Enrichment facilities at Iran's Natanz site, where operations are central to its nuclear programme. Tehran insists its nuclear power is for civilian applications only. AFP
Enrichment facilities at Iran's Natanz site, where operations are central to its nuclear programme. Tehran insists its nuclear power is for civilian applications only. AFP
Enrichment facilities at Iran's Natanz site, where operations are central to its nuclear programme. Tehran insists its nuclear power is for civilian applications only. AFP
The US and Iran are preparing for high-level talks in Oman on Saturday. The negotiations are a revival of efforts to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons programme, which it denies seeking, in exchange for easing of sanctions that have taken a heavy toll on its economy.
A 2015 deal between Tehran and six world powers – the US, Russia, China, France, the UK and Germany – came to nothing after President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018.
2013 - 2019: Deal made, then broken
November 2013: Iran and the six powers announce an interim agreement that temporarily curbs Tehran's nuclear programme and unfreezes some Iranian assets, setting the stage for negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear accord.
April 2015: A framework nuclear deal is announced, outlining long-term restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme and the removal of many international sanctions.
Officials involved in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, from left, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, EU Minister for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, Tehran's Atomic Energy Organisation chief Ali Akbar Saleh, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, US Secretary of State John Kerry and American Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. Getty Images
July 14, 2015: World powers and Iran announce a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement.
May 2018: Mr Trump, in the second year of his first term, unilaterally withdraws the US from the nuclear agreement, calling it the “worst deal ever”.
August 2018: The Trump administration begins to reimpose sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the nuclear accord, targeting a range of sectors from carpets and pistachios to gold and commercial aircraft. This is part of the "maximum pressure" strategy.
November 2018: The US re-enforces the most onerous sanctions that were lifted under the deal, targeting Iran’s banking and oil sectors.
April 2019: Mr Trump designates Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organisation, the first time the US has blacklisted part of another nation’s military in this way.
May 2019: Iran announces it will begin breaching the accord, setting a 60-day ultimatum for Europe to compensate for American-led sanctions before it begins enriching uranium to higher levels.
June 25, 2019: Mr Trump imposes new sanctions on supreme leader Ali Khamenei and his associates.
July 1, 2019: Iran announces it has exceeded the nuclear deal’s curbs on its low-enriched uranium stockpile.
September 3, 2019: The US sanctions Iran’s civilian space agency, alleging the programme is cover for testing ballistic missile technology.
September 7, 2019: Iran begins spinning advanced gas enrichment centrifuges prohibited under the 2015 deal.
November 6, 2019: Iran injects uranium gas into centrifuges at its underground Fordow plant.
2020: Suspected sabotage and a new US president
Joe Biden was elected US president in November 2020. AP
April 22, 2020: The IRGC launches its first satellite into space, revealing what experts describe as a secret military space programme.
July 2020: An explosion at a centrifuge production plant at Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. Iran blames the blast on Israeli sabotage.
October 2020: A decade-long UN arms embargo on Iran that banned it from purchasing foreign weapons expires as scheduled under the nuclear deal, despite American objections.
November 2020: Joe Biden wins the US presidential election.
2021: IAEA oversight weakened
January 4, 2021: Iran begins enriching uranium up to 20 per cent and seizes a South Korean-flagged oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.
February 23, 2021: The International Atomic Energy Agency loses access to its surveillance cameras, as well as data from its online enrichment monitors and electronic seals amid a standoff with Iran. Tehran pledges to hold on to the tapes and give them back when granted sanctions relief.
April 6, 2021: Iran and the US begin indirect negotiations in Vienna over how to restore the nuclear deal.
April 11, 2021: A second attack on the Natanz nuclear site, with suspicion again falling on Israel.
April 16, 2021: Iran begins enriching uranium up to 60 per cent – its highest purity so far and a technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.
June 19, 2021: Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline protege of Mr Khamenei, is elected Iran's president.
December 1, 2021: The IAEA says Iran has begun feeding 166 advanced IR-6 enrichment centrifuges at Fordow.
December 15, 2021: The IAEA and Iran reach a deal to reinstall cameras damaged at the Karaj nuclear facility, although inspectors' access to video is restricted.
2022: Opportunities lost
March 12, 2022: Nuclear talks in Vienna break off without an agreement as Russia demands guarantees that its ties with Tehran be exempted from western sanctions over its war in Ukraine.
May 11, 2022: The European Union sends its envoy for the nuclear talks to Tehran, as negotiations hit a deadlock over Iran’s demand that Washington lift its terrorism designation of the IRGC.
June 8, 2022: IAEA board of governors censures Iran for failing to provide answers on man-made traces of uranium found at three undeclared sites. Iran disconnects two IAEA surveillance cameras.
June 9, 2022: Iran begins disconnecting 27 IAEA surveillance cameras at the country’s nuclear sites, as it prepares to install more IR-6 centrifuges at Natanz.
June 28, 2022: Iran and the US begin a series of indirect talks in Qatar over the nuclear deal.
August 4, 2022: Negotiators from Iran, the US and the EU hold indirect talks on a tentative deal, but it falls apart. France, Germany and Britain later say Iran “has chosen not to seize this critical diplomatic opportunity”.
November 17, 2022: The IAEA censures Iran for failing to co-operate with its safeguards investigation.
2023: Iran's proxies spark rise in regional tensions
February 23, 2023: Iran directly acknowledges an accusation attributed to international inspectors that it enriched particles of uranium to 84 per cent purity for the first time. The issue ultimately is settled, but puts new pressure on negotiators.
October 7, 2023: Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip storm into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. This begins the most-intense war yet between Israel and Hamas. Iran, which has armed Hamas, offers support to the militants. Regional tensions spike.
2024 - 2025: Return of Trump
Donald Trump was re-elected as US president in November 2024. AP
June 5, 2024: The IAEA board of governors censures Iran for failing to co-operate fully with the agency.
June 14, 2024: The IAEA says Iran has started up new cascades of advanced centrifuges and plans to install others after facing criticism over its nuclear programme.
November 2024: Mr Trump wins the US presidential election.
April 7, 2025: Mr Trump makes a surprise announcement that the US and Iran will begin talks on Tehran's nuclear programme.
April 9, 2025: Iran welcomes US investors and offers nuclear assurances in major shift of tone.
UAE results Lost to Oman by eight runs Beat Namibia by three wickets Lost to Oman by 12 runs Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
TRAINING FOR TOKYO
A typical week's training for Sebastian, who is competing at the ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon on March 8-9:
Four swim sessions (14km)
Three bike sessions (200km)
Four run sessions (45km)
Two strength and conditioning session (two hours)
One session therapy session at DISC Dubai
Two-three hours of stretching and self-maintenance of the body
