Donald Trump withdrew the US in 2018 from a nuclear deal that provided sanctions relief for Iran. Reuters
Donald Trump withdrew the US in 2018 from a nuclear deal that provided sanctions relief for Iran. Reuters
Donald Trump withdrew the US in 2018 from a nuclear deal that provided sanctions relief for Iran. Reuters
Donald Trump withdrew the US in 2018 from a nuclear deal that provided sanctions relief for Iran. Reuters

News

US

Iran told US it isn't trying to kill Donald Trump, reports say

Foreign citizen charged last week with involvement in plot allegedly ordered by IRGC to assassinate US president-elect

The National

November 15, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

Iran informed America in recent weeks that it was not trying to kill president-elect Donald Trump, US media reported on Friday.

In response to a message from President Joe Biden's administration that warned Tehran against making attempts on Mr Trump's life, Iran offered written assurances last month that it was not trying to assassinate the president-elect, The Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported..

The reports cited officials who said the warning to Iran reflected the administration’s public message that it considered threats against Mr Trump a national security priority and that any attempt on his life would be treated as an act of war, the Journal reported.

The news comes after a foreign citizen was charged last week with involvement in a plot, allegedly ordered by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to assassinate Mr Trump. Last summer, the Justice Department charged a Pakistani man with ties to Iran in a murder-for-hire scheme whose targets were believed to be Mr Trump and other US political figures.

The Journal reported that Tehran's letter to Washington was delivered on October 14, nearly a month before Mr Trump won the presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris.

Mr Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt in July and, in the weeks leading up to the incident, US intelligence had warned of an Iran-backed plan to kill the Republican. There is no evidence the gunman had been tasked by Iran to carry out that shooting.

Tehran and Washington were on rocky terms during Mr Trump's first stint in office, with the US pulling out of the 2015 international nuclear deal that promised sanctions relief in exchange for Iran putting limits on its nuclear programme. The US under his leadership then began a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.

In 2020, the Trump administration carried out the assassination of Iranian Quds Force general Qassem Suleimani in Baghdad. Tehran has vowed revenge.

Maj Gen Suleimani's killing was mentioned in Tehran's letter to Washington, the officials told the Journal. The country's UN mission told The National in July that, while it regards Mr Trump as liable over the assassination of the general, it “has chosen the legal path to bring him to justice”.

Iran has also previously described accusations that it was involved in any plot to attack Mr Trump as “unsubstantiated and malicious”. Tehran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently called the allegations a “third-rate comedy”.

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8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 

8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m 

9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m 

10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m  

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
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Visa changes give families fresh hope

Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income

Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.

Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process

In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.

In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.

To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation

 

 

 

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If you go…

Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.

Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days. 

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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

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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

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Updated: November 16, 2024, 11:36 AM
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