Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday US investors are welcome to invest in the country, marking another shift in Tehran’s approach towards Washington, long considered its greatest adversary.
His remarks came hours after deputy special envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus told The National in an interview that the US aims to establish common ground and mutual understanding with Iran during much anticipated meetings in Oman on Saturday.
“I meet the supreme leader [Ali Al Khamenei] several times each week. He has no objection to American investors in the country,” Mr Pezeshkian said at a ceremony marking National Nuclear Technology Day.
“Let them come and invest – but we oppose plotting, regime change efforts, and destructive policies. Iran is not a place for conspiracies or espionage followed by assassinations. Investors are welcome to invest in our country,” he added.
Iran has long described the US as its biggest enemy, calling it The Great Satan. But the oil-rich country, under heavy economic sanctions, has shifted its tone recently towards the administration of President Donald Trump, after heavy blows to its main proxy militant groups in the region.
Despite the potential thaw, the US announced new sanctions on Wednesday on five Iranian companies it described as “enablers” of the regime's nuclear activities. Three are allegedly linked to Iran’s atomic energy agency and two to the production of centrifuges.
Mr Trump’s Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described Iran’s “reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons” as a “menace to regional stability”. He said his department would continue to “disrupt any attempt” by Iran to advance its nuclear programme.
Inside Iran, analysts and academics are debating whether Tehran should fundamentally rethink its regional strategy, with the leadership weighing a shift that could result in it cutting back support for armed militant groups in response to regional fatigue and rising costs.
The previous Trump administration had not negotiated with Iran, and Saturday’s talks – whether direct or indirect – will mark the first public rapprochement between the sides. The US State Department has confirmed that Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, will take part.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday said his country is “ready to engage in earnest” to seal a deal, in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post.
In her interview with The National, Ms Ortagus said her administration knows “how to get to deal” and that it isn’t “focused a lot on the process” to achieve that.
While Iran denies seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, it is “dramatically” accelerating the enrichment of uranium to 60 per cent purity – a short step from the 90 per cent required to create nuclear weapons. However, following threats from Mr Trump, Mr Al Khamenei’s senior adviser Ali Larijani warned that Iran would acquire such a weapon if attacked.
On Wednesday, Mr Pezeshkian sought to ease the threat by offering guarantees.
“We will give any necessary guarantees, because we are not pursuing a nuclear bomb. They’ve inspected a hundred or a thousand times – let them come again. We haven’t pursued, aren’t pursuing, and will never pursue a nuclear bomb,” he said.
“We want peace and security. We are people of dialogue, but with dignity and honour. We will not compromise on our achievements, we will not bargain them away,” in reference to the nuclear technology the country possesses.
Read next: Oman steps in again to mediate between US and Iran
Who is Tim-Berners Lee?
Sir Tim Berners-Lee was born in London in a household of mathematicians and computer scientists. Both his mother, Mary Lee, and father, Conway, were early computer scientists who worked on the Ferranti 1 - the world's first commercially-available, general purpose digital computer. Sir Tim studied Physics at the University of Oxford and held a series of roles developing code and building software before moving to Switzerland to work for Cern, the European Particle Physics laboratory. He developed the worldwide web code as a side project in 1989 as a global information-sharing system. After releasing the first web code in 1991, Cern made it open and free for all to use. Sir Tim now campaigns for initiatives to make sure the web remains open and accessible to all.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
Saturday's results
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley
Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Greenwood 77')
Everton 1 (Lindelof 36' og)
