The Biden administration seems to be forging a new path in the Middle East at a time when its credibility has been damaged by the chaotic withdrawal of US-led forces from Afghanistan in August.
US military officials have blamed the administration at recent Congressional hearings for the mess in Afghanistan. Opposition leaders in the Republican Party have called for the resignations of President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. All this has coincided with Mr Sullivan’s visit to the region last week to discuss the nature of the US’s strategic relations with the Arab states, even as Washington continues to pursue renegotiations with Iran over their 2015 nuclear deal.
And now, it seems, a new season of bargaining and dealmaking has begun.
During his visit, Mr Sullivan essentially conveyed to the region's leaders Mr Biden’s desire to review American policy in the Middle East in light of two key developments: the reduction of US troops in the region, and the anticipated revival of the JCPOA – as the original nuclear deal with Iran is called – followed by an end to the US sanctions regime against Tehran.
The Biden administration seeks to shift the US's role in the region from military “big brother” to that of “diplomatic partner” on major issues, including security in its broader meaning. Mr Biden is also looking to polish his image – and that of America’s – after the Afghanistan withdrawal. Work to unveil a roadmap to this end in two to three weeks – in time for the G20 summit in Rome later this month – has begun in earnest.
The Biden administration does not seek to build alliances against Iran and its regional projects. It is merely interested in drawing some red lines. It is not interested in blocking Iranian expansionism but simply limiting it. It is endorsing the European position vis-a-vis Iran that, as I had written in my previous column, is based on persuading the regime to refrain from supporting terrorism or acting in ways that could lead to refugee waves towards Europe. Indeed, the US is following in the steps of its European allies, as it approaches Tehran with a policy of peaceful coexistence and non-intervention in its expansionist policies – so long as three conditions are met: Israel’s security, its own freedom of navigation, and Iran’s de-nuclearisation.
The European relationship with Iran has traditionally been distinctive, especially when Germany shapes and leads it. With Chancellor Angela Merkel remaining in office until the end of the year, the Biden administration believes there is an opportunity to cement this new approach towards American-European-Iranian relations.
For the Biden team, positive relations with Europe are a foreign policy priority. Appeasing the Europeans is crucial, particularly as they will have a crucial role to play in the US’s approach towards a rising China in the years to come.
The Biden administration seeks to shift the US's role from 'big brother' to that of 'diplomatic partner'
America's diplomatic outreach in the Middle East could well begin with the conflict in Yemen. In fact, it was no coincidence that accompanying Mr Sullivan to Saudi Arabia last week was the US envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking.
Ending the war in that country could perhaps even be part a grand bargain, if the US, Russia and Europe can force Iran to stop its meddlesome activities there. Riyadh is keen for the war to end in neighbouring Yemen, for which it needs American, Russian, European and UN backing. However, given its support of the rebel Houthis, Iran needs to co-operate as well.
So far, it is unclear whether a deal is in the making. But Russia, it is believed, is involved in helping broker one. Moscow, meanwhile, is reportedly in talks to let Washington use its military bases in Central Asia for the latter to be able to hit terror targets in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. In return for all this, the Russians are seeking American recognition of the Assad regime in Syria.
Will the new American plan based on diplomacy, bereft of military confrontation, be the way to contain the region’s great wars and guide it towards normalisation? Or will Washington’s ignorance of Iran’s long-standing dogmatism thwart its attempts to forge a new credibility?
We will soon find out.
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
Abdul Jabar Qahraman was meeting supporters in his campaign office in the southern Afghan province of Helmand when a bomb hidden under a sofa exploded on Wednesday.
The blast in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah killed the Afghan election candidate and at least another three people, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told reporters. Another three were wounded, while three suspects were detained, he said.
The Taliban – which controls much of Helmand and has vowed to disrupt the October 20 parliamentary elections – claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mr Qahraman was at least the 10th candidate killed so far during the campaign season, and the second from Lashkar Gah this month. Another candidate, Saleh Mohammad Asikzai, was among eight people killed in a suicide attack last week. Most of the slain candidates were murdered in targeted assassinations, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, the first Afghan Sikh to run for the lower house of the parliament.
The same week the Taliban warned candidates to withdraw from the elections. On Wednesday the group issued fresh warnings, calling on educational workers to stop schools from being used as polling centres.
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
SPECS
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Education reform in Abu Dhabi
The emirate’s public education system has been in a constant state of change since the New School Model was launched in 2010 by the Abu Dhabi Education Council. The NSM, which is also known as the Abu Dhabi School Model, transformed the public school curriculum by introducing bilingual education starting with students from grades one to five. Under this new curriculum, the children spend half the day learning in Arabic and half in English – being taught maths, science and English language by mostly Western educated, native English speakers. The NSM curriculum also moved away from rote learning and required teachers to develop a “child-centered learning environment” that promoted critical thinking and independent learning. The NSM expanded by one grade each year and by the 2017-2018 academic year, it will have reached the high school level. Major reforms to the high school curriculum were announced in 2015. The two-stream curriculum, which allowed pupils to elect to follow a science or humanities course of study, was eliminated. In its place was a singular curriculum in which stem -- science, technology, engineering and maths – accounted for at least 50 per cent of all subjects. In 2016, Adec announced additional changes, including the introduction of two levels of maths and physics – advanced or general – to pupils in Grade 10, and a new core subject, career guidance, for grades 10 to 12; and a digital technology and innovation course for Grade 9. Next year, the focus will be on launching a new moral education subject to teach pupils from grades 1 to 9 character and morality, civic studies, cultural studies and the individual and the community.
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
AS%20WE%20EXIST
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Meydan card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (PA) Group 1 US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,200m
8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) Group 2 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez
