Iran is seeking co-operation despite the US “maximum pressure” campaign, an adviser for the Foreign Minister said on Tuesday, adding that his country is integral to any peaceful regional framework and cannot be marginalised.
Seyyed Mohammad-Kazem Sajjadpour, who is also a distinguished fellow at the Institute for Political and International Studies, warned during the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi against "hegemons" attempting to reshape the Middle East.
“Iran is a part of the region,” adviser to Abbas Araghchi told a panel moderated by The National. It cannot be ignored in the region. It cannot be marginalised. If you really desire a region to be peaceful, you have to understand that a part of it is Iran, and Iran is ready for what? Bilateral relations, co-operation, connectivity."
Mr Sajjadpour’s remarks come amid heightened geopolitical tension. Over the past few years, Washington’s maximum pressure drive has aimed to isolate Tehran economically and diplomatically, particularly through sanctions on its oil exports, banking system and military activities.
US President Donald Trump has recently insisted the campaign should be implemented and warned of consequences if Tehran does not agree to negotiate over details of its nuclear programme and regional activities.
Meanwhile, Iran’s main allies in the region have suffered significant setbacks, with the Syrian regime of Bashar Al Assad falling and Hezbollah weakened after the war with Israel.
Despite this, Mr Sajjadpour rejected the notion that Iran is losing influence. “You have to understand Iran is a genuine regional power. Of course, you have ups and downs, no doubt – it's like a game. In the first round, you may lose; in the second round, you may win."
He had a warning for those attempting to modify the Middle East without considering its inherent complexities. “These hegemonic desires to reshape the region, to just move this object from this place to that place, are flawed," Mr Sajjadpour said. "Any global hegemon that neglects the realities of the region, including Europe, is doomed to failure. Any regional hegemon that ignores Iran is also doomed to failure."
Results
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5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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The specs
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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Specs
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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Fixtures (all times UAE)
Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)
Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
TEST SQUADS
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
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Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
The biog
Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
