US Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, presents Iranian weaponry recovered from the battlefield, at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington. Erik S Lesser / EPA
US Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, presents Iranian weaponry recovered from the battlefield, at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington. Erik S Lesser / EPA

A stash of ammunition shows the grave risk Tehran poses to regional security



The latest display of Iranian weapons accumulated from various battlefronts in the Middle East where Tehran's forces are engaged can leave no one in any doubt about the grave risk the regime poses to the region's security.

One of the fundamental principles of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution was that the regime is committed to exporting its controversial form of Islamic government throughout the Muslim world.

In particular, the Iranians are keen to expand their leverage in the Arab world, particularly in those countries, such as Iraq and Bahrain, which have significant Shia populations.

Now, any doubts critics might have entertained about the scale of the threat Iran poses will have been answered by the disturbing array of weaponry on display in Washington.

One of the main reasons the Trump administration has taken a hard line with Iran over the controversial nuclear deal is Washington’s concerns about Iran’s continued meddling in the affairs of neighbouring states.

The administration argues that if Iran is really serious about complying with the spirit of the nuclear deal it negotiated with former US president Barack Obama in 2015, then it would not be funding and supporting aggressive military operations in countries like Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.

Iran has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In Yemen, for example, where attempts to get peace talks underway appear to be making progress in Stockholm, Tehran has repeatedly denied having any military involvement.

Now, the evidence produced in Washington by David Hook, the US special representative for Iran, resoundingly proves otherwise, showing that, far from having nothing to do with conflicts in places such as Yemen, the Iranians are one of the main suppliers of the weaponry that has resulted in a major military escalation in the country’s civil war.

The weaponry put on display included Sayyad-2C surface-to-air missiles, AK47s and smaller arms, as well as the debris of a drone said to have been used in the Yemen conflict.

Details of bomb-making equipment used by terrorist groups to try to destabilise the government in Bahrain were also on display. The main focus of Mr Hook's presentation, though, was the destabilising effects of meddling in Yemen, Iraq and Syria were having on the region. He also highlighted Iran's lesser-known – in some western capitals, at least – involvement in the long-running Afghan conflict.

And he gave a stark warning that the level of Iran’s aggressive military involvement in these various conflicts had now reached the point where one false move could provoke an all-out regional war.

“We are one missile attack away from a regional conflict,” said Mr Hook. The supply of Iranian missiles to Houthi rebels, such as the one recently used in the attack on Riyadh international airport, was “increasing the lethality and reach of these weapons to deepen its presence throughout the region. The same kind of rockets here today could tomorrow land in a public market in Kabul or at an international airport,” he said.

Mr Hook also highlighted the administration’s growing concern about Iran’s increased involvement in Iraq, where Tehran has recently intensified its support for militias who are trying to undermine the country’s recently appointed prime minister Abdul Mahdi, a pragmatist who is said to be resisting attempts to influence government policy.

One of Washington's main concerns, said Mr Hook, was "credible US evidence that Iran is transferring ballistic missile technology to Shia militias in Iraq."

Another concern, one that has recently been raised by British military officials working in Iraq, is Iran’s increased use of Shia hit squads in Iraq to silence critics of meddling in the country.

The most high-profile victim to date has been Adel Shaker Al Tamimi – a close ally of former Iraqi prime minister Haider Al Abadi – who is said to have been assassinated by the Quds force in September.

A Shia Muslim and joint Canadian-Iraqi national, Al Tamimi, 46, was involved in attempts in Baghdad to heal the schism between the country's Shia and Sunni communities and also worked as a low-key envoy between Iraq and neighbouring Arab states, such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

There is also compelling evidence that assassins have targeted opponents across Iraq’s political spectrum.

Other victims of hit squads are said to include Shawki Al Haddad, a close ally of the Shia firebrand Moqtada Al Sadr, a former protege of Tehran who recently adopted a more nationalist agenda.

Al Haddad was murdered in July after accusing the Iranians of election fraud. Meanwhile Rady Al Tai, an adviser to Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, Iraq's leading Shia cleric, was the subject of a failed assassination attempt in August after he called for a curbing of outside influence on the new government.

Earlier this week the US House of Representatives passed a bill designed to target Iran’s support for Iraqi militias. But as the latest evidence of malign meddling in the region shows, far stronger measures might be required to persuade Tehran to mend its ways.

Con Coughlin is the Daily Telegraph’s defence and foreign affairs editor

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19

July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan

Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US

Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK

match info

Chelsea 2
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MATCH INFO

FA Cup fifth round

Chelsea v Manchester United, Monday, 11.30pm (UAE), BeIN Sports

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4

Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.

A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.

Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.

A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.

On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.

The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.

Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.

The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later. 

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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)

War

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor

Rating: Two out of five stars 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
AL%20BOOM
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Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

Company%20Profile
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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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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Name: Mariam Ketait

Emirate: Dubai

Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language

Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown

Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures

Getting there

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.

The stay

Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.

Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit

As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor

Power: 843hp at N/A rpm

Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km

On sale: October to December

Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)

Race results:

1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min

2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec

3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now

The specs

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm

Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh130,000

On sale: now