Nuclear Agreement, Camp David, and California Pistachio Farmers

The Guardian noted that the absence of King Salman (and most leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council) from the Camp David talks was particularly concerning for Washington, especially since just hours before the announcement, U.S. officials had described the Saudi king's presence at the Camp David meeting as significant. The Guardian stated that the White House aims to convince Riyadh and its neighbors that the U.S. will not abandon its Gulf allies in the process of normalizing relations with Iran. The newspaper also mentioned that King Salman's absence could be seen as a form of protest against Obama's policies, while also suggesting that the king might have missed the meeting due to age and illness. The New York Times, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that Arab leaders have sought to sign a defense pact with the U.S. that guarantees support in the event of foreign attacks. However, such agreements, similar to those between the U.S. and Japan, would require congressional approval, which is challenging. The New York Times also noted that Obama referred to internal issues in Arab countries, such as unemployment, youth alienation, and destructive ideologies, which may not sit well with the leaders of these countries, as they currently expect support from Washington. The website Politico, in an article by Philip Gordon, criticized those seeking a 'better deal' with Iran, arguing that critics advocating for a 'flawless' agreement are essentially advocating for no agreement at all. The Politico writer pointed out that the advancements in Iran's nuclear program over the years render the idea of a 'better deal' a 'fantasy' that does not align with reality. He further compared the Lausanne framework and the 1994 agreement with North Korea, stating that while the Lausanne framework is not perfect, it contains significantly more details and is more comprehensive than the four-page agreement with North Korea. Philip Gordon reminded readers that at that time, supporters of a 'better deal' opposed sending oil and building light-water reactors for North Korea, which ultimately pursued bomb development. The Financial Times highlighted the purchase of nine Airbus aircraft by Mahan Air, noting that these planes were manufactured between 2001 and 2009 but had flown for less than six months. According to the report, these aircraft, which include eight Airbus A340s and one Airbus A320, had been sitting in Iraq for months before flying to Iran last week. The newspaper quoted two senior Western diplomats who expressed no doubt that the Iraqi airline Al-Nasr had purchased these planes for Mahan. One of these diplomats also mentioned that a series of money transfers from Mahan to several companies in Gulf countries and then to Al-Nasr Airlines in Iraq had been identified. Bloomberg reported that despite having less than two months left in the nuclear negotiations, crippling sanctions are collapsing, with the latest sign being the arrival of nine Airbus planes joining the sanctioned Mahan Air fleet. The website Mother Jones referred to a new threat to California pistachio farmers, linking it to the prospect of a nuclear agreement with Iran. The website stated that if an agreement is reached and sanctions are lifted, California pistachio farmers will face competition from Iran in the market, in addition to drought and water scarcity, as the U.S. and Iran compete for the top position in pistachio production.