Iran will partially withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers amid increased economic pressure triggered by US sanctions that were reimposed when President Donald Trump abandoned the agreement last year.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran will give 60 days for signatories to return to negotiating financial and oil deals or it will begin to press ahead with its nuclear ambitions.
Wednesday's move is the latest in a long period of rising tensions between it and Washington.
Here is a timeline of events:
July 14, 2015: Nuclear deal agreed
Iran nuclear deal framework agreed with several world powers: the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China after 17 days of negotiations. Under the framework, Iran will reduce its nuclear facilities in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.
March 2016: Trump vows to dismantle deal if he becomes president
Presidential candidate Donald Trump says his number one priority is to dismantle the “disastrous deal” with Iran. He frequently refers to the agreement as the “worst deal ever” while campaigning.
January 2017: Iran missle testing
Iran tests a medium-range ballistic missile, prompting the now President Trump to warn Iran it has been “put on notice” for the act.
July 2017: First sanctions under Trump
President Trump warns countries not to do business with Iran at the G-20 Summit. The administration renews the agreement eight days later, but then proceeds to unveil a series of non-nuclear sanctions against Iran.
January 2018: Trump threatens to withdraw
President Trump threatens to withdraw from the agreement if “flaws” are not addressed.
April 2018: European leaders try to persuade Trump
Both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel visit the White House to try and persuade Trump to stick with the deal.
May 8, 2018: Trump announces plans to withdraw
President Trump announces the United States plans to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and re-impose economic sanctions.
November 2018: Iran sanctions reimposed
The Trump administration announces the reinstatement of all US sanctions which had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, with the exemption of eight oil-buying nations which are granted waivers. The US also adds 700 people and entities to its Iran blacklist.
December 2018: US pressure on ballistic tests
Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, says the US "won't stand" for Iran's ballistic missile tests, which comes after Iran admitted a "significant" medium-range ballistic missile test, appearing to breach a UN resolution. Iran's Revolutionary Guard launch war games near the Strait of Hormuz, a day after its boats shadowed the US aircraft carrier John C Stennis through the strategic waterway.
January 2019: EU trade looks to avoid Iran sanctions
The UK, Germany and France create a mechanism for non-dollar trade between Iran and the bloc, enabling the trade of medicines and food to avoid US sanctions on Iran amid its worst economic crisis in almost 40 years.
February 2019: EU warns Iran over missile testing
The EU warns Iran over the progression of its ballistic missile testing and behaviour in the region, saying it is "gravely concerned" over the state's missile activities. President Trump's State of the Union address singles Iran out as the "world's leading state sponsor of terror". And Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, responds by saying talks with the US can only "bring harm". Later in the month, US Vice President Mike Pence demands European powers withdraw from the Iran deal, and Iran launches a new cruise missile in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the US and Europe to express concerns over the move.
March 2019: Iran to challenge US sanctions
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Iran will file a legal case against US for sanctions, days before the US imposes more, ordering sanctions on 25 people and entities for supporting Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
April 2019: US designates Iran's elite guards a terror group
An official says the US is considering the imposition of additional sanctions, perhaps in May. Days later, it designates the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organisation – a move declared to be "vicious" by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Washington later also fails to renew sanctions waivers for the eight countries who were allowed to continue importing Iranian oil – the move is aimed at reducing the country's oil exports to zero. Countries who continue buying Iranian oil will face US sanctions.
May 1: 'All US troops in region terrorists'
Iran designates all US troops in the Middle East as terrorists.
May 4: US will renew key waivers
The US announces it will renew several key waivers that will allow Iran to keep operating a limited civilian nuclear programme. The EU says it is concerned by the decision to revoke some sanctions waivers and extend others for a short period. Iran vows to boost oil exports.
May 6: USS Abraham Lincoln heads to region
The US sends a bomber task force to the Middle East in response to a "credible threat" from Iranian forces.
May 7: EU warns Iran will breach deal
The EU warns Iran is poised to breach the nuclear deal, and says it will reimpose sanctions if Tehran abandons parts of the agreement signed in 2015.
May 8: Iran announces a partial withdrawal from the deal
Director: Nag Ashwin
Starring: Prabhas, Saswata Chatterjee, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Shobhana
Rating: ★★★★
Frida
Director: Carla Gutierrez
Starring: Frida Kahlo
Rating: 4/5
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Top 10 most competitive economies
1. Singapore
2. Switzerland
3. Denmark
4. Ireland
5. Hong Kong
6. Sweden
7. UAE
8. Taiwan
9. Netherlands
10. Norway
FINAL SCORES
Fujairah 130 for 8 in 20 overs
(Sandy Sandeep 29, Hamdan Tahir 26 no, Umair Ali 2-15)
Sharjah 131 for 8 in 19.3 overs
(Kashif Daud 51, Umair Ali 20, Rohan Mustafa 2-17, Sabir Rao 2-26)
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
US tops drug cost charts
The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.
Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.
Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.
The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.
High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
Brief scores
Barcelona 2
Pique 36', Alena 87'
Villarreal 0
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
WHY AAYAN IS 'PERFECT EXAMPLE'
David White might be new to the country, but he has clearly already built up an affinity with the place.
After the UAE shocked Pakistan in the semi-final of the Under 19 Asia Cup last month, White was hugged on the field by Aayan Khan, the team’s captain.
White suggests that was more a sign of Aayan’s amiability than anything else. But he believes the young all-rounder, who was part of the winning Gulf Giants team last year, is just the sort of player the country should be seeking to produce via the ILT20.
“He is a delightful young man,” White said. “He played in the competition last year at 17, and look at his development from there till now, and where he is representing the UAE.
“He was influential in the U19 team which beat Pakistan. He is the perfect example of what we are all trying to achieve here.
“It is about the development of players who are going to represent the UAE and go on to help make UAE a force in world cricket.”
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Nomad Homes
Started: 2020
Founders: Helen Chen, Damien Drap, and Dan Piehler
Based: UAE and Europe
Industry: PropTech
Funds raised so far: $44m
Investors: Acrew Capital, 01 Advisors, HighSage Ventures, Abstract Ventures, Partech, Precursor Ventures, Potluck Ventures, Knollwood and several undisclosed hedge funds
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Roger Federer's 2018 record
Australian Open Champion
Rotterdam Champion
Indian Wells Runner-up
Miami Second round
Stuttgart Champion
Halle Runner-up
Wimbledon Quarter-finals
Cincinnati Runner-up
US Open Fourth round
Shanghai Semi-finals
Basel Champion
Paris Masters Semi-finals
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Bedu
Started: 2021
Founders: Khaled Al Huraimel, Matti Zinder, Amin Al Zarouni
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI, metaverse, Web3 and blockchain
Funding: Currently in pre-seed round to raise $5 million to $7 million
Investors: Privately funded
