Obama Loses Major Adviser on Mideast and Iran.

WASHINGTON -- Dennis B. Ross, a seasoned diplomat who has been one of President Obama's most influential advisers on Iran and the Middle East, announced Thursday that he would leave the White House, at a time when Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are frozen and tensions over Iran are flaring up anew. Mr. Ross, who disclosed his departure at a lunch with Jewish leaders, said he promised his wife that he would leave the government after two years. He joined the State Department in February 2009 as a senior adviser on Iran before moving to the National Security Council that June. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]