Iranian president Hassan Rouhani told parliament on August 17, 2017 that Iran could walk out of the nuclear deal with world powers in the face of continued pressure from the US over its missile programme. Vahid Salemi / AP Photo
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani told parliament on August 17, 2017 that Iran could walk out of the nuclear deal with world powers in the face of continued pressure from the US over its missile prograShow more

US-Iran tensions over nuclear pact cause alarm in Europe



With the war of words between Iran and the United States taking on an increasingly bellicose tone, there is increasing concern across Europe that the nuclear deal overseen by the Obama administration in 2015 is unravelling.

On Tuesday, the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, told his parliament that Donald Trump was “not a good partner” and warned that his country could walk out of the deal — which saw sanctions lifted against the Tehran regime — in a “short time”.

“Those who try to return to the language of threats and sanctions are prisoners of their past delusions,” he said in a televised address. “If they want to go back to that experience, definitely in a short time — not weeks or months, but in the scale of hours and days — we will return to our previous situation very much stronger.

“In recent months, the world has witnessed that the US, in addition to its constant and repetitive breaking of its promises in the JCPOA [the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the official name of the nuclear deal], has ignored several other global agreements and shown its allies that the US is neither a good partner nor a reliable negotiating party,” Mr Rouhani said.

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In response, Washington’s United Nations envoy Nikki Haley said: “Iran cannot be allowed to use the nuclear deal to hold the world hostage. Iran, under no circumstances, can ever be allowed to have nuclear weapons … The nuclear deal must not become 'too big to fail'.”

European countries were key signatories to the agreement, with the UK, France and Germany, as well as Russia and China, putting their names to it.

France’s minister for Europe and foreign affairs, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, said on Saturday during a visit to Tehran that his country would pull out all the stops to ensure the deal would continue.

“France and Iran have been strengthening their relations since the nuclear deal was brokered on July 14, 2015,” Mr Lemoyne said. “Our political dialogue should make it possible to work toward resolving the crises in the Middle East.

“Promotion of co-operation with Tehran is among Paris’s priorities,” he said after his meeting with Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The Russian government has given its continued backing to the deal and criticised new sanctions recently imposed by Washington over Iran's missile development.

“The missile programme budget is basically Iran’s business. It is not prohibited from having this programme,” Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said. “There are no legal bans in UN Security Council resolutions on this issue.”

“I think unilateral sanctions … are irresponsible actions that can hurt and undermine the balance achieved.”

In July, on the second anniversary of the deal, British foreign secretary Boris Johnson said: “The Iran nuclear deal has helped to make the world a safer place by imposing strict limits on Iran’s nuclear programme, in return for the lifting of sanctions. It’s an example of what can be achieved when the international community works together.

“Britain will continue to join with the rest of the international community to ensure the implementation of the agreement is a success, and delivers real gains for global security and nuclear non-proliferation, along with tangible benefits for the Iranian people.”

The British foreign office confirmed to The National on Thursday that "the UK remains fully committed to the nuclear deal and will work closely with the international community to ensure that the deal is a success."

The European Union has also committed to supporting the deal, even in the face of US antagonism towards Iran. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in June that the EU will guarantee that the agreement “continues to be in place and our policy of engagement with Iran will continue”.

The Iranians are keen on the EU acting as a key promoter of the deal. Earlier this month, President Rouhani told the Austrian ambassador to Tehran that “the full implementation of the nuclear deal benefits the EU and the region; therefore, it is necessary that the EU increases its efforts and role in this regard”.

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The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage

Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid 

Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani

Rating: 4/5

The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km

Price: from Dh547,600

On sale: now 

Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe

For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.

Golden Dallah

For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.

Al Mrzab Restaurant

For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.

Al Derwaza

For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup. 

The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont

Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

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Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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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

Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes

Cheat’s nigiri 
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.

Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.

Deconstructed sushi salad platter 
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.

The biog

Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly 

Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo

Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.

Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,

She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.

Directed by Sam Mendes

Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays

4.5/5

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)