Iran has condemned a US deployment of a nuclear submarine to the Middle East as “warmongering.”
Washington rarely announces where its nuclear submarines are being sent but on Saturday, US Central Command said the USS Florida was en route to the region.
The Ohio Class submarine can circumnavigate the globe without surfacing and is capable of carrying 154 cruise missiles, each with a range of up to 2,500km, depending on the variant.
Cruise missiles, which are also used by Iran, are considered dangerous because they fly at low level, below radar systems, over long distances.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani accused the US of “warmongering and propagating instability and conflict in the West Asia region”.
The USS Florida is being deployed in support of the US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, to “ensure regional maritime security and stability”, said Commander Tim Hawkins, spokesman for Centcom, on Saturday.
The deployment was a sign of Washington’s “struggle to gloss over its decline in the world, as new regional equations are likely to shape a new order and eliminate the need for military forces from outside the region”, Mr Kanaani said.
Tension between the US and Iran has been elevated this year following a spate of attacks against US forces stationed in Syria, which Washington says have been conducted by Iran-supplied militias that answer to Tehran.
In the early hours of March 23, militias in northern Syria fired what the US said was “a one-way attack drone” at a base where American forces and allied Kurdish militias were based.
One US soldier was killed and six others wounded. The US immediately retaliated, bombing “facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps”, according to US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Nuclear deal falters
The escalation comes after the near collapse of talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, involving the US, EU, Russia and China.
The talks aimed to revive a 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which allowed UN inspectors access to Iranian nuclear sites in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
Amid the failure of the talks, Iran and Saudi Arabia have sought to rebuild ties, with Riyadh announcing the reopening of its embassy in Tehran, as well as potential bilateral investment.
The thawing of relations has been brokered by China and regional powers, including Jordan, Iraq and Oman. It comes after more than a decade of regional competition between the two powers in Syria and Yemen in conflicts that have produced no clear victors.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long insisted that if Iran’s nuclear research continues unchecked, it will use any option to stop Tehran developing an atomic weapon.
The Biden administration, meanwhile, says it is committed to finding a way of restarting the nuclear negotiations.
Israel is widely thought to have been behind the assassination of several of Iran’s most prominent nuclear scientists, including Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the former head of the nuclear programme, as well as the sabotaging of Iranian nuclear sites.
Against this backdrop, the US has been conducting joint military operations with Israel, which has also been attacking Iran-linked targets in Syria.
In January, the US and Israel conducted a large-scale exercise, Juniper Oak, involving more than 140 aircraft.
Iran has long been building up its ballistic and cruise missile capability, as well as a large fleet of fast attack boats in anticipation of a possible conflict, either with the US, Israel or both.
In February, Iran announced the development of a new cruise missile, the Paveh, with a range of more than 1,650km.
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More on Quran memorisation:
Remaining fixtures
- August 29 – UAE v Saudi Arabia, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
- September 5 – Iraq v UAE, Amman, Jordan (venue TBC)
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Carzaty%2C%20now%20Kavak%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20launched%20in%202018%2C%20Kavak%20in%20the%20GCC%20launched%20in%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20140%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Automotive%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20raised%20%246m%20in%20equity%20and%20%244m%20in%20debt%3B%20Kavak%20plans%20%24130m%20investment%20in%20the%20GCC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UK%20record%20temperature
%3Cp%3E38.7C%20(101.7F)%20set%20in%20Cambridge%20in%202019%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WORLD CUP SQUAD
Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The years Ramadan fell in May
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Read more about the coronavirus
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
