle enthusiasm with Trump’s ber Defense Organization;
flaws” in the Iran nuclear in the spring creates a high- Trump’s declaration puts hard line. Iran’s Supreme Council of
Iranian Foreign Minister Cyberspace and National
deal, or he’ll pull the U.S. stakes diplomatic deadline great pressure on Britain, Mohamed Javad Zarif ac- Cyberspace Center; Ma-
cused Trump of “malicious- laysia-based Green Wave
out in a few months’ time. that will be difficult to meet. France and Germany, ly violating” the nuclear Telecommunication and
deal. “Trump’s policy (and) its Iranian director Morteza
Trump made the threat as “This is a last chance,” the European signato- today’s announcement Razavi; and the Iran He-
amount to desperate at- licopter Support and Re-
he extended waivers of Trump warned in a state- ries to nuclear pact with tempts to undermine a sol- newal Company and Iran
id multilateral agreement,” Aircraft Industries.
Zarif tweeted shortly after In his lengthy statement,
Trump’s statement. “Rather Trump said the U.S. would
than repeating tired rheto- work with European part-
ric, US must bring itself into ners to remove the nuclear
full compliance — just like deal’s so-called “sunset
Iran.” The sanctions Trump clauses,” which allow Iran
had to waive Friday dealt to gradually resume ad-
with Iran’s central bank. vanced atomic activity.q

China’s trade with North Korea plunges as sanctions tighten

By JOE McDONALD velopment tightened, the ly into the North’s foreign North shrank 81.6 percent Songping. The U.N. Security
AP Business Writer government reported Fri- revenue by ordering North to $54 million in December Council has steadily tight-
BEIJING (AP) — China’s day. Korean businesses in China while exports to the iso- ened trade restrictions as
trade with North Korea China accounts for nearly to close, sending home lated, impoverished coun- leader Kim Jong Un’s gov-
plunged 50 percent in De- all of the isolated North’s migrant workers and ban- try contracted 23.4 per- ernment pressed ahead
cember as U.N. sanctions trade and energy supplies. ning purchases of its coal, cent to $260 million, said a with nuclear and missile
imposed over Pyongyang’s Beijing has imposed limits textiles, seafood and other spokesman for the Chinese development in defiance
nuclear and missile de- on oil sales and cut deep- exports. Imports from the customs agency, Huang of foreign pressure.q