Iran’s project for hegemony is an increasingly complicated regional dilemma. The nation continues to try to expand its footprint in the Middle East. Its leaders remain undeterred, despite pressure from other countries. This impasse threatens the security and stability of the region, particularly in the Gulf. The past four decades have taught us that if we do not break this pattern, Iran will continue to be a threat not just to its neighbours, but to the world as a whole.
All political, social and economic trends indicate an increasingly uncertain future if the international community fails to make Iran behave like a normal state. Fuelling this worrying reality are a number of complex internal dynamics and political aspirations within Tehran.
The Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) was recent history’s most significant effort to deal with the challenge posed by the country. It sought specifically to tame the nation’s nuclear ambitions. It did not, however, have anything to say about the other nefarious regional activities that the regime sponsors. Subsequently, former US president Donald Trump broke western orthodoxy with his “maximum pressure” campaign. This achieved some results, but ultimately still failed to get Tehran back to the negotiating table.
Inaction on the Iran issue risks bringing us to a point of no return
The JCPOA’s failure might have been down to its inability to understand how Iran sees itself and the world around it, in terms of regime doctrine and interpretations of its own post-colonial history. It was also overly optimistic about Tehran’s desire to co-operate in finding constructive regional solutions. The maximum pressure campaign also failed at getting clerical leadership to drop a number of contentious policies. In addition, regional approaches to solve the Iranian impasse have not taken into account its duplicity, nor have they grasped the nature of the relations between the government and the deep-state establishment. This has made for a hollow set of proposed solutions, based solely on attempts to pacify the regime.
There is no doubt that Gulf countries are the worst affected by the ongoing stalemate. GCC nations are Iran’s closest neighbours, a country that considers the Middle East fair game in its expansionist projects, and the Gulf region as a tool to pressure the international community, especially in Washington. Our part of the world has for some time watched on with concern as other nations attempt to resolve the issue. Some worry that the errors of the Iran Nuclear Deal might be repeated, a moment in history that can only be described as one in which the GCC was marginalised. This is why Gulf countries are calling for a seat at the table in any future negotiations with Tehran. Iran’s ongoing refusal to countenance GCC participation shows its longstanding desire to drown out the group’s voice.
Some Arab countries are concerned that Washington’s seeming abandonment of Iranian issues could reduce dialogue into mere bilateral discussions between the regime and a number of regional countries, or at best local negotiations without international supervision. This would not produce effective outcomes. History shows us that Iran likes such conditions because it always has the upper hand in any purely regional or bilateral talks, not to mention the likelihood of it reneging on its commitments in the absence of binding guarantees.
The international community and GCC countries need an innovative response before we reach the point of no return. If it is still impossible to reach a comprehensive resolution, the door could open for individual regional negotiations on key issues such as Iran’s ballistic missile program and its expansionist agenda. A local initiative of this kind should be overseen by world powers including the US, the UN Security Council and other actors, to ensure that their outcomes are implemented and that they are codified in UN resolutions. They could include the use of flexible legal instruments such as snapback sanctions if Tehran reneges on its promises. For this to happen, the GCC must have a central role, as it alone is most affected by Iran’s most dangerous malign activities, including its missile program and its expansionist agenda.
Comment from The National
The realities on the ground indicate that all stakeholders are willing to join negotiations. This means little if the same mistakes are repeated. Iran’s political system must not be simplified as it was before, in a manner that did not take into account the nature of the regime’s decision making, and the intersection between economic and political factors in the country’s policies. The method must go beyond the narrow understanding of the nation’s deep state, and instead stress the importance of improving dealings with the various influential centers of power in Tehran.
This would move beyond the inefficacy of previous years, to serious resolutions fit for the future. Combined, collaborative efforts from the GCC – with whom Iran wishes to enter into dialogue on controversial regional issues – and the international community would not allow Iran to use a dialogue to simply stall progress. Instead, it will devise a legally binding negotiation process within a specific timeframe. This could then be set in stone through UN Security Council resolutions.
Inaction will bring us to a point of no return. A strategic perspective is needed to solve this problem and the Iranian regime needs to be dealt with carefully and realistically. The GCC needs strong will and co-ordination with global partners. Welcoming Iran back into the fold will benefit the world, the region, as well as the isolated and struggling nation itself.
Dr Ebtesam Al Ketbi is the President of the Emirates Policy Center
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
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
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
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W. W. Norton & Company
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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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
The five pillars of Islam
Classification from Tour de France after Stage 17
1. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 73:27:26"
2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Cannondale-Drapac) 27"
3. Romain Bardet (France / AG2R La Mondiale)
4. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana Pro Team) 53"
5. Mikel Landa (Spain / Team Sky) 1:24"
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
more from Janine di Giovanni
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Naga
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)
Manchester United 0
