British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says the war in Ukraine is 'heaping misery' on millions of people in the Middle East. Reuters
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says the war in Ukraine is 'heaping misery' on millions of people in the Middle East. Reuters
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says the war in Ukraine is 'heaping misery' on millions of people in the Middle East. Reuters
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says the war in Ukraine is 'heaping misery' on millions of people in the Middle East. Reuters

UK warns of Iranian and Russian threats to Middle East security


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Britain believes Iran and Russia's activities pose a threat to the security of the Middle East, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told a regional security forum in Bahrain on Saturday.

Tehran has acknowledged that it supplied Moscow with drones but said they were sent before the war in Ukraine started in February.

The US said Russia has used drones from Iran to attack cities and energy infrastructure in Ukraine.

Iran has also been accused of various attacks on shipping and of supplying arms to militias including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Yemen's Houthi rebels.

“Iranian-supplied weapons threaten the entire region. Today Iran’s nuclear programme is more advanced than ever before, and the regime has resorted to selling Russia the armed drones that are killing civilians in Ukraine,” Mr Cleverly said at the annual International Institute of Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue.

The forum in Bahrain's capital is organised by the IISS, a think tank in London.

“As their people demonstrate against decades of oppression, Iran’s rulers are spreading bloodshed and destruction as far away as Kyiv,” Mr Cleverly said.

He said the UK would work with partners in the region to ensure Tehran never developed a nuclear weapon and to highlight the effects Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had food security across the region.

“Britain is determined to work alongside our friends to counter the Iranian threat, interdict the smuggling of conventional arms and prevent the regime from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability,” he said.

Iranian military entities and industries are already under heavy US sanctions over Tehran's nuclear programme.

This week, Iran's mission to the UN said the country was ready to meet Ukraine at the level of technical experts and to investigate claims about the origin of Russian drones.

In recent months, Washington has looked to increase pressure on Moscow over its invasion, which has reduced cities to rubble and killed and wounded thousands.

Mr Cleverly has described the invasion of Ukraine as a “flagrant breach” of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that is “heaping misery” on millions of Syrians and Yemenis by driving up food prices.

“No country is immune from the turmoil he has brought to world energy markets or the damage he has caused to global food security,” he said.

“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war is inflicting yet more suffering on Syrians and Yemenis, who were already enduring the privations of humanitarian emergency, and ordinary Lebanese, caught up in economic crisis.”

Mr Cleverly said Russia was losing the war in Ukraine.

"It should be dawning on other regimes who might have been tempted to behave similarly that most of the world is determined to ensure that aggression does not pay," he said.

He called on the international community to work together to ensure Russia is faced with collective sanctions to stop the conflict.

"We have learnt that sanctions are most effective when they are internationally co-ordinated," he said.

The war in Ukraine is a "conflict that attacks the foundations of peace and stability that we have enjoyed for decades", he said.

Story of 2017-18 so far and schedule to come

Roll of Honour

Who has won what so far in the West Asia rugby season?

 

Western Clubs Champions League

Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Runners up: Bahrain

 

Dubai Rugby Sevens

Winners: Dubai Exiles

Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons

 

West Asia Premiership

Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons

Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

 

UAE Premiership Cup

Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Runners up: Dubai Exiles

 

Fixtures

Friday

West Asia Cup final

5pm, Bahrain (6pm UAE time), Bahrain v Dubai Exiles

 

West Asia Trophy final

3pm, The Sevens, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Sports City Eagles

 

Friday, April 13

UAE Premiership final

5pm, Al Ain, Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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The specs

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Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 420 bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: from Dh293,200

On sale: now

PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Updated: November 19, 2022, 10:18 AM`