US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that Washington was working in more than one way with Arab Gulf partners to offset a growing missile threat from Iran.
And Mr Pompeo warned in a briefing that letting the UN arms embargo expire in October would create instability throughout the Middle East.
He said the US was committed to provide security help for the Gulf as Iran increased its missile capability.
This week, Tehran announced it was building underground missile cities along the Gulf coastline, calling them "a nightmare for Iran's enemies”.
Mr Pompeo said Iran’s missile programme was is in breach of a UN resolution and a critical threat that requires an extension of the UN arms embargo set to expire on October 18.
“We think it’s so important that the world unites to extend the arms embargo that expires just a handful of months from now … that would be tragically dangerous for the region,” Mr Pompeo said.
He said Washington was helping to boost Gulf states' defences by pushing for the embargo to be extended, weapons sales and other ways that are not made public.
Mr Pompeo said there were “things we can do both publicly and otherwise to help provide security in the face of an increasing capability for the Iranians".
He said Iran’s goal were to “ultimately establish missile capability that is robust enough to defeat missile defence capabilities throughout the region and strike in places that are beyond their near neighbourhood".
A UN report released in June found Iran to be the origin of cruise missiles that attacked oil installations in Saudi Arabia last September.
Mr Pompeo mentioned the satellite launches by Iran as another aspect of the missile threat.
“We watched as they continued to build their space vehicle programme," he said.
"They would of course claim it is for civilian purposes to put a commercial satellite up, but the world is smarter than that and realises the programme is deeply connected to their desire to have a longer and longer missile range system.”
The US concerns come as the UN Security Council struggles to renew the five-year arms embargo on Iran.
Russia and China have made it clear that they oppose an extension.
But Gulf states are highlighting the ballistic missile threat they face from Tehran.
“The Iranian national security strategy depends on the use of a wide range of ballistic missiles, delivered from Iran's territory or by Iran's regional proxies,” said Nicholas Heras, the Middle East security manager at the Study of War Institute.
"Iran is at a significant technological disadvantage in military hardware, such as fighter planes, compared to its regional rivals.
"Therefore, Iran uses ballistic missiles that can strike its opponents anywhere on their territory as both deterrence and as a threat that Iran can go on the offensive.”
Mr Heras said intelligence and weapons were key parts of the US assistance to the region.
“The US plays an important role by providing advanced weapons and intelligence gathering capabilities to detect Iran's military advances, and by deploying US forces to the Gulf to send the message to Iran that an Iranian attack on Gulf allies would be like an attack on the US,” he said.
If the UN arms embargo were not extended in October, Mr Heras said the US would most probably work with European countries to co-ordinate a sanctions regime against Iran.
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THREE
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
