A foreign minister admitting they have no influence over foreign policy would raise eyebrows in any country. On Sunday, Iran's most senior diplomat, Javad Zarif, apologised profusely for doing just that.
Last week, in a leaked audio recording, Mr Zarif was heard complaining about his powerlessness in a political system that is dominated by the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
He even criticised the organisation's now-deceased commander, Qassem Suleimani, a divisive figure who was nonetheless revered by a significant number of Iranians.
In a veiled response to the foreign minister's comments, the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called the remarks "regrettable and surprising".
He said that "nowhere in the world does the foreign ministry determine foreign policy", a statement that does not deny the crux of Mr Zarif's complaint that the IRGC is unaccountable to government or even to the supreme leader.
Despite the manufactured furore, Iranians should not be surprised by what Mr Zarif said. Indeed, many are not. Few within government have accused him of lying outright.
The power of elected administrations has always been limited. The most important arms of the state are answerable only to the clerical establishment.
This includes the IRGC, which during the rise of Suleimani led the country’s foreign policy.
The strategy was not a diplomatic one, but rather based on the destabilising use of foreign militias and proxies and a wider strategy of asymmetric warfare across the region.
It now seems that parties at the Vienna talks are negotiating with the IRGC
And yet Mr Zarif continues with a protracted public apology, claiming that the comments were "misused by enemies of the country and its people".
He might be doing so to sustain the long-peddled government facade that Iran is a democracy, in which the people give leaders a mandate to resist foreign influence and maintain the revolution.
In fact, citizens are far less involved than authorities like to make out, which is ultimately the conclusion that can be drawn from Mr Zarif’s leaked comments.
He might be trying to keep alive his prospects of running for political office. There are many questions that remain unanswered about the recording and how it was leaked.
There are even rumours that Mr Zarif co-ordinated it himself, in an attempt to win the favour of a growing number of Iranians who are angry at the IRGC's unaccountability.
The real question is what this latest development means for Iran's political class, particularly as international talks in Vienna continue to try to formulate a new deal to limit Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
The leaks raise fresh concerns about the relevance of the diplomatic negotiating team that Iran has sent to the meeting.
Representatives from the Foreign Ministry are in the Austrian capital, but with their own boss having admitted their powerlessness, it is increasingly obvious that the negotiators are possibly striking a deal not with President Hassan Rouhani’s government, but with the IRGC.
Going down such a path was one of the central errors of the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal.
Deliberate or not, Mr Zarif is now on the record as admitting the obvious. For the stability of Iran and the wider region, diplomatic efforts must be genuine and able to deliver results, and not be undercut by domestic politics.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
AWARDS
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Paris%20Agreement
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
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Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
(Negredo 1, Tozo 50)
Shabab Al Ahli 1
(Jaber 13)
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Wicked: For Good
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Rating: 4/5
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The%20specs
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