Qatar wants to capitalise on the prisoner swap deal it mediated between the US and Iran by seeking to establish common ground between the nations regarding Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Russia’s war in Ukraine may have dominated discussions at the UN General Assembly so far, but Iran’s nuclear ambitions continue to worry the West.
Tehran has steadily enriched more uranium and supplied drones to Russia’s military.
A nuclear deal with Iran remains a distant prospect five years after former US president Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 pact that eased sanctions in return for restrictions on Tehran's nuclear programme.
US President Joe Biden has faced Republican criticism for unfreezing $6 billion of Iran’s assets in the prisoner swap deal.
Qatar is pressing both sides to engage in more talks and reach an understandings, three regional sources said.
Such agreements would aim to slow Tehran’s uranium enrichment and ensure more international monitoring, as well as curbing the activities of Iran’s proxy militias in the region.
The deals would also seek to halt Iran’s drone exports. In return, some US sanctions on Iranian oil exports would be eased.
Officials in Doha said its delegates would hold separate meetings with Iranian and US officials at UNGA in New York this week.
One source said those meetings would include discussing uranium enrichment and Iranian drones.
The idea of further talks aims to prevent an escalation in tension rather than a nuclear agreement.
Qatar helped to forge the detainee deal with shuttle diplomacy between Iranian and US negotiators staying in separate hotels in Doha.
On Monday, when the detainee swap took place, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken left the door open to diplomacy on Iran's nuclear problems, which he described as “perhaps the number one issue of concern”.
Washington is "not engaged" in indirect talks with Iran "but we’ll see in the future if there are opportunities", he said.
Two Iranian sources said there would be indirect meetings between Tehran and Washington in New York that could pave the way for talks on a nuclear “understanding”.
They said Iran never shut the door to nuclear diplomacy.
“Considering the upcoming US elections, it is possible to reach an understanding that will involve issuing waivers on banking and oil sectors that would allow Iran to export its oil freely and get its money back via the banking system," another Iranian source said.
Currently, the practice is barred by sanctions.
On Sunday, when asked whether there would be indirect talks with Iran at the UN General Assembly, a senior US administration official said “absolutely not”.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
THE%20SWIMMERS
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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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
TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES
June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15 (First Test)
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24 (Second Test)
July 8: New Zealand v Lions (Third Test) - kick-off 11.30am (UAE)
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
India cancels school-leaving examinations
