DOHA // Arabian Gulf states have cautiously welcomed Tehran’s overtures to the region, just over a week after it concluded an interim deal with Western countries on its nuclear programme.
The Iran foreign minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, visited Kuwait, Oman and Qatar this week and repeatedly called for joint efforts to resolve issues and promote regional stability.
Both sides acknowledge that there are obstacles to improving ties. Gulf countries are seeking reassurances from Iran over its nuclear programme as well as its regional role, particularly in Syria, where Tehran backs the regime of Bashar Al Assad.
But Gulf officials also expressed optimism about the possibility of moving forward.
“All the region’s countries are keen to have constructive cooperation for the sake of the security and stability of this region,” Kuwait’s acting prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, said during Mr Zarif’s visit.
Meanwhile, Mr Zarif said on his Facebook page that he was open to visiting Saudi Arabia for talks, something that would be “beneficial for both countries, the region and the Muslim world”. He said he also hoped to travel to the UAE.
Iran’s overtures to the region follow a landmark agreement between Tehran and Western countries that would curb Iran’s nuclear enrichment in exchange for limited sanctions relief. Gulf states have welcomed the interim deal as an initial step to addressing concerns over the nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Tehran has indicated it will seek to use the deal as an opportunity to renew international ties, particularly in the region. And on each stop of Mr Zarif’s Gulf trip, he emphasised an aim to rebuild trust with his country’s neighbours.
Speaking in Kuwait on Sunday, he said he hoped to open a “new chapter” of relations with the Gulf. In an unannounced visit to Doha on Monday, Mr Zarif reiterated his intention to work for improved ties, Iranian media reported.
“Anything that can lessen the tensions with Iran is a good thing,” said Michael Stephens, a Doha-based analyst at the Royal United Services Institute.
Analysts say that despite the shift in tenor, Gulf states remain concerned about Iran’s role in the region. Tehran strongly backs the Syrian regime, as well as its ally, the Lebanese Shiite militia Hizbollah. The Gulf Cooperation Council has accused Tehran of meddling in Yemen, Bahrain and elsewhere.
“The main question is, does this [nuclear deal] encourage Iran to start interfering in the Gulf’s business,” said Mr Stephens.
Despite Mr Zarif’s assurances, for example, an Iranian official yesterday reiterated his country’s claim to three UAE islands. The chairman of the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, described the islands, which Tehran illegally occupies, as an “inseparable” part of Iran, the Fars news agency reported.
The civil war in Syria is another major point of disagreement. While Tehran has supported the government of Mr Assad, Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia have backed the opposition and denounced Hizbollah’s involvement on behalf of the regime.
Speaking to Qatari network Al Jazeera in Doha, Mr Zarif argued for a political solution in Syria and denied charges that it has backed sectarian elements in the country.
“We believe that we need, all of us, to cooperate with each other to in fact contain the spread of sectarian divide in the region.”
Gulf countries will be looking for evidence of Iran’s goodwill in coming weeks, to complement its rhetorical charm offensive, analysts said.
“Diplomatically, it’s the right thing to do to welcome the [nuclear] deal,” said Abdullah Al Manai, a columnist and political analyst for the Bahraini daily Al Akhbar Al Khaleej. “But looking at it from a strategic perspective, a deal with Iran … will cause everybody to recalculate their positions in the region and internationally.”
* With additional reporting from Agence France-Presse
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
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Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
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2-3 on penalties
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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MATCH INFO
Everton v Tottenham, Sunday, 8.30pm (UAE)
Match is live on BeIN Sports
The five pillars of Islam
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
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