The recent upsurge in attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels against civilian targets in the UAE inevitably raises questions about the seriousness of Tehran’s commitment to talks currently taking place in Vienna over its nuclear programme.
Although the negotiations have been taking place for several months, with European diplomats taking the lead role in discussions with the Iranian delegation because the US and Iran have yet to agree to establish a direct dialogue, all the indications are that progress is painfully slow.
Western negotiators have accused the Iranians of playing for time and not approaching the negotiations with sufficient seriousness, preferring instead to concentrate their focus on their nuclear enrichment activities, which have now moved well beyond the limit originally agreed in the 2015 deal concluded with the help of the Obama administration.
Indeed, with Iran expected to reach the enrichment threshold to produce weapons-grade material in the next few weeks, there is a general acceptance that, if a deal is not forthcoming soon, then the negotiations will collapse, with all the implications that are likely to happen for security in the Gulf region.
There is, after all, little point in pursuing a deal to restrict Tehran’s ability to enrich uranium to the level required for producing nuclear weapons if the Iranians have already achieved that worrying benchmark.
With the nuclear negotiations therefore reaching a critical juncture, Gulf security officials believe many of the attacks being carried out by Houthi rebels in Yemen, which have received significant military backing from Iran, can be linked to the nuclear talks, and are a blatant attempt by Tehran to pressure the West into making concessions at the Vienna talks.
Iran’s official position is that the Houthis are acting independently of Iran, and that Tehran has little influence over their terrorist activities. But Gulf security officials paint a different picture, and have assembled an impressive amount of evidence that points to deep-seated Iranian involvement in many of the Houthi terror attacks carried out in the region in recent years.
These include fragments of missiles and drones used in attacks against the Saudi-led coalition bearing manufacturing marks of Iranian companies, hordes of Iranian-made weapons seized in boats travelling from Iran to Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen and reports of Iranian technical experts travelling to Yemen to assist Houthi extremists assemble Iranian-made ballistic missiles, which are then used to attack coalition targets in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.
Comment from The National
With mounting evidence of Iran’s direct involvement in providing significant military support for the Houthis, including the delivery of long-range missiles and drones, Gulf security officials have little doubt that Iran is playing an active role in helping to direct the Houthis’ terrorist activities, including this month's series of attacks against the UAE.
Following last week’s co-ordinated attack against a number of targets in the UAE, in which three people died and six were wounded after fuel lorries exploded near Abu Dhabi International Airport, two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis at Abu Dhabi were intercepted and destroyed.
And there is a growing belief among Gulf diplomats that the recent upsurge in attacks against the UAE, as well as the Houthis continuing their attacks against Saudi positions, is directly linked to the Vienna talks, and Tehran’s attempts to pressure Western negotiators into agreeing a deal that is favourable to Iran.
“Even though Iran’s official position is that it has no official control over the Houthis, the reality is that Iran is deeply involved in the Houthis’ terrorist activities,” commented a senior Gulf security official. “All the indications are that Iran is orchestrating these attacks to increase the pressure on the West to make concessions over its nuclear programme.”
Gulf diplomats point out that the recent Houthi attacks come at a time when a number of Gulf states, including the UAE, have launched diplomatic efforts to engage with Iran in an attempt to reduce regional tensions.
The recent escalation in Houthi attacks has attracted universal international condemnation, with the UN Security Council last week passing a unanimous motion condemning the attacks against the UAE.
The upsurge in Houthi violence has also led to calls for Washington to re-designate the Houthis as a terrorist organisation. The terrorist designation was originally applied against the movement in the dying days of the Trump administration, but was subsequently lifted when US President Joe Biden took office, a move that was seen as a goodwill gesture towards Iran as his administration sought to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.
But, rather than encouraging the Houthis and their Iranian backers to adopt a more constructive approach to efforts to reduce regional tensions, Gulf security officials have identified a sharp increase in Houthi terrorist activity since Washington lifted the terrorist designation, with an uplift in both missile and drone strikes against coalition targets.
“After the terrorist designation was lifted, it is clear the Houthis believed they could resume their terrorist operations because no one was prepared to stop them,” commented a Gulf security official.
With the Houthis and their Iranian backers seemingly unwilling to curtail their terrorist activities in favour of pursuing a diplomatic resolution of the conflict, the UAE has reportedly entered discussions with the US about upgrading its defensive capabilities in the wake of the recent attacks against UAE targets.
Lana Nusseibeh, the Emirati permanent representative to the UN, told CNN earlier this week that security discussions with Washington were taking place, but declined to provide details. The UAE currently uses the US anti-missile interception system THAAD.
"Our ability to intercept and deflect these attacks is world class," she said. "There can always be upgrades and improvements and ... additional intelligence co-operation and I think these are the fields we're looking at with our partners."
Such measures would not be necessary if Iran was serious about reducing regional tensions by engaging constructively with the Vienna talks. Instead, the fact Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are escalating their terrorist activities means that tensions – in the short term, at least – are likely to increase.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Meg%202%3A%20The%20Trench
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBen%20Wheatley%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJason%20Statham%2C%20Jing%20Wu%2C%20Cliff%20Curtis%2C%20Page%20Kennedy%2C%20Cliff%20Curtis%2C%20Melissanthi%20Mahut%20and%20Shuya%20Sophia%20Cai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)
The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
US Open Missed the cut (78)
Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)
Irish Open Missed the cut (72)
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
FIGHT%20CARD
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Klipit%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venkat%20Reddy%2C%20Mohammed%20Al%20Bulooki%2C%20Bilal%20Merchant%2C%20Asif%20Ahmed%2C%20Ovais%20Merchant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Digital%20receipts%2C%20finance%2C%20blockchain%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Privately%2Fself-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
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Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m
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7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m
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Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech, micro finance
Initial investment: $1 million
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Premier League results
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
Sunday
Watford 2 Leicester City 1
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
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Barcelona 0
Slavia Prague 0
MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
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How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
