The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is “Iran’s premier agent for terrorism” and should be designated as a terrorist organisation, a British Conservative MP and former minister has said.
As talks on resuscitating the Iran nuclear deal broke up in Doha this week, the UK parliament held a debate on the country's role in the agreement.
MPs tore apart the 2015 accord during a session described as the “last opportunity” for them to discuss the matter before its potential return.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Robert Jenrick, a former minister, called on the government to add the IRGC to its list of designated terrorist groups alongside Hamas and Hezbollah.
He claimed reports the US was considering delisting the group from its list of foreign terrorist organisations as a concession to push the deal through would “make a mockery of the efforts that we have made in recent years to proscribe Hamas and Hezbollah if we would be signing up to a deal that legitimises the very organisation that funds Hamas and Hezbollah”.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in 2015 by Iran, the EU, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — China, the US, the UK, France and Russia — and Germany.
In exchange for the rolling back of western sanctions, Tehran agreed to give international inspectors access to key nuclear sites and to put curbs on its programme. Iran insists it is pursuing nuclear development for peaceful purposes.
Opening Thursday’s debate in the House of Commons, Mr Jenrick declared: “Iran stands on the verge of possessing a nuclear bomb. In fact, intelligence suggests that they have sufficient enriched uranium today for at least two nuclear weapons.
“They have progressed far beyond the parameters of the JCPOA, so restoring Iran to the old deal simply doesn’t have any of the benefits we once thought it would.
“The JCPOA’s time has been and gone; the Rubicon has been crossed.”
Mr Jenrick added that “today’s debate could perhaps be the last opportunity to evaluate the merits or otherwise of a return” to the pact, which was hailed as a major accomplishment by negotiators when it was first signed.
However, Foreign Office minister Vicky Ford advised Tehran to “urgently” accept the offer on the table, adding: “There will not be a better one.”
The UK and its allies will “carefully consider all options” if no deal is struck soon and the JCPOA collapses, Ms Ford added.
Former US president Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to pull the country out of the accord. True to his promise, he scrapped Washington’s membership in the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
Talks in Vienna sought to get the US to return and have Iran restore limits on its rapidly advancing nuclear programme, but they have been on pause since March.
It was also confirmed on Thursday that two days of indirect negotiations between the US and Iran in Doha broke up without any sign of a breakthrough.
Ms Ford, concluding the debate on Iran’s nuclear programme, told the House of Commons: “In March 2022, we left Vienna after reaching the end of talks — at that point there was a viable deal on the table, which would return Iran to compliance with its commitments and would return the US to the deal, reversing Iran’s nuclear escalation and lifting US sanctions related to the JCPOA.
“Iran has not accepted that deal and time is running out. Iran should urgently take the offer on the table. There will not be a better one.”
Ms Ford agreed the JCPOA was “not perfect” but said it represented a route for constraining Iran’s nuclear programme.
Tory MP Andrew Murrison, a former Foreign Office minister, said attempts to revive the deal have failed “and now it is comatose”.
“I suppose we shouldn’t turn off the life support entirely, but we have got no need to bust a gut, in my view, trying to revive it,” he told the Commons.
“What we need is a stronger, longer deal. Indeed, with every day that passes, JCPOA becomes less attractive. As Iran’s technical capabilities advance, the original terms become redundant and sunset clauses loom large.”
More on Quran memorisation:
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
SRI LANKA SQUAD
Upul Tharanga (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella
Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana
Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Seekuge Prasanna
Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera
Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay
2019 ASIAN CUP FINAL
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Read more about the coronavirus
The years Ramadan fell in May
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on animal trafficking
The years Ramadan fell in May
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Squads
Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
