1/18/2018

FOREIGN POLICY/IRAN/REX TILLERSON/STATE/SYRIA: “The U.S. will turn its focus in Syria to moving to reduce Iranian influence there, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a policy speech that marked a shift in U.S. strategy in Syria away from Islamic State.
Mr. Tillerson on Wednesday [1-17-18] said the U.S. will reinvigorate diplomatic efforts and maintain U.S. troops in Syria for the foreseeable future as part of a new focus on countering Iran, as well as pursuing overall political stability in the country.
The Trump administration wants to be engaged in Syria as the threat from Iran rises and Islamic State recedes, he said…
He accused Iran of spending billions to prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and wage proxy wars—complaints that were voiced in Iranian protests across the country this month.
Mr. Tillerson made the remarks at an event hosted by the Hoover Institution and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. His speech was followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is a Stanford professor. Mr. Tillerson arrived in California one day after a meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, with senior officials from 20 countries to discuss strengthening the implementation of sanctions against North Korea… Officials at Iran’s United Nations office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.”

-Alexa Corse, “U.S. Strategy Shift in Syria Turns Focus to Iran From ISIS,” The Wall Street Journal online, Jan. 17, 2018 06:27pm