U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met members of the UN Security Council on Thursday. AFP
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met members of the UN Security Council on Thursday. AFP
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met members of the UN Security Council on Thursday. AFP
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met members of the UN Security Council on Thursday. AFP

European statement sets out refusal to back Iran arms ban extension


Thomas Harding
  • English
  • Arabic

The Trump administration’s efforts to extend the international arms embargo on Iran suffered a humiliating setback yesterday after Britain, France and Germany refused to supports its efforts.

In a joint statement Europe’s three biggest economies said the American move to restore total sanctions on Tehran was incompatible with efforts to support the Iran nuclear deal.

The United States has pressured Britain into backing sanctions after its UN ambassador suggested that failing to do so would allow the “world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell weapons”.

Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, has requested the UN Security Council trigger a “snapback” mechanism contained in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal to seek the reimposition of sanctions lifted in 2015. It cites Tehran’s breach of the agreement by its continued attempts to enrich uranium.

But America withdrew from the JCPOA two years ago, which European leaders say makes its “snapback” attempt invalid.

"The US ceased to be a participant to the JCPOA following their withdrawal from the deal on May, 8 2018. We cannot, therefore, support this action, which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPOA," the countries, known as the E3 – European Three – said in a statement.
In what appeared to be a rebuke to the Trump government's diplomatic efforts, the statement added: "We call on all UN Security Council members to refrain from any action that would only deepen divisions in the Security Council or that would have serious adverse consequences on its work."

Washington has become increasingly concerned that the UN vote in October on whether to continue the arms ban will not be supported by other major countries.

If the embargo is lifted Iran will be able to buy advanced military technology from states such as China and Russia, which could sell it sophisticated surface-to-air missiles, jets and submarines.

Reiterating that they remained committed to the JCPOA despite the significant challenges caused by the American withdrawal, the E3 said the priority was to "address the current issue of systematic Iranian non-compliance with JCPOA".
To preserve the agreement, they urged Iran "to reverse all measures inconsistent with its nuclear commitments and return to full compliance without delay."

The E3 also pledged to continue to work with the Security Council to continue further diplomatic resolution. “Our efforts will be guided by the need to uphold the authority and integrity of the UN Security Council and to advance regional security and stability.”

The accord, originally signed by the US, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia, was a key diplomatic achievement for former president Barack Obama, limiting Iran’s nuclear research in return for ending crippling economic sanctions.

Within the deal is a provision for the arms embargo, first imposed in 2007, to expire in mid-October this year as long as Iran remains compliant. The embargo now looks likely to expire after the UN refused to back an extension last week. Britain, France and Germany caused further frustration for the Trump administration at the time by abstaining from the vote.

Mr Pompeo traveled on Thursday to New York to hand-deliver a letter to the president of the UN Security Council saying Iran isn’t complying with its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal “despite extensive efforts and exhaustive diplomacy”.

Washington contends that the notification starts a 31-day clock that will end with the council required to “snap back” sanctions on Iran. It puts the administration on a collision course with other world powers who say the U.S. doesn’t have the standing to invoke the sanctions provision because President Donald Trump quit the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“In the end they provided no alternatives, no options,” Mr Pompeo said of America’s European allies, adding that they “chose to side with the ayatollahs” and put their own citizens at risk. “America won’t join in this failure of leadership. America will not appease, America will lead.”

Commentators believe that the sanctions issue is likely to be delayed until after the US presidential election in November.

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6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
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7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
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7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner: Son Of Normandy, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
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  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
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  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)

Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)

Friday

Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)

Valencia v Levante (midnight)

Saturday

Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)

Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)

Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)

Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)

Sunday

Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)

Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)

Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)

PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP

Men’s: 
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)

Women's: 
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000

Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books

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Price, base: Dh132,000

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

The 12 breakaway clubs

England

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus

Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid

The specs

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Transmission: eight-speed automatic

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ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

PROFILE OF STARZPLAY

Date started: 2014

Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand

Number of employees: 125

Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners

All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia

What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix

When Saturday

Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia

What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.

Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.

While you're here
RESULTS

Bantamweight: Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) beat Hamza Bougamza (MAR)

Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)

Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)

Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)

Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Badreddine Diani (MAR)

Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)

Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)

Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)

Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)

Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

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Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
SPECS
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Bio

Age: 25

Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah

Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering

Favourite colour: White

Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai

Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.

First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.