Diplomats say talks on restoring the nuclear deal between world powers and Iran are entering their final stretch with Britain's top negotiator announcing on Friday: "We are close".
Stephanie Al-Qaq said she and her colleagues from France and Germany were returning to their capitals briefly to update political leaders but were "ready to return soon" to complete an agreement in Vienna.
The three European negotiators held another round of talks with Iranian officials on Friday after Ms Al-Qaq said diplomats "must now walk the last few metres" following 11 months of talks.
She said on Friday that a deal was “possible but not guaranteed” and called on negotiators to reach an agreement “before the diplomatic window closes”.
The EU’s top delegate in Vienna, Enrique Mora, said the talks between Iran, the UK, Germany, France, Russia, China, the EU and, indirectly, the US, were in their final stages but that “some relevant issues” were still open.
“Success is never guaranteed in such a complex negotiation,” he said late on Thursday. “Doing our best in the co-ordinator’s team. But we are definitely not there yet.”
Diplomats have described the talks as entering an endgame as they look to restore Iran’s compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and bring the US back into the fold.
The deal offered sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear activities to prevent it from developing an atom bomb.
Former US president Donald Trump pulled out of the deal and reimposed sanctions in 2018. Since then, Iran has openly flouted those limits by enriching and stockpiling uranium.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said this week that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile had reached 15 times the limit set out under the JCPOA.
Washington has said that the US and Iran could reach a mutual understanding within days if Tehran’s negotiators “show seriousness”.
But western diplomats have signalled that the talks cannot drag on for ever because of the pace of Iran’s continuing nuclear activities.
The agency's director general, Rafael Grossi, will travel to Iran at the weekend after Tehran hinted that it wanted the UN agency to close investigations into undeclared nuclear sites.
Mr Grossi said this was a separate issue from the JCPOA talks and said he would not drop those investigations in order for the Vienna negotiators to reach a deal.
But he said he was optimistic that a solution could be found on this point without jeopardising the JCPOA.
The specs
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Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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Results
International 4, United States 1
Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods (US) beat Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann (International) 4 and 3.
Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im (International) beat Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (US) 2 up.
Adam Scott and Byeong Hun An (International) beat Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau (US) 2 and 1.
Hideki Matsuyama and C.T. Pan (International) beat Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed (US) 1 up.
Abraham Ancer and Louis Oosthuizen (International) beat Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland (US) 4 and 3.
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
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Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
MATCH INFO
Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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