As the new US-Gulf security forum wrapped up in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Iran’s time was limited to resolve its nuclear situation.

Iran and six world powers will meet in Turkey on April 13-14 for a round of fresh talks over Iran’s disputed nuclear program, as Tehran faces increasing economic and political pressure.

“It soon will be clear whether Iran’s leaders are prepared to have a serious credible discussion about their nuclear program, whether they are ready to start building the basis of a resolution to this very serious problem,” said Clinton.

“It is up to Iran’s leaders to make the right choice. We will see whether they will intend to do so, starting with the P5+1 negotiations in Istanbul… what is certain however, is that Iran’s window to seek and obtain a peaceful resolution will not remain open forever,” she continued.

The previous such meeting took place in Istanbul in January 2011, when the two sides failed even to agree on an agenda.

Speaking alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on a visit to Riyadh, Clinton confirmed earlier speculation that negotiations would resume on April 13-14.

Western diplomats and analysts say that getting Tehran to stop the higher-level uranium enrichment it started two years ago will be a priority at the April talks.

Iran says it has a sovereign right to peaceful nuclear technology and has repeatedly rejected UN resolutions calling for a suspension of all enrichment.

Earlier, Clinton said the United States will work with Gulf Arab nations to strengthen their shared defenses against threats including Iran.

Speculation about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions is a source of anxiety among Sunni-led Gulf Arab states, for whom Shi’ite Iran has long been a regional rival.

“The commitment of the United States to the people and the nations of the Gulf is rock-solid and unwavering. Our strong bilateral relationships are a rock of stability in the region,” Clinton said in prepared remarks delivered in the inaugural meeting of a new US-Gulf security forum.

“Now we look forward to expanding our multilateral cooperation as well,” she said at the opening of the meeting with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes six Gulf countries.

Gulf Arab states have accused Iran of backing an uprising in Bahrain, and of fomenting unrest among the Shi’ite Muslim minority in mostly Sunni Saudi Arabia.

Saudi FM: Arming Syrian opposition is a ‘duty’

The United States and Gulf nations also pressed Kofi Annan, the UN-Arab League special envoy on the conflict in Syria, to set a timeline for Syrian President Bashar Assad to adopt a new peace proposal and put an end to violence against protesters.

“Given the urgency of the joint envoy’s mission, (US and Gulf foreign ministers) urged the joint envoy to determine a timeline for next steps if the killing continues,” the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council said in a statement following a meeting in Riyadh.

The joint communique also called on countries “with direct relations with the Syrian regime to join the international community in its efforts to solve the Syrian crisis”.

Syria has said the year-long revolt to topple Assad is over, but that it will keep its forces in cities to ‘maintain security’ until it is safe to withdraw in keeping with Annan’s plan.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal renewed calls to arm the Syrian opposition, describing it as a “duty.”

“The arming of the opposition is a duty, I think, because it cannot defend itself except with weapons,” Faisal said during a joint news conference with Clinton.

A spokesman for Free Syrian Army commanders inside Syria said Saturday that Syrian rebels are ready to stop fighting the moment the Syrian army withdraws its tanks, artillery and heavy weapons from opposition areas.

“We cannot accept the presence of tanks and troops in armored vehicles among the people. We don’t have a problem with the ceasefire. As soon as they remove their armored vehicles, the Free Syrian Army will not fire a single shot,” Lieutenant Colonel Qassim Saad al-Din told Reuters by telephone from Homs.

A rebel officer in Damascus said separately: “When (President Bashar) Assad’s gangs stop the shelling and killing of civilians, then our leaders can issue an order to stop operations and we will commit to it to show our good intentions.”

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Palestinians hurl stones, Molotov cocktails at IDF post. Soldiers respond with crowd dispersal means; Palestinians report at least 30 injuries. Meanwhile, Jordanian, Lebanese media outlets say thousands preparing to march to border

Land Day riots – The Land Day procession turned violent Monday afternoon when Palestinians began hurling Molotov cocktails and stones, and burned tires near the Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem.

The riots began at around 12:30 PM after Friday prayers, when dozens of masked Palestinian youths began hurling stones and Molotov cocktails at security forces stationed at the checkpoint. The forces responded with teargas canisters and deployed the “Skunk” – a vehicle loaded with canons spraying a foul-smelling liquid.  In addition, security forces activated a machine that transmits high frequency sound waves in an effort to disperse the protesters. Read more.

The news will be announced Sunday evening in Jerusalem, when the Prime Minister of Israel will address several hundred new members of Christians United for Israel – the Christian lobby known as CUFI. Pastor John Hagee, the founder leader of the group, will be there, celebrating this achievement.

And it is an achievement, no doubt. Just two years ago, the 500,000 mark was passed, with some fanfare. Now it has doubled.

I covered the launch of CUFI just a few years ago, and it is now by far the largest pro-Israel organization in the US. Like it or hate it – as some still do – ignoring it is no longer an option. Not for Israel’s government (this was never really in doubt: Israel will take whatever support it can get), not for other pro-Israel lobbies (as Nathan Guttman aptly put it: “the shofar-blowing, hora-dancing Christian evangelicals are now an integral part of the pro-Israel advocacy scene”), not for Congressional legislators. One million members mean that many Congressmen and women have a lot of CUFI members in their districts, ready to take action.

CUFI has members in all 50 states, it hold dozens of events every month in every corner of the US. In Washington, its annual conference attracts more than 5,000 participants. It is powerful and growing stronger, even though a word of caution is advised: A member of CUFI only has to sign on and give an active email address – no dues involved. But the leaders of CUFI say that such emails are what make CUFI’s potential impact. Behind the active emails there are active supporters, ready to send a letter, to attend a rally, to call a congressman, to make contribution when necessary. Read more.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu lavished praise on the Evangelical Christian movement, and on a mission of approximately 800 members of Pastor John Hagee’s Christians United for Israel (CUFI) organization, in Jerusalem on Sunday night.

“Thank you for standing up for Israel,” Netanyahu said to rapturous applause. “We are witnessing a dramatic transformation in the relationship between Christians and Jews, who are focusing now on the common values and the common future we both share.”

The prime minister also drew attention to what he described as threats to the Christian community across the Middle East, saying he was “proud that Israel is the only place in the Middle East where Christians are free to practice their faith in complete freedom.”

The CUFI mission – on its third visit to Israel – gave Netanyahu a euphoric welcome.

The evening was accompanied by the mellifluous sounds of a Southern gospel quartet and a glowing tribute from Hagee himself, who announced that his organization had reached one million members, making it the largest pro-Israel organization in the US.

Participants on the current mission paid almost $4,400 each to come on the tour.

Founded in 2006, CUFI is designed to provide a national association in the US for pro- Israel churches to support the country. It uses its members to mobilize support and lobby public officials and representatives to advance favorable public policy and sentiment for Israel. Read more of this article from the Jerusalem Post.