Tillerson says US Mideast plan 'fairly well advanced'

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The US administration is making progress on a "fairly well advanced" Middle East peace plan, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday during a visit to Jordan.

He also signed a five-year aid package that extends US support to Jordan, a key regional ally, despite president Donald Trump's threat to withhold support from states opposed to his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Commenting on the peace plan, Tillerson said: "I have seen the plan... It's been under development for a number of months. I have consulted with them on the plan, identified areas that we feel need further work.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attends a meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (not pictured) in Amman, Jordan, Feb. 14, 2018. /Reuters Photo

"So I think it will be up to the president to decide when he feels it's time and he’s ready to put that plan forward. I will say it's fairly well advanced..."

Trump reversed decades of US policy in December to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and set in motion the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv.

The move triggered outrage in the Arab and Muslim world, and led Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to declare that he would not cooperate with the US as a mediator.

Jordan's King Abdullah II (R) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Royal Palace in Amman, Jordan on Jan. 29, 2018. /VCG Photo

Trump has threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that backed a UN resolution calling for Washington to reverse its Jerusalem decision. Jordan backed the resolution.

Tillerson and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi signed the non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 6.375 billion dollars in aid starting this year. The previous such MoU between Jordan and the US was for three years.

"This MOU commitment highlights the pivotal role Jordan plays in helping foster and safeguard regional stability and supports US objectives such as the global campaign to defeat ISIL, counter-terrorism cooperation, and economic development," the US State Department said in a statement.

Conflicts in neighboring Syria and Iraq have damaged Jordan's economy, forcing it to borrow heavily from external and domestic sources. Jordan has been an important part of the US-led coalition battling ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

Turkey ties

Tillerson is also expected this week to visit Turkey, with which US ties have become badly strained over Washington's support for the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria, regarded by Ankara as a terrorist group.

"With respect to my meetings in Ankara, Turkey is still an important NATO ally of the United States ... We need to find a way to continue to work in the same direction. We are committed to the same outcomes in Syria," Tillerson said.

He expressed concern over Saturday's confrontation between Israel and "Iranian assets" in Syria. Syrian air defenses shot down an Israeli F-16 jet on Saturday after it bombed a site used by Iran-backed positions in Syria.

Tillerson said Iran should withdraw its forces and militias from Syria, where Tehran backs President Bashar al-Assad.

Responding to the comments, a senior Iranian official, Ali Akbar Velayati, said Iran's military presence in Syria was legitimate and based on an invitation from Damascus. He called on US forces to leave Syria.

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Source(s): Reuters