More than two decades after Iran’s nuclear weapons programme first grabbed global attention, it continues to shape the country’s domestic politics as well as its relationship with the rest of the world.
It has served to undermine Tehran’s relations with the international community, particularly the West; led to crippling sanctions against it; and culminated in a military conflict involving Israel and the US.
This month, Tehran suffered its latest blow in relation to the programme.
Failing to come to an agreement with the three major European powers – Britain, France and Germany – over its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran saw the return of the UN-imposed sanctions that the landmark deal helped to lift a decade ago. The European troika, which was party to the agreement alongside China, Russia and the US, activated the so-called “snapback” mechanism that restored the sanctions.
This means that the six resolutions that were passed in the UN Security Council between 2006 and 2010, aimed at curbing the programme, are back in full force. This has already led to the imposition of new sanctions and further limits on the Iranian economy. Japan, for example, has moved to block the accounts of 78 Iranian companies and 43 Iranian citizens.
China and Russia, partners to Iran, strived to avoid the re-imposition of the sanctions by introducing a resolution in the Security Council. But, with only Algeria and Pakistan joining the two superpowers in voting for it, Tehran’s diplomatic isolation is evident.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have since attempted to downplay the effects of these sanctions.
Mr Pezeshkian claimed that Iran’s commitment to diplomacy was not matched by that of their western counterparts, pointing to Washington’s unrealistic demand that Tehran cease uranium enrichment completely in return for sanctions relief for three months.
The Iranian President said his country will cope with the latest crisis as it sets out to build robust ties with its neighbours as well as with non-western partners in the Brics grouping of nations and the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation.
For his part, Mr Araghchi defended Iran’s conduct and said his country isn’t afraid of sanctions. He added that the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was right all along in asserting that negotiating with the Americans would lead to a dead-end.
Nonetheless, the re-imposition of sanctions is likely to exacerbate Iran’s economic problems, with the US dollar currently worth a whopping 1.1 million rials. It has already ignited a political firestorm inside the country, including a fierce debate over the JCPOA’s legacy and the potential ways forward following its demise.
The man in the middle of this firestorm is Hassan Rouhani during whose presidency the deal was struck a decade ago (and in whose administration Mr Araghchi served as deputy foreign minister). Largely supported by the country’s reformists at the time, it was vociferously opposed by a number of hardliners, including Saeed Jalili, Tehran’s former nuclear negotiator.
Mr Jalili recently launched a tirade against the JCPOA and its backers in the erstwhile Rouhani administration, including the former president himself. This is unsurprising, given Mr Jalili’s penchant to take on the country’s reformists.
Not long after his defeat to Mr Pezeshkian in last year’s presidential election, the former diplomat pledged, rather controversially, to run a shadow government. He is now training his rhetorical guns at Mr Rouhani, to whom he lost in the 2013 presidential race, criticising his former rival’s conviction that Tehran should engage with the West despite long-held misgivings.
Mr Rouhani’s media team returned the compliment by re-publishing a video message from last year in which the former president calls Mr Jalili’s tenure as chief negotiator disastrous and massively costly to Iran, and asks him to “come debate me if you have the courage”. Mr Rouhani originally released the video after Mr Jalili attacked him during the latter’s 2024 presidential campaign.
Clearly, there’s no love lost between the two men. Speaking last week in Shiraz, at an event commemorating Tehran’s Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, Mr Jalili said even a primary school pupil could defeat Mr Rouhani in a debate.
This exchange has led some local media outlets to offer to host an actual debate between the two figures. It has also rattled Iran’s political class. A newspaper aligned to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has otherwise been critical of the JCPOA, called out Mr Jalili for engaging in partisan point-scoring during a moment of national crisis.
To be sure, the rift over the 2015 nuclear deal isn’t limited to the two influential figures; reactions for and against it have percolated through to various levels of national politics.
In Tehran’s Amirkabir University, hardliner students staged a symbolic funeral for the JCPOA, complete with cardboard cut-outs representing Mr Rouhani and former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. These students said the deal did little other than to pave the path to Iran’s “economic backwardness”, undermine its nuclear advancements and lead to the assassination of its nuclear scientists.
Mahmoud Nabavian, a hardliner Tehran MP, went as far as claiming that the re-imposition of sanctions was preferrable to keeping the deal alive. The sanctions “will have almost zero effect, except for psychological effects”, Mr Nabavian said.
The question being asked right now is, should Iran return to the negotiating table or take other actions?
The reformists, meanwhile, continued to defend the JCPOA’s legacy. Azar Mansouri, who heads the Iranian Reformist Front, criticised the hardliner daily Kayhan for attacking the deal, saying that the hardliners have no regard for Iran’s national interest.
Javad Emam, a spokesperson for the IRF, said the country’s “domestic extremists” appear to be happier about the collapse of the deal than the “extremist supporters” of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Iran’s domestic extremists and its foreign enemies are two sides of the same coin,” Mr Emam added.
Such debates, heated or otherwise, are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. They are, after all, not simply arguments over country’s recent past but also deliberations over the course of action the country will eventually have to take – whatever that course might be.
The question being asked right now is, should Iran return to the negotiating table or take other actions?
Several MPs have introduced a bill in Parliament seeking to pull their country out of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, a measure that the international community would perceive as a first step towards building a nuclear bomb. Iran’s leaders, including Mr Khamenei and Mr Pezeshkian, vociferously deny this.
Their statements don’t necessarily clarify the direction the country will eventually take. But sooner rather than later, Iranians will need to get over the past and find a new path forward.
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
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
((Disclaimer))
The Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG (“Bank”) assumes no liability or guarantee for the accuracy, balance, or completeness of the information in this publication. The content may change at any time due to given circumstances, and the Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG is under no obligation to update information once it has been published. This publication is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer, a recommendation or an invitation by, or on behalf of, Liechtensteinische Landesbank (DIFC Branch), Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG, or any of its group affiliates to make any investments or obtain services. This publication has not been reviewed, disapproved or approved by the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) Central Bank, Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) or any other relevant licensing authorities in the UAE. It may not be relied upon by or distributed to retail clients. Liechtensteinische Landesbank (DIFC Branch) is regulated by the DFSA and this advertorial is intended for Professional Clients (as defined by the DFSA) who have sufficient financial experience and understanding of financial markets, products or transactions and any associated risks.
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
The Kites
Romain Gary
Penguin Modern Classics
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Brief scores:
Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first
Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)
Watson 42; Munaf 3-20
Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)
Shahzad 74 not out
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
DAY%20ONE%20RESULT
%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Charlotte%20Kool%20(NED)%20%E2%80%93%20Team%20DSM%3A%202hrs%2C%2047min%2C%2014sec%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lorena%20Wiebes%20(NED)%20%E2%80%93%20Team%20SD%20Worx%3A%20%2B4%20secs%3Cbr%3E3.%20Chiara%20Consonni%20(ITA)%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20Team%20ADQ%3A%20%2B5%20secs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was first created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
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)
RESULTS
Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)
Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)
Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)
Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)
Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)
Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)
Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
