Brett McGurk speaks at the Manama Dialogue. AFP
Brett McGurk speaks at the Manama Dialogue. AFP
Brett McGurk speaks at the Manama Dialogue. AFP
Brett McGurk speaks at the Manama Dialogue. AFP

US will 'stay in Middle East to counter Iranian threats'


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

The US remains committed to maintaining a presence in the Middle East to counter threats from Iran, a top US official in the region said on Sunday.

White House Middle East co-ordinator Brett McGurk told the annual Manama Dialogue in Bahrain he had been asked many times if the US was withdrawing from the Middle East.

“Let me be clear — the US is not going anywhere”, he said at the event, organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

After its hasty departure from Afghanistan, and with the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq still scheduled to go ahead by the end of the year, President Joe Biden’s administration wants to reassure its regional allies that its interests remain aligned with theirs.

“This region is too important, too volatile — Afghanistan was about Afghanistan — it had nothing to do with our commitment here in the region,” Mr McGurk said.

‘We will never allow Iran to go nuclear’

Though the Biden government has named China as its top national security priority, the US is committed to tackling the threats posed by Iran — in particular stopping it from getting nuclear weapons.

Mr McGurk said the US will continue to use diplomacy to achieve this goal, “but we are also prepared to pursue other options should diplomacy fail”.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday said his country would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Describing the regime in Tehran as “an adversary,” Mr McGurk said Washington would use diplomacy to find avenues for de-escalation wherever they exist.

“We are starting with deterrence, diplomacy, de-escalation, we are focusing on what matters, we will protect ourselves and our friends,” he said.

We are not going to get drawn into tit-for-tat exchanges of fire with Iranian-backed proxy groups
Brett McGurk

The US is leading the effort to resuscitate a 2015 deal that placed restrictions on Iranian nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief, which former president Donald Trump abandoned in 2018. The latest rounds of talks to revive the deal are set to begin on November 29 in Vienna. Discussions have been on hold since the election of Iran's new hard-line president in June.

President Ebrahim Raisi is expected to take a tough approach to negotiations.

On the issue of Iran-backed proxy forces in the region, the US was “prepared to respond decisively,” Mr McGurk said.

“We are not going to get drawn into tit-for-tat exchanges of fire with Iranian-backed proxy groups.”

Israel's National Security Advisor, Eyal Hulata, said Iran was the most destabilising force in the region. AFP
Israel's National Security Advisor, Eyal Hulata, said Iran was the most destabilising force in the region. AFP

Israel’s security adviser Eyal Hulata echoed the US official’s warnings, saying Iran was the “most destabilising force in the region”, “threatening civilian life” and “feeding on chaos".

Mr Hulata urged attendees of the conference in Manama to “think how much bolder and dangerous Iran will be with a nuclear umbrella, should it achieve its nuclear ambitions".

The Israeli official said it was time to “deliver a strong and unified message — we will never allow Iran to go nuclear.”

Tehran’s nuclear proliferation is a strategic threat for everyone, he said.

Israel considers Iran an existential threat, and has said that it would act with military force if needed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

The Israeli adviser also addressed Iran’s use of proxy forces in the region.

“Iran deployed proxies on our borders, sponsored militias around the Gulf and elsewhere as agents. It engages in terrorist attacks to attack those who object to its regime,” he said.

Strengthening defences

Mr McGurk said Washington will work to shore up air defences in the region, so that its allies are better able to protect themselves from Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Saudi Arabia, he said, is already able to defeat 90 per cent of drone attacks, but the US “will not rest until it reaches 100 per cent”.

The US is prepared to share “unique US capabilities” to help the kingdom defend itself, he said, without giving further details.

A Patriot missile battery at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in 2020. AP
A Patriot missile battery at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in 2020. AP

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have repeatedly launched cross border attacks on Saudi Arabia using drones and missiles since the coalition intervened in Yemen at the request of the international government in March 2015.

The most recent drone attack was intercepted by the Saudi-led coalition on Friday, when air defences destroyed three drones launched towards the south and intercepted another over Yemen.

The Manama Dialogue takes place each year in Bahrain, an island kingdom off the coast of Saudi Arabia that is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

More than 300 senior government officials from 40 countries, including the US, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, will participate in the three-day security conference.

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed

Based: Muscat

Launch year: 2018

Number of employees: 40

Sector: Online food delivery

Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Like a Fading Shadow

Antonio Muñoz Molina

Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez

Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

Results:

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Al Montaqem, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m | Winner: Daber W’Rsan, Connor Beasley, Jaci Wickham

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m | Winner: Bainoona, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: AF Makerah, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 | Winner: AF Motaghatres, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,600m | Winner: Tafakhor, Ronan Whelan, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Match info

Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')

Southampton 0

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

On sale: now

Price: from Dh195,000 

The biog

Favourite Quote: “Real victories are those that protect human life, not those that result from its destruction emerge from its ashes,” by The late king Hussain of Jordan.

Favourite Hobby: Writing and cooking

Favourite Book: The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran

How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries

• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.

• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.

• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.

• For more information visit the library network's website.

MATCH INFO

Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE

The Lowdown

Kesari

Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra

 

Suggested picnic spots

Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
 
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes 

Tickets

Tickets for the 2019 Asian Cup are available online, via www.asiancup2019.com

SERIES INFO

Schedule:
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
1st ODI, Wed Apr 10
2nd ODI, Fri Apr 12
3rd ODI, Sun Apr 14
4th ODI, Sun Apr 16

UAE squad
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed

Zimbabwe squad
Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura

Major matches on Manic Monday

Andy Murray (GBR) v Benoit Paire (FRA)

Grigor Dimitrov (BGR) v Roger Federer (SUI)

Rafael Nadal (ESP) v Gilles Muller (LUX)

Adrian Mannarino (FRA) Novak Djokovic (SRB)

Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company

MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)

Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports

MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia on October 10

Updated: November 21, 2021, 1:52 PM