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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during his meeting with the Iranian Air Force and Army Air Defense. EPA
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Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer speaks during an interview at Beirut's port in August 2020. Reuters
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, meets with Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer in June 2019. Mohamed Al Hammadi/Ministry of Presidential Affairs
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Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer attends the commemorations of the Operation Market Garden 75th anniversary in Ede, the Netherlands, alongside Prince Charles. in 2019. Shutterstock
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Vice President Kamala Harris looks on as President Joe Biden delivers a speech on foreign policy, at the State Department on February 4. AP Photo
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Iran's President Hassan Rouhani chairing a weekly Covid-19 taskforce meeting in the capital Tehran. AFP
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President Joe Biden arrives at the State Department. AP Photo
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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with a group of commanders of the Iranian Air Force and Army Air Defense. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U2DTY72JA43VNMRWYGOJ2NM5XM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e007386203ea15694b9970e63adf4d97b0d78038727e2e3088ea057e7913a33f&width=400&height=225)
President Joe Biden is seen through a camera viewfinder while speaking to State Department staff. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TW4YHUFYUPQ75O2D2BXTU5LQDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=718c73dbc3aea1eecfb555984827d2684565b0e86b50b469e2f8533107b79e9e&width=400&height=225)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during his meeting with the Iranian Air Force and Army Air Defense. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2YUCSFMDZQCLQNYOVEY5B6YOUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=b43fd85d19e3175ba84af91915abe9a8c494de8767b541a89590f144368acb91&width=400&height=225)
Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer speaks during an interview at Beirut's port in August 2020. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TSDTRHEVOLIGWEG6ZQMFZNTCJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d3611229447ce4a0fcea02385b28291e263ff7c6669a8bf378d6000411ac48b1&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, meets with Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer in June 2019. Mohamed Al Hammadi/Ministry of Presidential Affairs
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CCAKGVI3EHECPL3Y5LBHKPQF2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=067785112c794bbe75681ffd52adad39dec468811fe985acc4b79425d6c266ce&width=400&height=225)
Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer attends the commemorations of the Operation Market Garden 75th anniversary in Ede, the Netherlands, alongside Prince Charles. in 2019. Shutterstock
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LKUPS4XPVDZ5YZEY2X7D4LVBMQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ff7c11f611cee2c6eb779545b381d19e9bb7c7c60e54631c2804c44911c4daf&width=400&height=225)
Vice President Kamala Harris looks on as President Joe Biden delivers a speech on foreign policy, at the State Department on February 4. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AWSSXC2KSE7EOS6DWC47H2DZCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=bcc20c800bd64b56750ecd426f3ff7052da3b99845cc6f2e1426e3f6c67ec913&width=400&height=225)
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani chairing a weekly Covid-19 taskforce meeting in the capital Tehran. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VA3XUDB3GNOBVORTND55HBIUYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=59a9464ae68570e44d4624d0e89b84a9b62ffb627e054b7a874aebc19c98346e&width=400&height=225)
President Joe Biden arrives at the State Department. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MTFPPT6YDBKSUGLAJAJXNEZASA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6c6e866f1f9c28dbd23a28bd8c486ba83c1ba3a9a9fce7accbbda904797732b9&width=400&height=225)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with a group of commanders of the Iranian Air Force and Army Air Defense. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U2DTY72JA43VNMRWYGOJ2NM5XM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e007386203ea15694b9970e63adf4d97b0d78038727e2e3088ea057e7913a33f&width=400&height=225)
President Joe Biden is seen through a camera viewfinder while speaking to State Department staff. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TW4YHUFYUPQ75O2D2BXTU5LQDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=718c73dbc3aea1eecfb555984827d2684565b0e86b50b469e2f8533107b79e9e&width=400&height=225)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during his meeting with the Iranian Air Force and Army Air Defense. EPA
UK military envoy John Lorimer warns Iran’s increasing menace will test Biden's review of Middle East options
Training, surveillance and specialist military assistance needed to keep ISIS from regrouping
![Thomas Harding](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F384edce7-d64f-494d-bcc0-406f934ad51d.png?smart=true&auth=8a909847700683429f8bc49fba9592513058d9a433fbdd0e6b812909d2e147c6&width=70&height=70)
Thomas Harding
09 February, 2021
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