Iran signalled yesterday that it would reconsider a deal to defuse the increasingly tense stand-off over its nuclear programme - while simultaneously demonstrating its military capabilities with new war games in the Arabian Gulf.
The contrasting messages were typical of an opaque regime, torn by internal dissent, that is both paranoid and defiant, analysts said.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, agreed "in principle" to Brazilian mediation to resurrect an eight-month-old, United Nations-brokered uranium swap accord, his website said.
Further "technical details" are to be discussed when Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, visits Tehran on May 15, Iranian media reported.
A sceptical West, however, will suspect that Tehran's renewed interest in the stalled deal is an attempt to split the UN Security Council, where the United States, Britain and France are pressing for a fourth set of sanctions against Iran, experts said.
Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian-born analyst based in Israel and co-author of The Nuclear Sphinx of Tehran, said: "It's organised chaos, a smokescreen to keep the Americans guessing what Iran's going to do.By involving the Brazilians, they're trying to push away the prospect of sanctions."
Mr Ahmadinejad's purportedly new interest in a nuclear compromise follows his acrimonious exchange of insults with the US at Monday's opening of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) conference in New York.
Such public bluster was expected, however. What happened behind the scenes of the month-long global gathering would be more important, analysts said.
Under October's nuclear fuel swap accord - initially accepted and then rejected by Iran - Tehran would send the bulk of its low-enriched uranium stockpile to Russia and France for further refinement into fuel rods that Tehran says it needs urgently for a medical research reactor.
The deal is essentially a confidence-building measure that would delay by several months Tehran's potential to build a nuclear bomb, nuclear analysts have said.
The accord broke down when Iran insisted that the swap took place on its territory and only in small, phased amounts.
The key to a breakthrough is whether Iran agrees to the fuel exchange taking place in a third country, such as Brazil or Turkey. Both oppose new sanctions against Iran, are non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, and have good relations with Tehran and Washington.
"Iran is going for the biggest player in the Islamic world, which is Turkey, and the biggest economy in Latin America, which is Brazil," Mr Javedanfar said in an interview.
Barack Obama, the US president, would "be in trouble" if he rejected a deal that required Iran to export 75 per cent of its low-enriched uranium to Brazil, where it would be monitored by nuclear inspectors, Mr Javedanfar said.
The West suspects Iran's nuclear programme is aimed at creating weapons, while Tehran insists it is designed only to produce clean energy, enabling it to conserve its oil deposits for export.
The tentative diplomacy is taking place against the backdrop of Iran's second display of muscle-flexing in less than a month in the Arabian Gulf.
The war games, due to last eight days, are being conducted by the regular Iranian navy to demonstrate Iran's "defensive and deterrent" power to the country's "enemies", military commanders said.
The manoeuvres come days after Iran's Revolutionary Guard staged similar exercises in the Strait of Hormuz - through which about 40 per cent of the world's traded oil and gas leaves the Gulf region.
Iranian officials repeatedly have made clear that the message behind such war games is that Iran would choke off the narrow bottleneck if attacked by the US or Israel.
Most analysts, however, played down the significance of Iran's latest show of military bravado.
Richard Dalton, Britain's former ambassador to Tehran, said: "There's some political signalling involved ? about national strength and preparedness and ability to retaliate, but then one hears such things in all their speeches."
Scott Lucas, a professor of American Studies at Birmingham University in the UK, agreed. "I don't think the Americans are going to take this as anything more than a posture." But it was unclear whether such posturing was aimed at an external or domestic audience, he said.
The Iranian regime is bracing for June's first anniversary of Mr Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election. After a subdued profile since February, Iran's opposition's figureheads have in recent weeks become more defiantly outspoken than ever.
The war games help the regime to "stoke up the idea that all of Iran's problems are due to foreign instigation rather than an internal issue", Professor Lucas said. "At the same time, it projects the notion of strength to their own people."
@Email:mtheodoulou@thenational.ae
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ILT20%20UAE%20stars
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELEADING%20RUN%20SCORERS%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1%20Nicholas%20Pooran%2C%20261%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E2%20Muhammad%20Waseem%20(UAE)%2C%20248%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E3%20Chris%20Lynn%2C%20244%3Cbr%3E4%20Johnson%20Charles%2C%20232%3Cbr%3E5%20Kusal%20Perera%2C%20230%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBEST%20BOWLING%20AVERAGE%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E(minimum%2010%20overs%20bowled)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E1%20Zuhaib%20Zubair%20(UAE)%2C%209%20wickets%20at%2012.44%3Cbr%3E2%20Mohammed%20Rohid%20(UAE)%2C%207%20at%2013.00%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E3%20Fazalhaq%20Farooqi%2C%2017%20at%2013.05%3Cbr%3E4%20Waqar%20Salamkheil%2C%2010%20at%2014.08%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E5%20Aayan%20Khan%20(UAE)%2C%204%20at%2015.50%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E6%20Wanindu%20Hasaranga%2C%2012%20at%2016.25%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7%20Mohammed%20Jawadullah%20(UAE)%2C%2010%20at%2017.00%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
New schools in Dubai
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
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Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
The specs
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
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5-litre%2C%20twin-turbo%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E410hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E495Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Estarts%20from%20Dh495%2C000%20(Dh610%2C000%20for%20the%20F-Sport%20launch%20edition%20tested)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Schedule:
Friday, January 12: Six fourball matches
Saturday, January 13: Six foursome (alternate shot) matches
Sunday, January 14: 12 singles
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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Chelsea 2 Burnley 3
Chelsea Morata (69'), Luiz (88')
Burnley Vokes (24', 43'), Ward (39')
Red cards Cahill, Fabregas (Chelsea)
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.0%20twin-turbo%20inline%20six-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E600Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh400%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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Pots for the Asian Qualifiers
Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
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The struggle is on for active managers
David Einhorn closed out 2018 with his biggest annual loss ever for the 22-year-old Greenlight Capital.
The firm’s main hedge fund fell 9 per cent in December, extending this year’s decline to 34 percent, according to an investor update viewed by Bloomberg.
Greenlight posted some of the industry’s best returns in its early years, but has stumbled since losing more than 20 per cent in 2015.
Other value-investing managers have also struggled, as a decade of historically low interest rates and the rise of passive investing and quant trading pushed growth stocks past their inexpensive brethren. Three Bays Capital and SPO Partners & Co., which sought to make wagers on undervalued stocks, closed in 2018. Mr Einhorn has repeatedly expressed his frustration with the poor performance this year, while remaining steadfast in his commitment to value investing.
Greenlight, which posted gains only in May and October, underperformed both the broader market and its peers in 2018. The S&P 500 Index dropped 4.4 per cent, including dividends, while the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index, an early indicator of industry performance, fell 7 per cent through December. 28.
At the start of the year, Greenlight managed $6.3 billion in assets, according to a regulatory filing. By May, the firm was down to $5.5bn.
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
