Iran has accused the US of having “contradictory” policies ahead of President Joe Biden’s visit to the region, which is set to begin on Wednesday.
Part of Mr Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Palestine will include discussions on the nuclear deal, which suffered another setback after its recent round of talks ended without an agreement.
Sanctions and the US terrorist designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are among the main sticking points in the Doha negotiations.
“Mr Joe Biden's emphasis on pursuing the policy of economic and diplomatic pressure against Iran is contradictory to the US continued expression of desire to revive the 2015 agreement,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said.
The nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was created in 2015 — and abandoned unilaterally during the Trump administration. Iran has since then increased its uranium enrichment, inviting condemnation from the remaining signatories of the agreement, the UK, Russia, France, China and Germany.
On the sidelines of the floundering deal, the US remained committed to a harsh trade sanctions policy known as "Maximum Pressure," although many of the sanctions have been waived under the Biden administration.
Ahead of his regional tour, Mr Biden had published an op-ed in the Washington Post reiterating the US belief that Iran had reneged on its end of the deal.
“My administration will continue to increase diplomatic and economic pressure until Iran is ready to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, as I remain prepared to do,” Mr Biden wrote.
The US government “despite its slogans and claims of returning to the agreement … follows the same approach [as the previous administration] with the continuation of sanctions and economic pressure”, Mr Kanani said.
Talks on reviving the deal have been ongoing since April of last year, hitting multiple snags along the way.
Mr Kanani said if US officials wanted stability and security in the West Asia region, “they should understand the new realities of the world and avoid trying to impose American values and unilateralism”.
The US should “allow the countries of the region to act based on their values, interests and realities and within the framework of regional co-operation to ensure their security and collective interests,” he said.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GYAN’S ASIAN OUTPUT
2011-2015: Al Ain – 123 apps, 128 goals
2015-2017: Shanghai SIPG – 20 apps, 7 goals
2016-2017: Al Ahli (loan) – 25 apps, 11 goals
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
Pathaan
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
