US Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday introduced bills to hold Iran accountable for any escalatory action from Hezbollah and to authorise military force to deter a nuclear breakout in Tehran.
“It's time to end the charade that the world is plagued by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran,” Mr Graham said in a media briefing. “They're one industry.”
One of the bills urges Washington “to use all diplomatic tools available” to hold Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accountable for “repeated acts of terrorism” against the US.
“I'm going to challenge the American political system to acknowledge the obvious, that [Iran] is the most provocative regime on the planet,” Mr Graham said.
The bill comes as an Israeli strike on Beirut that killed Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr and the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh threaten to throw the region into further turmoil.
Israel blamed Mr Shukr for orchestrating a strike in Majdal Sham in the occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 children.
After Mr Haniyeh's killing, Iran's mission to the UN said that the operation “could not have occurred without the authorisation and intelligence support of the United States” and the response would be “harder and intended to instil deep regret in the perpetrator”.
But Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied that the US was aware of the operation.
Along with Qatar and Egypt, the US has been acting as mediator between Israel and Hamas during the ceasefire talks, and Washington acknowledged that the death of Mr Haniyeh is likely to complicate negotiations.
“It's always been complicated work, and it's not like the complications, with every passing day, get easier, and that includes today.”
Mr Graham expressed “real concern” over the future of the talks, which are also focused on the release of hostages held in Gaza.
But he said he believed “the best way to get the hostages released is making the cost so high for Iran”.
“I think if America took a stronger stance than Iran, the peace deal is more likely, not less,” Mr Graham said.
The senator also introduced a bill aimed at Iran's nuclear programme.
“Iran will keep going until someone tells them to stop,” he said. “It is time for red lines on their nuclear programme.”
The bill would authorise the use of military force against Iran if there is a threat of imminent nuclear breakout, which would include Tehran possessing weapons-grade uranium and a device capable of sending a nuclear weapon against Israel or other allies.
“I believe it is a certainty that, if we do not change course in the coming weeks or months, Iran would possess a nuclear weapon,” Mr Graham said.
“I'm trying to set a policy for America that I think will make us safer, and we'll never be safe here at home as long as we let Iran run wild.”
But Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin, a Democrat, said he's “very cautious” about Mr Graham's bill, which draws on war powers from Washington's response to the September 11, 2001 attacks.
“They get interpreted … to be used much more than Congress ever intended,” the senator cautioned to reporters on Capitol Hill.
“Administrations change, circumstances change,” Mr Cardin added.
Mr Graham told The National this month that Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump would put military force on the table with regard to Iran.
“He's going to put them in a box,” he said “He's going to go back to maximum pressure.”
Details
Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny
Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books
TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
GAC GS8 Specs
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Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
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'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
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
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now