An exhibition, calling for an end to executions in Iran, in Trafalgar Square on October 10, 2020 in London, England. The exhibition, held by Anglo-Iranian communities in the UK, marked the World Day against the Death Penalty. Getty Images
Qassem Suleimani, Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General and commander of the Quds Force. A US strike killed the top Iranian commander and the deputy head of Iraq's PMU military force at Baghdad's airport early on January 3, 2019. AFP
A destroyed vehicle on fire following a US strike on January 3, 2020 on Baghdad international airport road in which top Iranian commander Qassem Suleimani was killed along with eight others, including the deputy head of Iraq's powerful PMU paramilitary force. AFP
Iranian people attend a funeral procession for Iranian Major-General Qassem Suleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, in Tehran, Iran January 6, 2020. Reuters
Mourners attend a funeral ceremony for Iranian General Qassem Suleimani. The processions mark the first time Iran honoured a single man with a multi-city ceremony. Not even Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who founded the Islamic Republic, received such a processional with his death in 1989. AP
Rockets launched from Iran against the US military base in Ein-al Asad in Iraq, on January 8, 2020, days after the General Qassem Suleimani was killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad. EPA
One year after Suleimani's killing, Iran refuses to learn its lessons
Instead of ending its aggressive approach to both the US and its neighbours in the Middle East, the regime has chosen to maintain its bellicose attitude
To judge from the wild claims that have been emanating from Tehran, as the country marks the first anniversary of the assassination of Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani, the regime has learnt nothing from the demise of its leader.
From Hossein Salami, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to the country's foreign minister, Mohamad Javad Zarif, key regime figures have been lining up to make provocative New Year statements that will serve only to deepen Tehran's isolation from most of the world.
Speaking at an inspection of Iranian troops stationed on occupied Abu Musa island, Mr Salami warned that Iran is ready to match any aggression by the US with decisive and firm blows, while Mr Zarif accused departing US President Donald Trump of threatening Iran after Washington deployed B-52 strategic bombers to the region ahead of the anniversary of Suleimani's killing at Baghdad airport last year.
Mr Trump authorised the American military build-up after US intelligence officials reported that there were indications that Iran was planning an attack on American interests and allies in Iraq to avenge the killing of the Quds Force head. In addition to sending B-52s to the Gulf, Washington has also deployed submarines equipped with cruise missiles.
Last month, the US accused Iran-backed militias of being responsible for a series of rocket attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad, prompting Mr Trump to threaten Iran directly on Twitter. “We hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq,” the President tweeted. “Some friendly health advice to Iran: if one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over.”
This prompted Mr Zarif to accuse the Trump administration of seeking to provoke a war with Tehran before Mr Trump’s presidency draws to a close later this month.
“Instead of fighting Covid in the US, [Donald Trump] & cohorts waste billions to fly B-52s & send armadas to OUR region,” the foreign minister tweeted. “Intelligence from Iraq indicates plot to FABRICATE pretext for war. Iran doesn’t seek war but will OPENLY & DIRECTLY defend its people, security & vital interests.”
Irrespective of whether there is any truth to the suggestions that Mr Trump is spoiling for a fight with Tehran in the dying days of his administration, there has certainly been a significant escalation of tensions in the region, not least because of Iran’s provocative action over its nuclear programme.
At a time when President-elect Joe Biden has indicated that he wants to revive the controversial nuclear deal with Iran, the regime has responded by announcing that it is now aiming to enrich uranium to 20 per cent, a blatant breach of its undertakings under the nuclear deal and a move which will significantly enhance Iran's ability to acquire weapons grade nuclear material.
The move represents a significant escalation in Tehran’s increasingly contemptuous attitude towards what remains of the nuclear deal, and makes the prospect of the incoming Biden administration being able to re-engage in a constructive dialogue with Iran increasingly unlikely.
On one level, it is easy to understand why key regime figures in Tehran are so keen to start the new year by seeking to intensify their hostile rhetoric towards the US and its allies.
So far as the hardliners are concerned, the Iranian leadership will look back at 2020 as a year to forget. It got off to a disastrous start with the assassination of Suleimani, a close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was personally responsible for overseeing the expansion of Iran's malign influence throughout the Middle East.
In Syria, Suleimani was personally responsible for helping to keep the Assad regime in power, and played a critical role in persuading Russia to launch its military intervention in support of President Bashar Al Assad, a move that proved vital to keeping his regime in power.
In addition, Suleimani was responsible for creating the network of Iranian-sponsored militias in Iraq as part of Tehran’s attempts to exert its hegemony over its political establishment. Suleimani’s other achievements included providing arms and funding to Yemen’s Houthi rebels and helping Hezbollah to become the dominant force in Lebanese politics.
Suleimani’s killing, therefore, represented a significant setback for the hardline supporters of Mr Khamenei, as it deprived the regime of its most effective and accomplished operator in terms of expanding Iranian influence throughout the region.
Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani, head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, gives a speech during a ceremony in Tehran January 1, 2021 as part of commemorations of the killing of his predecessor, Qassem Suleimani in a US attack one year ago. West Asia News Agency via Reuters
An Iranian woman holds a picture of Qassem Suleimani during the commemoration ceremony in Tehran, Iran January 1, 2021. West Asia News Agency via Reuters
Mourners react during the commemoration Qassem Suleimani's assassination. West Asia News Agency via Reuters
A photo of Qassem Suleimani is placed on a chairs during the commemoration of his assassination. West Asia News Agency via Reuters
An image grab taken from a broadcast by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on October 1, 2019 shows Qassem Suleimani speaking during an interview with members of the Iranian supreme leader's bureau in Tehran. IRIB TV / AFP
Ebrahim Raisi, head of Iran's judiciary, gives a speech during the ceremony at Tehran University to mark the one year anniversary of the killing of Qassem Suleimani. West Asia News Agency via Reuters
Guests attend the commemoration ceremony for Qassem Suleimani in Tehran on January 1, 2021. AFP
Qassem Suleimani's daughter, Zeinab, attends the commemoration ceremony. West Asia News Agency via Reuters
Iranian judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi speaks during the ceremony. AFP
Apart from Suleimani’s demise, the regime has also had to contend with the crippling impact of the Trump administration’s sanctions on the Iranian economy, with the rial losing more than half of its value, and both unemployment and inflation running well above 20 per cent.
With a new round of presidential elections due to take place in June, regime hardliners are keen to steer the political narrative in Iran away from their own shortcomings and concentrate instead on blaming the outside world for all their problems. At the same time, the regime is continuing to undertake a number of highly provocative acts that are guaranteed to increase tensions with Washington. For example, apart from increasing uranium enrichment to 20 per cent, it was recently revealed that Hezbollah has doubled the arsenal of advanced guided missiles it keeps trained on Israel.
Consequently, rather than learning any lessons from Suleimani’s demise and ending Tehran’s aggressive approach to both the US and its neighbours in the Middle East, the regime has decided to maintain its bellicose attitude, ensuring that Iran continues to present a threat to the outside world that should be reckoned with.
Con Coughlin is a defence and foreign affairs columnist for The National
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Uefa Champions League, Group C
Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade
Anfield, Liverpool
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
UK’s AI plan
AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
£10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
£100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
£250m to train new AI models
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
