Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to the press in Kuwait City on Tuesday. AFP
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to the press in Kuwait City on Tuesday. AFP
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to the press in Kuwait City on Tuesday. AFP
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to the press in Kuwait City on Tuesday. AFP

Iran says neighbours will not allow use of 'soil and airspace' for attack as Tehran awaits Israeli retaliation


Aveen Karim
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Iran has received guarantees from its neighbours that they will not allow "their soil and airspace" to be used for any attack against the country, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday, as it awaits a response to its ballistic missile attack on Israel earlier this month.

Mr Araghchi has been on a regional trip for about two weeks as Israel assesses its response to Iran's ballistic missile attack on October 1.

"All the neighbours assured us that they will not allow their soil and space to be used against Iran," he told a press conference in Kuwait. "This is the expectation of all friendly and neighbouring countries and we consider this a sign of friendship."

Iran said at the time that the attack was in retaliation for the assassinations of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut and of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Mr Araghchi has said his tour is aimed at stopping Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. He has so far travelled to Bahrain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Jordan and Egypt. He visited Syria and Lebanon a week prior.

"We are closely monitoring the movements of American bases and we are watching all their movements and flights," Mr Araghchi said. The US has military bases across the region, including in Kuwait, and is a staunch supporter of Israel.

"If Israel attacks in any form, Iran will respond in the same way," he said, repeating earlier warnings. The minister also warned Israel against attacking its nuclear facilities, saying that such action would be considered "an international crime". Mr Araghchi said countries in the region had informed Iran that their stance is against any attack on the country, regardless of their target.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also pledged revenge for a drone strike on Saturday that targeted his private home in Caesarea. Mr Netanyahu was not at home but vowed to exact a "heavy price" for what he described as an assassination attempt by Iranian-backed Hezbollah. The Lebanese militant group did not comment on the strike.

Other Israeli officials directed their rhetoric towards Iran, blaming the country for planning the drone strike. But Tehran attempted to distance itself and placed the blame solely on Hezbollah. Iran's permanent mission to the UN said in a statement that "the action in question has been carried out by Hezbollah in Lebanon".

Since the attack on his home, Mr Netanyahu has held a series of security meetings to discuss the attack on Iran.

The delay in the Israeli retaliation to the salvo of projectiles launched by Iran is believed to be due to opposition by US President Joe Biden. When asked on Friday whether he was aware of how and when Israel would respond, Mr Biden said "yes and yes", despite having previously expressed optimism about the possibility of containing tension between Iran and Israel.

“Anybody with knowledge or understanding of ‘how and when Israel was going to attack Iran’, and/or providing the means and backing for such folly, should logically be held accountable for any possible causality," Mr Araghchi wrote in response on X on Saturday.

The US is also investigating an apparent leak of documents outlining intelligence assessments about Israel's plans to attack Iran. Mr Biden is "deeply concerned" about the leak, White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. The documents include satellite imagery analysis of Israeli military activities believed to be in preparation for the attack.

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Essentials

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.

The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.

 

Section 375

Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat

Director: Ajay Bahl

Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL

Rating: 3.5/5

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8

Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Price: from Dh850,000

On sale: now

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

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New schools in Dubai
The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic

Power: 169bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Price: Dh54,500

On sale: now

How%20champions%20are%20made
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EDiet%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7am%20-%20Protein%20shake%20with%20oats%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E10am%20-%205-6%20egg%20whites%0D%3Cbr%3E1pm%20-%20White%20rice%20or%20chapati%20(Indian%20bread)%20with%20chicken%0D%3Cbr%3E4pm%20-%20Dry%20fruits%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%20-%20Pre%20workout%20meal%20%E2%80%93%20grilled%20fish%20or%20chicken%20with%20veggies%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E8.30pm%20to%20midnight%20workout%0D%3Cbr%3E12.30am%20%E2%80%93%20Protein%20shake%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20intake%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204000-4500%20calories%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESaidu%E2%80%99s%20weight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20110%20kg%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStats%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Biceps%2019%20inches.%20Forearms%2018%20inches%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Match on BeIN Sports

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

 


 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: October 22, 2024, 10:51 AM`