As the protest movement in Iran stretches into its sixth week, its longevity and growing influence is testing US foreign policy.
On Monday, the US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley doubled down on Washington's support for the women-led movement but cautioned that its “policy is not one of interfering to try to foment regime change”.
Speaking to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank, Mr Malley outlined the US government’s approach to the protests, which he said was predicated on supporting “basic human rights”.
He said the US is working to coalesce international support for the movement as well as make sure the world sees Tehran's brutal response to the protests.
The protests come at a complex time in US-Iran ties: Washington has spent the past 19 months pushing for a renewed nuclear deal, but Tehran appears to have stopped co-operating and is continuing its march towards developing a nuclear weapon.
“It's not on our agenda because nothing has changed. We're not going to focus on something that is inert when other things are happening,” Mr Malley said of the deal.
More than 230 people have been killed since the protests started on September 16 following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old student, while in the custody of the country’s morality police.
Amini’s death sparked outrage and inspired women across the country to demonstrate in the streets, often chanting “jin, jiyan, azadi”, which translates to “woman, life, freedom”.
Iranian security forces have cracked down on demonstrators but have been unable to suppress the movement.
The administration of US President Joe Biden has announced sanctions against Iranian officials for the brutal treatment of demonstrators and has also hit the country itself with sanctions for supplying drones and technical assistance to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine.
The US also ordered military strikes in August against Iranian-backed militias in Syria in response to attacks on American forces in the region.
“We’re taking the action that we think is consistent and necessary to promote our values and our national security interests,” Mr Malley said.
Iran has a long history of protests and Washington has been reluctant to throw its support behind any popular uprisings after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, during which the US-supported shah was overthrown.
The US was slow to react to major protests in 2009 and again 2019, but the Biden administration has been vocal in its support of this movement.
“The United States stands with Iranian women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery,” Mr Biden said of the protesters.
Mr Malley was adamant that while the US supported the protests, it was not up to Washington to decide what happens in Iran.
“The future of this popular movement will be decided by the Iranian people, not by the United States, not by an outsider,” he said.
“It will be decided in Iran by Iranians.”
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,200m
6.30pm: Liwa Oaisi Group 2 (PA) Dh300,000 1,400m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
The National selections: 5pm: Flit Al Maury, 5.30pm: Sadah, 6pm: RB Seqondtonone, 6.30pm: RB Money To Burn, 7pm: SS Jalmood, 7.30pm: Dalaalaat
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
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Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m
Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m
Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m
Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m
Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m
TOTAL $485m
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA
First Test: October 2-6, at Visakhapatnam
Second Test: October 10-14, at Maharashtra
Third Test: October 19-23, at Ranchi
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Vikram%20Vedha
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Squads
India (for first three ODIs) Kohli (capt), Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Jadhav, Rahane, Dhoni, Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Umesh, Shami.
Australia Smith (capt), Warner, Agar, Cartwright, Coulter-Nile, Cummins, Faulkner, Finch, Head, Maxwell, Richardson, Stoinis, Wade, Zampa.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
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Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
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Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
