Miguel Arias Canete (R), Commissioner of the European Commission in charge of Climate Action and Energy, and Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi shake hands during a joint press point in Brussels on November 26, 2018. AFP
Miguel Arias Canete (R), Commissioner of the European Commission in charge of Climate Action and Energy, and Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi shake hands during a joint press point in Brussels on November 26, 2018. AFP
Miguel Arias Canete (R), Commissioner of the European Commission in charge of Climate Action and Energy, and Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi shake hands during a joint press point in Brussels on November 26, 2018. AFP
Miguel Arias Canete (R), Commissioner of the European Commission in charge of Climate Action and Energy, and Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation o

EU faces uphill battle to circumvent US sanctions on Iran


  • English
  • Arabic

Iran's nuclear chief warned the European Union on Monday of "ominous" consequences if it did not follow through with action to keep the economic benefits of the 2015 nuclear agreement alive.

Ali Akbar Salehi said the European Union was "doing its best" after the United States pulled out of the deal and re-imposed sanctions on Iranian oil exports this month, even as the bloc's efforts to salvage trade ties have floundered.

But Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, told reporters in Brussels: "If words are not turned into deeds, then ... it is very ominous, the situation would be unpredictable."

The EU and other remaining parties to the accord - China and Russia - hope to convince Tehran to respect the curbs that the deal placed on its nuclear programme, despite Washington's pull-out and the sanctions that aim to force the rest of the world to stop buying Iranian oil.

Striving to circumvent those sanctions, EU nations plan to facilitate non-dollar transactions with Iran. A so-called Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) would act as a barter system offsetting Iranian exports with purchases of EU goods.

__________

Read more:

Iran threatens missile strikes on Al Dhafra and other US bases

Iran developing new missile capabilities, US researchers say

US sanctions five Iranians over ballistic missile deliveries to Yemen’s Houthis

US sanctions on Revolutionary Guards causes Iran investment rethink

__________

“If it [the Iran deal] breaks down no sides will benefit, this deal is complementary to the non-proliferation regimes, it could give it support but if it breaks down then the situation will certainly change and everything will be in turmoil,” said EU energy commissioner Arias Canete, adding that the EU needed to “keep it alive”.

“The deal is crucial for the security of Europe, of the region and the entire world to ensure that the Iranian nuclear program remains peaceful.”

Speaking on the sidelines of talks on civilian nuclear cooperation, EU diplomats admitted they could only do so much to urge firms to brave the risk of US penalties and do business with Iran.

"What we are doing now is a lot of symbolism," said one EU diplomat involved in talks with Iran.

"The SPV isn't going to be a game changer," said another EU official. "The prospects are pretty grim."

No EU country has yet agreed to host the SPV and progress in creating it is likely to be slow, despite the political will in Paris, Berlin and London.

"This is a hugely complex and unique undertaking, technical work has been advancing," Europe's Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said at a joint briefing with Salehi.

"Nobody should have any doubt on the level of political ambition and determination by the member states involved, in particular, France, Germany and the United Kingdom to swiftly operationalise the SPV."

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

The specs

Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: nine-speed

Power: 542bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: Dh848,000

On sale: now

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

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Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

Company%20profile
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Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net

Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.

Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.

A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.

Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20profile
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TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

MATCH INFO

Jersey 147 (20 overs) 

UAE 112 (19.2 overs)

Jersey win by 35 runs

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

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Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now