The US is waiting for a constructive response from Iran on how to revive the 2015 nuclear deal without the existence of “extraneous” issues, a possible reference to Tehran's demand that its powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps be dropped from Washington's terrorism list.
The remarks were made by State Department spokesman Ned Price on Tuesday in response to claims made by Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, who said Tehran had submitted a proposal to revive the deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), according to Reuters.
Another State Department representative denied that the US had received any serious proposal from Tehran.
“We have seen no substantive communication from Iran, but we are open to any initiative that would allow us to immediately conclude and implement the deal we negotiated in Vienna for mutual return to full implementation of the JCPOA, dropping issues that go beyond the JCPOA,” said the representative.
Former US president Donald Trump reneged on the nuclear deal, under which Iran had restrained its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, in 2018.
This prompted Tehran to begin exceeding its core nuclear limits about a year later.
Iran has declined to hold direct talks with Washington about reviving the deal and transmits messages chiefly through European diplomats.
The pact appeared close to being revived in March but talks were thrown into disarray, partly over whether the US would remove the IRGC from its Foreign Terrorist Organisations list.
The IRGC controls elite armed and intelligence forces that Washington accuses of a waging a global terrorist campaign.
US President Joe Biden's government has made clear it has no plan to drop the IRGC from the list, a step that would have limited practical effect but would anger many US politicians.
Deal still possible
Iran said on Tuesday that it still believes that negotiations to revive the deal can succeed, despite a recent rebuke from the UN nuclear watchdog.
Last week, Tehran condemned as “unconstructive” a move by the International Atomic Energy Agency to censure the country for failing to co-operate with regards to its nuclear programme.
It also disconnected some of its cameras at nuclear sites, a move the agency warned could deal a “fatal blow” to negotiations to revive the nuclear deal.
During a press conference in Tehran with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Mr Amirabdollahian said Iran believed that “negotiations and diplomacy are the best ways to reach the final point of the agreement”.
The nuclear agency's board of governors on Wednesday adopted a resolution censuring Iran for failing to adequately explain the previous discovery of traces of enriched uranium at three sites that it had not declared as having hosted nuclear activities.
Tehran submitted an initiative, before the nuclear agency's move, which had been accepted by the US, Mr Amirabdollahian claimed. However, Washington still moved to submit the resolution censuring Iran.
The US has argued that Tehran's demand that the IRGC be removed from its terrorism blacklist is peripheral to discussions, although it has indicated that the issue could be discussed later.
Mr Amirabdollahian promised that Iran would not abandon its diplomatic outreach through the EU.
Iran “will not distance itself from … diplomacy and negotiations to reach a good, strong and lasting agreement”, he said.
Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
Company%C2%A0profile
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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
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: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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115 Special programme for artists
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Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23
Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2
The five pillars of Islam
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Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
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WITHIN%20SAND
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
