Talks about reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are moving forward in Vienna slowly but with some growth, the US has said.
On Tuesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said negotiations had shown "modest progress" and delegates were hoping to build on that in the coming week.
The eighth round of the talks, which started after Iran's hardline president Ebrahim Raisi took office, has been focused on lifting crippling sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.
Former president Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and reinstated sanctions on Iran's economy.
A year after Mr Trump's decision, Iran abandoned the terms of the agreement, enriching uranium well above the agreed limits and increasing its installation of advanced centrifuges.
Iran has maintained that its goal at the talks is sanctions relief, while the US has been rigid in its stance against lifting them until Tehran curtails its nuclear programme.
Iran's chief negotiator Ali Bagheri on Tuesday held a meeting with the EU's Enrique Mora and the chief negotiators from China and Russia and also the heads of the EU, Germany, UK and France delegations.
China and Russia have taken centre stage since the nuclear talks restarted, working to co-ordinate liaisons between all the original signatories. On Monday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman struck a positive tone when discussing the talks at his press briefing, saying his country had detected a new "realism" from the West.
Sanctions relief 'at the heart' of negotiations
Meanwhile, Mr Price outlined Washington's stance at his briefing on Tuesday, saying “sanctions relief and the steps that the United States would take when it comes to sanctions – together with the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take if we were to achieve a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA – that’s really at the heart of the negotiations that are ongoing in Vienna right now."
Despite the slow progress, the arrival of South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun on Tuesday was being taken by some as a positive sign for the ongoing talks. South Korea has been holding nearly $7 billion of Iran's assets frozen due to sanctions.
Washington has yet to approve a release of the funds.
Over the course of the past few years, Iran has repeatedly demanded that its funds be released.
Before the start of talks with the Biden administration, analysts had suggested that the release of Iran's frozen assets could be a good-faith move by the US administration.
While no major breakthroughs have been announced so far negotiators have said they hope to have talks wrapped up by the end of January or early February.
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SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
More on animal trafficking
The biog
Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb
Age: 57
From: Kalba
Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge
Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
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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.
