Iran is under broad UN sanctions for the first time in a decade after failing to strike a new deal on its secretive nuclear programme.
The sanctions, which came into effect overnight, include embargoes, asset freezes and other restrictions that could damage Iran's fragile economy.
Britain, France and Germany initiated a UN procedure to bring back sanctions removed in 2015. They said they had “no choice” but to restore them after Iran flouted limits on its nuclear activities, meant to ensure it never develops an atomic bomb.
But Iran considers these actions “null and void”, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. “Iran will not recognise any attempt to extend, revive, or enforce” the sanctions, he said.
Western diplomats said the door to further talks was still open. “Our countries will continue to pursue diplomatic routes and negotiations,” the British, French and German foreign ministers said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Tehran to “accept direct talks, held in good faith”. He said other UN members should “pressure Iran's leaders to do what is right for their nation, and best for the safety of the world”.
A last-ditch effort by Russia and China to postpone the sanctions until April failed to win enough votes in the UN Security Council on Friday.
Russia said it would not enforce the sanctions, which should in theory be applied by all UN members. Iran is already under separate sanctions by the US and its allies.
Israel, which bombed Iran's nuclear sites in a brief war in June, considers the restoration of sanctions on Tehran a "major development", its Foreign Ministry said in a post on X on Sunday. "This is a major development in response to Iran’s ongoing violations, especially on its military nuclear programme."
Iran has long insisted it is not seeking nuclear weapons. It recalled its envoys from Britain, France and Germany for consultations on Saturday, state TV reported.
The dollar was trading at about 1.12 million Iranian rials on the black market on Saturday, a record high according to several currency tracking websites. AFP reported brisk business at Tehran jewellery stores as people rushed to buy gold.
The sanctions are a so-called snapback of measures frozen in 2015, when Iran agreed to limits on its nuclear programme under a deal negotiated by former US president Barack Obama.
President Donald Trump quit the deal during his first term, restoring sanctions. Iran has since breached limits on uranium enrichment in what it calls remedial steps.
Conflict over Iran's nuclear activities led to the 12-day air war with Israel in June, which culminated in a US bombing of Iran and an Iranian strike against an airbase in Qatar used by American troops. Iran and the US had held several rounds of Omani-brokered talks before that.
In an address to the UN General Assembly on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged that there should be no delay in reinstating the sanctions.
He also hinted that Israel was ready to take further military action after the 12 days of bombing that Iranian authorities claimed killed more than 1,000 people.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
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2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
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2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
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Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
