Iran will respond to any existential threat “with all means that it has”, a senior government official said on Tuesday, suggesting that any future US or Israeli strike on the country could elicit a more damaging counter-attack.
“The moment that Iran feels that there is an existential threat to Iran, it will definitely will be a different Iran, and will not act in a measured way, will not act predictably,” Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a panel in Tehran. “Iran would respond with all means that it has and in a very different manner that nobody can imagine.”
The US attacked three Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, prompting Iran to launch missiles at a US military base in Qatar in response. The move, followed by a Doha-brokered ceasefire, did not cause any damage and most of the missiles were shot down by Qatar’s air defences.
Iranian officials have framed their attack on Doha as a measured response to the US strikes, from which the full extent of damage has not yet been determined.
The decision to attack the US base at Al Udeid in Qatar, the largest American military base in the Middle East and home to about 10,000 US troops, was meant to send a signal of readiness to the US, Mr Khatibzadeh added.
“They may have expected that Iran respond in Iraq or somewhere else,” he said, referring to the possibility of striking US service personnel stationed at bases in Iraq. The choice of Al Udeid was, “just to send this very signal – we are ready”.
Iran suspended co-operation with the UN’s atomic energy watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), after the war, amid anger in Tehran about the organisation’s perceived complicity in Israel’s attacks on its nuclear sites.
“There is a resolution passed by our parliament, and it's obligatory,” Mr Khatibzadeh said. “But there are provisions based on which Iran’s Supreme National Security Council can regulate our relations with the IAEA, and I think that within that framework, Iran will continue its co-operation, of course, within the framework of those provisions regarding the NPT.”
At the moment, leaving the Non-Proliferation Treaty, an international pact aiming to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, is not on the table, he added.
“We are signatories to the NPT. So there is not, for now, any debate inside Iran regarding the NPT.”
In the panel, hosted by the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Institute of International and Political Studies think tank, Iranian officials and analysts described how they believed Israel had not achieved its strategic aims of destroying threats from Iran, either through toppling supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei through a popular protest, or by obliterating missile launch sites and nuclear sites.
Mohammad Kazem Sajjadpour, Iran's former ambassador to the UN, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had turned his attention to Iran to “deflect” from the continuing war in Gaza.
“Exactly at the same time that it was bombing Iran, I think they killed maybe more Palestinians in Gaza in the same time,” he said. “So the issue is just deflecting a crisis which is very structural, not solvable – not due to Palestinians, due to the mentalities of these people like Netanyahu.”
There remain serious questions over the durability of the current ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which came into effect overnight following Iran’s attack on Al Udeid.
One scenario is that both Iran and Israel were exhausted after 12 days of war, which killed up to 1,000 people in Iran and at least 29 in Israel, and were looking for a way out. US President Donald Trump, too, seeing the possibility for further escalation, wanted an off-ramp from another possible regional war for which he did not want to be blamed, according to Naser Hadian, a political-science professor at Tehran University.
“President Trump soon understood that the next round of Iranian attacks could basically bring a regional war into reality, and he didn't want it” he told the panel. “He didn't want to be blamed for the killing of many Americans and also rising oil prices and a region-wide war. So that's why he quickly went for a ceasefire.”
The Israelis, Mr Hadian said, saw that the costs of Iran’s attacks on the country “were high”, and were looking for “a negotiated solution to achieve the rest of their objectives”.
All sides looking for a non-military solution could reopen a diplomatic route to avoid more conflict in the region, he said.
“If we think that both sides are exhausted and the costs outweigh the benefits, then we are going to go for a genuine, real diplomacy to negotiate a solution which is acceptable for both sides, then there is a lot of room for manoeuvring,” Mr Hadian said.
At the least, such a pathway would involve a written and negotiated ceasefire, solidifying the current pause in the fighting. At a maximum, it could even stretch to non-aggression pacts between Iran, Israel and the US, Mr Hadian said.
“So the minimum is going to be a ceasefire,” he said. “The maximum would be a non-aggression pact between the Iranians and Israelis negotiated through the Americans and endorsed by the Americans, and also a non-aggression pact with the Americans themselves, too.”
However, a second scenario also exists that leaves the door open for future military action after a pause.
“If we accept the second hypothesis, we have to wait for the war. It's going to come sooner or later,” Mr Hadian said. “They think they have an unfinished job, they have to finish it, both sides.”
Iranian officials accuse Israel of torpedoing talks that were continuing between the US and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme by launching attacks on June 13. President Masoud Pezeshkian said this week that his country was ready to hold talks over the future of its nuclear programme, but Iranian officials have not confirmed participating in any new negotiations.
One major concern of western powers is the fate of Iran’s supply of highly enriched uranium, which is sufficient to build several nuclear weapons in a matter of weeks. Iran denies it is seeking an atom bomb and says its enrichment is purely for peaceful scientific and agricultural purposes.
In five previous rounds of US-Iran talks held since April, the issue of the enriched uranium was discussed extensively and there were “many novel ideas” about its handling, Mr Khatibzadeh said.
However, serious effort will be required to restore any rapport built up between the delegations during those talks, he said.
“Let me also be clear on this point, that what United States did was an unforgivable and unforgettable grave aggression on Iran,” Mr Khatibzadeh said.
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Hani%20Abu%20Ghazaleh%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20with%20an%20office%20in%20Montreal%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%202018%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Virtual%20Reality%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%241.2%20million%2C%20and%20nearing%20close%20of%20%245%20million%20new%20funding%20round%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Omar%20Hilal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Farrag%2C%20Bayoumi%20Fouad%2C%20Nelly%20Karim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Fixtures
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20April%203%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArsenal%20v%20Luton%20Town%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EManchester%20City%20v%20Aston%20Villa%2C%2011.15pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThursday%2C%20April%204%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELiverpool%20v%20Sheffield%20United%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
BMW%20M4%20Competition
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Specs%20
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The biog
Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents
Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University
As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families
Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
more from Janine di Giovanni
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Rebel%20Moon%20%E2%80%93%20Part%20Two%3A%20The%20Scargiver%20review%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Zack%20Snyder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sofia%20Boutella%2C%20Charlie%20Hunnam%2C%20Ed%20Skrein%2C%20Sir%20Anthony%20Hopkins%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
