Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif urged diplomats and staff not to walk out in response to his decision to stand down.
“It has been an honour to work beside you. I hope my resignation will lead to a return of the ministry of foreign affairs to its legal place in foreign relations. I thank you all,” Mr Zarif said in reaction to news that ministry employees may leave after his resignation
The news that Mr Zarif would tender his resignation – made in an Instagram post late on Monday – was met with consternation by many in Tehran.
About 150 MPs signed a letter to President Hassan Rouhani urging him to persuade Mr Zarif to stay on, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
Ali Najafi Khoshroodi, spokesman for parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, told Irna he had signed the letter and was collecting more signatures.
Mostafa Kavakebian, a reformist MP, was among those calling for Mr Rouhani to reject the resignation.
“Undoubtedly the Iranian people, government and state will not benefit from this resignation,” he said.
“A great majority of MPs demand that the president never accept this resignation,” he tweeted.
The president has yet to accept Mr Zarif’s departure.
The Tehran Stock Exchange dropped 1 per cent as markets opened.
Mr Zarif, 59, offered an apology for his “shortcomings” in the unexpected message on Monday night.
He has served as Mr Rouhani’s foreign minister since August 2013 but faced constant pressure and criticism from hardliners who opposed his policy of detente with the West.
“I apologise for my inability to continue serving and for all the shortcomings during my term in office,” Mr Zarif said.
The outgoing foreign minister received lavish praise in Iran after he used his speech on February 17 at the Munich Security Conference to defend the country’s policies and its missile programme.
Social media users who said they often criticised the minister praised his remarks and clips of the speech were widely shared in Iran.
The resignation came shortly after a surprise visit to the country by Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. State media reports and images showed that he met Mr Rouhani and the country's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The shadowy Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen Qasem Soleimani also attended the meetings. Mr Zarif was not included in the reports.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that “we note JZarif’s resignation. We’ll see if it sticks”.
“Either way, he and Hassan Rouhani are just front men for a corrupt religious mafia,” Mr Pompeo said.
“We know Khamenei makes all final decisions. Our policy is unchanged – the regime must behave like a normal country and respect its people.”
As one of the architects of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Mr Zarif’s standing with his country’s hardliners took a hit when the White House announced it was withdrawing last year.
Since then, Washington has reimposed sanctions and taken a strong stance against Iran and its proxy forces.
Ultra-conservatives said Mr Zarif had negotiated a bad deal that failed to gain anything meaningful for Iran.
The face-off between the minister and his critics only intensified as time passed, with Mr Zarif saying his main worry throughout the nuclear talks had been about pressure from inside Iran.
Mr Zarif’s departure will be regarded as worrying in Europe. which has tried to keep the 2015 deal alive even without the involvement of the US.
Even Mr Rouhani, who was propelled to office on the promise of economic and social liberalisation, is facing stronger calls to resign as the currency value continues to tumble and US-led sanctions bite hard.
The country has faced protests from traders and workers who are struggling as their livelihoods suffer due to the latest American pressure.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Everton
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester
When: Sunday, kick-off 7pm (UAE)
How to watch: Live on BeIN Sports 11HD
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Listen to Extra Time
Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
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
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
