Middle East countries, including Iraq and Saudi Arabia, have reacted with optimism after Iran and the US held a first round of indirect talks in Oman, with the adversaries signalling a rare moment of positivity after years of diplomatic deadlock.
The talks on Saturday included the first face-to-face interaction between the two nations since former US president Barack Obama was in office. Washington and Tehran, which have not had diplomatic relations for more than 40 years, are seeking a new deal on Iran's nuclear programme after US President Donald Trump pulled out of a previous agreement during his first term in office.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi “briefly spoke" face to face after the indirect talks, which lasted for more than two hours on the outskirts of the Omani capital Muscat.
After the meeting, the White House described the discussions as “very positive and constructive”, while conceding the issues concerned “are very complicated”.
“Special Envoy Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome,” the White House said in a statement.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Telegram that both countries held the discussions “in a constructive atmosphere based on mutual respect, through the Foreign Minister of Oman”.
The second round of talks will take place next Saturday, according to the Iranian and US statements.
The stakes of the negotiations could not be higher. Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash air strikes on Iran if a deal is not reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn they could pursue nuclear arms with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
Regional countries have been closely following the talks, aware that their security, stability and economy could be directly affected.
Iraq welcomed the rapprochement and “positive indicators” from the first round of talks. It said “diplomacy and negotiated solutions are the best way to resolve disputes and enhance stability at the regional and international levels”.
The Foreign Ministry said it hoped the talks would “lead to positive results in the near future, contributing to de-escalating tensions and building trust between the two sides, in the interest of the peoples of the region and enhancing security and peace".
Saudi Arabia underlined its support for the rapprochement efforts and for “adopting dialogue as a means to resolve all regional and international disputes”.
It expressed its aspiration that the "outcomes of the Iranian-American talks would contribute to strengthening joint efforts to enhance security, stability and peace in the region and the world".
In the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held talks with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi to discuss the latest developments in the Iran-US talks, state news agency Wam reported.
During the call, Sheikh Abdullah expressed appreciation for mediation efforts undertaken by Oman. He expressed “confidence that Oman’s efforts will succeed in bridging the gap between Washington and Tehran, fostering constructive conditions to rebuild trust, and strengthening initiatives aimed at promoting global peace, security and stability”.
While flying to Miami for a UFC event, Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the talks were “going OK”. “I can’t tell you because nothing matters until you get it done, so I don’t like talking about it but it’s going OK. The Iran situation is going pretty good, I think,” he said.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
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Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
THE DETAILS
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows
Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.
Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.
The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.
After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.
The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.
The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.
But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.
It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.
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