Donald Trump says he wants a nuclear deal with Iran as new sanctions issued


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Despite pulling the United States out of a comprehensive deal covering Iran’s nuclear programme just over a year ago, President Donald Trump said this week that preventing Tehran building a bomb was the main aim of sanctions and pressure.

When he first pulled America from the JCPOA – signed by Iran and world powers in 2015 – Mr Trump and his administration have said that just tackling Tehran's nuclear enrichment was not sufficient and a new deal was needed to cover the Islamic republic's regional policies and support of militias.

On Monday night, Mr Trump said that he believes he could make a deal with Iran.

"I really believe that Iran would like to make a deal, and I think that's very smart of them, and I think that's a possibility to happen," Mr Trump said during a news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

"It has a chance to be a great country with the same leadership," Mr Trump said. "We aren't looking for regime change – I just want to make that clear. We are looking for no nuclear weapons."

In Tehran, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons, which its supreme leader had banned in an edict, adding on Twitter that US policies were hurting the Iranian people and causing regional tensions.

"Actions—not words—will show whether or not that's @realDonaldTrump's intent," Zarif said.

President Hassan Rouhani said in October the United States was seeking "regime change" in Iran, adding that the current US administration was the most hostile that the Islamic Republic had faced in its four decades.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told a press conference on Tuesday that Tehran "does not presently believe in" mediation. He added that he didn’t believe there was the possibility of clashes taking place.

But Mr Mousavi warned that if sanctions relief is not offered Tehran "will with severity take the next steps", meaning it could turn its back on more substantial parts of the 2015 accord.

Mr Trump said that the current sanctions policy was working.

"They were fighting in many locations," Mr Trump said of Iran. "Now they are pulling back because they have serious economic problems."

The US announced new sanctions on Iranian export of industrial metals on Wednesday and threatened further action unless Tehran "fundamentally" changed its behaviour.

An executive order issued by Mr Trump covers Iran's iron, steel, aluminium, and copper sectors, the Islamic Republic's largest non-petroleum-related sources of export revenue and 10 percent of its export economy, a statement from the White House said.

Tensions have risen between Iran and the United States after this month's attack on oil tankers in the Gulf region.

The United States has deployed a carrier strike group and bombers to the and announced plans to deploy 1,500 troops to the Middle East, prompting fears of a conflict.

Trump's national security adviser John Bolton said on Saturday that the United States had "deep and serious" intelligence on threats posed by Iran, without providing details.

Mr Bolton, who has spearheaded an increasingly hawkish US policy on Iran, described recent attacks on tankers off the United Arab Emirates and a pipeline pumping station in Saudi Arabia, as well as a rocket attack in Baghdad's Green Zone, as "manifestations of concern" about Iran.

Iran has distanced itself from the attacks and on Sunday, Mr Zarif said his country will defend itself against any military or economic aggression.

The biog

Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.

Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books

Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella

Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
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Tank warfare

Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks. 

“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.

“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”

Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

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GULF MEN'S LEAGUE

Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2

Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers

 

Opening fixtures

Thursday, December 5

6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles

7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers

7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles

7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2

 

Recent winners

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2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins