Josep Borell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (L) with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, at a press conference in the foreign ministry headquarters in Tehran on June 25. AFP
Josep Borell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (L) with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, at a press conference in the foreign ministry headquarters in Tehran on June 25. AFP
Josep Borell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (L) with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, at a press conference in the foreign mini
Raghida Dergham is the founder and executive chairwoman of the Beirut Institute, and a columnist for The National
July 31, 2022
As a result of the nuclear threat, stakeholders in the nuclear talks are again exploring putting differences with Iran in the "fridge", and cutting a provisional deal to revive the 2015 deal, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between the P5+1 countries – the UN Security Council's five permanent members; the US, China, France, Russia, the UK; plus Germany – and Iran.
Israel is strongly present in this equation. Recently, Israel hinted at conducting a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities if a deal is signed, whose terms are not in the interests of Israeli national security.
The European states are anxious about an Iranian-Israeli confrontation and the failure of the Vienna talks, and the possible implications of their failure, with regard to nuclear, energy and military repercussions.
Josep Borell and Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service Enrique Mora (2nd-R) chat during a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister, in Tehran on June 25. AFP
The Biden administration is coming under pressure, Israeli and domestic, which restrictsits ability to agree to Iran’s persistent conditions, such as delisting its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terror group, or providing Iran with guarantees that the US will not unilaterally withdraw again from the nuclear deal in the future, as Donald Trump had done in the past. These steps are beyond the ability and mandate of the Biden administration, as some would be within the powers of Congress alone.
For its part, the Islamic Republic of Iran is caught between its ruling ideology and the centrality of the IRGC in its economy, foreign policy, regional behaviour and its need to sell its oil – especially at a time when Europe is in dire need for alternative oil supplies – before the embargo on Russian oil and gas goes into effect at the end of the year.
Provisional solutions are being discussed again, to capitalise on what has been agreed so far, and to freeze contentious issues to deal with later. Even with this approach there are obstacles and pitfalls. Yet, it is clear that a final grand bargain – which crucially requires a US-Iranian deal – has become nearly impossible, prompting this search for provisional agreements.
In the meantime, the Iranian leadership is allowing itself room for constructive manoeuvring, coupled with threats of retaliation. Iran is showing flexibility in the region, affirming the importance of continuing talks with Saudi Arabia, after the conclusion of a fifth unpublicised round, and expressing willingness for a public session. Iran also appears willing to not obstruct the demarcation of Lebanese-Israeli maritime borders as a goodwill gesture, but also to highlight the Iranian influence over such issues that are crucial to the US and Israel.
Strategically, Iran’s flexibility is represented by the possibility of agreeing to defer the issue of the IRGC, focusing instead on getting the sanctions lifted in order to sell oil and relieve popular pressure on the regime. In other words, suspending the regime’s political ideology provisionally serves its interests and its survival through economic recovery. Oil revenues are crucial for reinforcing its ideology in the long run so there is no harm in prioritising them for now. This is part of Iran's constructive manoeuvring policy.
Iran's flexibility is not open-ended. It is linked to the outcome of the Vienna talks
However, Iran’s flexibility will not be open-ended. It is organically linked to the outcome of the Vienna talks, whose bottom line is lifting the sanctions on Iran. It is also linked to the Israeli reaction to the putative Vienna deal. For this reason, Tehran is sending out both escalatory and conciliatory messages at the same time and making preparations.
Israel is giving cause for anxiety not just to Iran but also to Europe and Russia. Relations between Russia and Israel now face a crisis, after Moscow decided to outsource Syria to Iran and exchanged warnings with Israel. Moscow has since sought to limit the damage, after Israel said there could be serious political consequences for Russian policies targeting Israel in Syria, Ukraine and Russia itself, as Moscow moved against the activities of the Jewish Agency, a prominent group that facilitates Jewish immigration to Israel.
US President Joe Biden with Israel's President Isaac Herzog (L) and caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid (R) st the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games, in Jerusalem, on July 14. AFP
This week, an Israeli delegation went to the Russian capital for the first time since the crisis between the two countries started, following a Russian ban on the agency. Israel said the closure of the agency’s offices in Russia is a serious matter that will have implications for the bilateral relationship. This was coupled by a leaked list of possible Israeli responses, while Israel’s Defence Minister Benny Gantz revealed Russian anti-aircraft batteries had fired at Israeli planes during a sortie over Syria in May.
More importantly, Israel sent warnings to Russia, the European powers and the US through unofficial channels, saying it was ready to conduct strikes on Iranian nuclear sites if these states sign up to an agreement in Vienna. This is a new development, because there is an Israeli threat linked to signing the nuclear deal.
Europe is feeling a nuclear and energy terror as a result of Israel’s escalation and threat of direct action against Iran, with or without America’s consent. Israel has made it clear to the European states that freeing Iran from sanctions under a deal in Vienna could enable Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, a red line for Israel. Israel has also expressed distrust in promises of the Biden administration and European promises to not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.
The nuclear terror felt in Europe has two aspects: One would be for the failure of the nuclear talks to lead to the intensification of the Iranian nuclear programme. And another would be the Israeli response, which could turn the shadow war between Iran and Israel into a direct, conventional one on Europe's doorsteps. Then there are the existential energy worries. In the wake of the decision to embargo Russian oil and gas, Europe needs an alternative that could very well be provided by Iran, should a nuclear deal be agreed.
For all these reasons, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, has engaged Iran looking for a way to resuscitate the Vienna talks through provisional arrangements that defer contentious issues and cement what has already been agreed, in the service of Iranian, European and US interests. Mr Borell is seeking a compromise on behalf of the EU, and to some extent, the US administration.
Iran has not closed the door to a compromise because it needs the money and also because it takes seriously the Israeli determination to carry out military action against it. Iran realises the cost of war would be high despite its own escalation and military preparations against Israel.
Tehran knows that Russia is unable and unready to go to war on its side against Israel. It knows that in the event the situation devolves into an Iranian-Israeli military standoff, the Biden administration will not able to continue negotiations. It knows that in the event of war with Israel, the US will have to side with Israel, a strategic alliance that is also a US domestic issue.
Ultimately, navigating between constructive manoeuvring and a rude confrontation is a thorny affair, especially in the midst of growing Israeli turbulence, despite the confused US and European expeditions in the waters of the Middle East.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32 Wins: 28 Wins by KO: 26 Losses: 4
MATCH INFO
Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')
Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
The specs
Engine: 3.6 V6
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Power: 295bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: Dh155,000
On sale: now
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Day 1 fixtures (Saturday)
Men 1.45pm, Malaysia v Australia (Court 1); Singapore v India (Court 2); UAE v New Zealand (Court 3); South Africa v Sri Lanka (Court 4)
Women Noon, New Zealand v South Africa (Court 3); England v UAE (Court 4); 5.15pm, Australia v UAE (Court 3); England v New Zealand (Court 4)
PULITZER PRIZE 2020 WINNERS
JOURNALISM
Public Service
Anchorage Daily News in collaboration with ProPublica
Breaking News Reporting
Staff of The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
Investigative Reporting
Brian M. Rosenthal of The New York Times
Explanatory Reporting
Staff of The Washington Post
Local Reporting
Staff of The Baltimore Sun
National Reporting
T. Christian Miller, Megan Rose and Robert Faturechi of ProPublica
and
Dominic Gates, Steve Miletich, Mike Baker and Lewis Kamb of The Seattle Times
International Reporting
Staff of The New York Times
Feature Writing
Ben Taub of The New Yorker
Commentary
Nikole Hannah-Jones of The New York Times
Criticism
Christopher Knight of the Los Angeles Times
Editorial Writing
Jeffery Gerritt of the Palestine (Tx.) Herald-Press
Editorial Cartooning
Barry Blitt, contributor, The New Yorker
Breaking News Photography
Photography Staff of Reuters
Feature Photography
Channi Anand, Mukhtar Khan and Dar Yasin of the Associated Press
Audio Reporting
Staff of This American Life with Molly O’Toole of the Los Angeles Times and Emily Green, freelancer, Vice News for “The Out Crowd”
LETTERS AND DRAMA
Fiction
"The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday)
Drama
"A Strange Loop" by Michael R. Jackson
History
"Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America" by W. Caleb McDaniel (Oxford University Press)
Biography
"Sontag: Her Life and Work" by Benjamin Moser (Ecco/HarperCollins)
Poetry
"The Tradition" by Jericho Brown (Copper Canyon Press)
General Nonfiction
"The Undying: Pain, Vulnerability, Mortality, Medicine, Art, Time, Dreams, Data, Exhaustion, Cancer, and Care" by Anne Boyer (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
and
"The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America" by Greg Grandin (Metropolitan Books)
Music
"The Central Park Five" by Anthony Davis, premiered by Long Beach Opera on June 15, 2019
Special Citation
Ida B. Wells
FIXTURES (all times UAE)
Sunday
Brescia v Lazio (3.30pm)
SPAL v Verona (6pm)
Genoa v Sassuolo (9pm)
AS Roma v Torino (11.45pm)
Monday
Bologna v Fiorentina (3.30pm)
AC Milan v Sampdoria (6pm)
Juventus v Cagliari (6pm)
Atalanta v Parma (6pm)
Lecce v Udinese (9pm)
Napoli v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
