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Militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah have welcomed the keenly awaited US–Iran talks set to be held in Oman on Saturday, stating that their main regional backer, Tehran, won’t “sell out” its allies.
The two armed factions were at the forefront of Iran’s regional battle for dominance before suffering heavy blows in the continuing wars with Israel.
“Iran has a long and distinguished history in negotiations and is capable of manoeuvring on multiple fronts,” said a Hamas official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “It may bend in the face of the storm, but it does not break,” added the official.
“Iran is a sovereign state and has the final say in determining its diplomatic moves and interests in the region and globally,” said a source close to Lebanon’s Hezbollah. “The negotiations in Oman are an opportunity for the Iranian leadership to reaffirm to its people that the diplomatic option remains on the table.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the talks would involve a "top-level leader in Iran" meeting Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff. "We hope that will lead to peace," Mr Rubio said.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce added in a later briefing that the US was looking at the meeting "as a good first step to find out if the Iranians are serious".
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, warned that Iran could move its enriched uranium to "secure locations" to deter any military strike. He said Iran would also consider expelling nuclear inspectors if "external threats" continue. Ms Bruce said this would be an "escalation and a miscalculation on Iran's part".
The Hamas statement came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that US investors are welcome to invest in the country, marking another shift in Tehran’s approach towards Washington, long considered its greatest adversary. Hours earlier, 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 the meetings in Oman.
Iran has long described the US as its biggest enemy and has commonly referred to it as the "Great Satan". But the oil-rich country, which is under heavy economic sanctions, has recently shifted its tone towards the administration of President Donald Trump after severe setbacks to its main proxy militant groups in the region.
Inside Iran, analysts and academics are debating whether Tehran should fundamentally rethink its regional strategy, with the leadership weighing a shift that could lead to the scaling back of support for armed militant groups in response to regional fatigue and rising costs.
“Iran can never sell out its allies, despite talk that it might abandon Hezbollah, Ansar Allah (Yemen's Houthis), or Hamas,” stressed the Hamas official. “We have absolute confidence that Iran will not sell out its allies."
The source close to Hezbollah praised “the strength of Tehran’s position”, claiming that “it does not enter negotiations under duress, but based on principles and standards it has set".
"Iran’s position has always been to call for talks – just like with the nuclear issue, where it has consistently emphasised its peaceful nature. Therefore, Iran does not fear negotiations, nor defending its position,” added the source.
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, senior political adviser Ali Larijani warned that Iran would acquire such a weapon if attacked. On Wednesday, Mr Pezeshkian sought to ease tensions by offering guarantees.
A turning point for Iran may have come when an Israeli pager bomb attack in Lebanon last year struck Hezbollah at its core, killing dozens of members. Shortly after, Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike, along with other central figures. This sequence of events triggered a domino effect, leading to the eventual collapse of the regime of Bashar Al Assad in Syria.
Israeli and US intelligence successes have disrupted Tehran’s network, while the collapse of the Syrian regime was a devastating blow to Iran's ambitions. Even Iran’s own territory has not been immune: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, and Israel has struck Iranian military positions inside the country.
The Hamas official acknowledged that Iran’s support has scaled down. “There may currently be a decline in funding and weapons transfers, but Iran’s support for the resistance remains in place,” explained the official. “The current situation does not allow for the transfer of weapons as it once did, but Iran remains a key backer of resistance movements,” he added.
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 two sides. The US State Department has confirmed that Mr
off, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, will participate.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who will lead from the Iranian side, said this week that his country is “ready to engage in earnest” to seal a deal, in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post. Meanwhile, in her interview with The National, Ms Ortagus said the administration knows “how to get a deal” and that it isn’t “focused a lot on the process” to achieve that.
Kassem Kassir, a political analyst with insights into Hezbollah, stated that “Iran is seeking to reach a new nuclear deal under new conditions, and it is in the interest of both Iran and the US to avoid going to war. However, I expect the outcome in advance: the US wants to impose its vision and approach, claiming it brought Iran to the negotiating table – but Iran does not trust America."
Political experts predicted the early stages of the talks would steer clear of regional issues and Iran’s influence across the Middle East.
On Thursday, Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani sought to reaffirm Tehran’s support for the armed groups it backs in the region, including the Houthis in Yemen, but stopped short of saying whether this support would continue in the same form – particularly regarding finance, arms and training.
“Today, after a year and a half of widespread war, the resistance front stands firm, having resisted with the fewest resources against the enemy’s advanced equipment,” said Mr Qaani, as quoted by state media. “The nature of resistance is such that whoever fights it only strengthens it.”
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixture and table
UAE finals day: Friday, April 13 at Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
- 3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
- 6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership – final standings
- Dubai Exiles
- Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Jebel Ali Dragons
- Dubai Hurricanes
- Dubai Sports City Eagles
- Abu Dhabi Saracens
About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEdited%20by%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Idries%20Trevathan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20240%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hirmer%20Publishers%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.
Jawab Iteiqal
Director: Mohamed Sammy
Starring: Mohamed Ramadan, Ayad Nasaar, Mohamed Adel and Sabry Fawaz
2 stars
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
