WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, targeting the country’s top spokesman and potentially hurting chances of diplomatic talks amid rising tensions between the two countries. Zarif, a critical figure in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, dismissed the action and said it would not affect him. U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the deal last year and ramped up sanctions to put pressure on Iran’s economy. The move dismantled part of President Barack Obama’s legacy and upset U.S. allies who were party to the agreement, which was designed to restrict Tehran’s pathway to a nuclear bomb in exchange for sanctions relief. Strains between Washington and Tehran have risen more in recent months after attacks on tankers in the Gulf that the United States blames on Iran and Iran’s downing of a U.S. drone that prompted preparations for a U.S. retaliatory air strike that Trump called off at the last minute. “Javad Zarif implements the reckless agenda of Iran’s Supreme Leader, and is the regime’s primary spokesperson around the world. The United States is sending a clear message to the Iranian regime that its recent behavior is completely unacceptable,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

by cnn.com --By Evan Perez and Ryan Browne -- The US believes late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's son Hamza bin Laden is dead, a US official told CNN on Wednesday. The official said the US had a role in his death but did not provide details. The official added that the US government recently received evidence that it believes corroborates his death. The New York Times reported that Hamza bin Laden had been killed in an operation within the last two years. Earlier this year the US State Department called bin Laden, who is believed to be in his early 30s, an "emerging" leader in the terror group al Qaeda, offering a million-dollar reward for information leading to his capture. The New York Times, citing two US officials, said "the United States government had a role in the operation that killed the younger Mr. bin Laden, but it was not clear precisely what that role was."

When it offered the reward the US government accused the Saudi Arabia-born Hamza bin Laden of seeking to encourage attacks against the US. While The New York Times said the operation that killed him took place prior to the State Department's reward offer, his death had yet to be confirmed by the US government. Hamza bin Laden "has released audio and video messages on the Internet, calling on his followers to launch attacks against the United States and its Western allies, and he has threatened attacks against the United States in revenge for the May 2011 killing of his father by US military forces," the State Department said in its announcement offering the reward.

by Sam Brennan-- al-monitor.com -- BEIRUT — Speaking about the new musical about the life of legendary Lebanese writer Khalil Gibran, Lebanese-British playwright Nadim Naaman told Al-Monitor, “Lebanon is extremely proud of him and extremely vocal about how he is one of their own. But what they aren’t so good at is looking at him in a new light.” In the musical he co-wrote, "Broken Wings," Naaman wanted to show Middle Eastern audiences "this guy who was critiquing them massively 100 years ago.” The musical, adapted from Gibran’s novella of the same name, made its international debut at the Beiteddine Art Festival July 24-26. The poet, artist, writer and philosopher's work preached love, challenged power and explored humanist themes at the turn of the century. Gibran is currently the third highest-selling poet of all time and a Lebanese national icon.

jalopnik.com — Ma Jie, Bloomberg News — Nissan Motor Co.’s prospects are getting bleaker by the quarter, with the Japanese automaker forced to shed …