Iran tries to mend fences in region

Iran has launched a charm offensive to ease tensions with key regional powers and US allies amid increasingly tough sanctions and growing isolation over its nuclear programme.

The intelligence minister, Heidar Moslehi, made a rare trip to Saudi Arabia to deny "absurd" and "baseless" US claims that Tehran planned to assassinate the kingdom's ambassador to Washington.

Meanwhile the foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, assured Turkey that threats by some Iranian political and military figures to strike at Nato missile bases in Turkey if Iran is attacked by Israel or the US did not represent official policy.

And the foreign undersecretary, Dr Hossain Amirabdullahian, in Abu Dhabi on a tour of Gulf states, said relations with Tehran were excellent. "In many fields the relationship with the UAE has developed, and will continue," he said.

Mr Moslehi, who met Saudi Arabia's crown prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Tuesday, wanted to convince his hosts that the US and Israel are trying to sow discord between Riyadh and Tehran, Iranian officials said.

And Tehran is seeking assurances from Riyadh that it will not pump extra oil to make up for Iran's market share if US and European sanctions affect Iran's petroleum exports.

The Islamic republic knows it cannot confront the West and regional powers at the same time. But Tehran's overtures to its wary neighbours are being blurred by conflicting signals from divisions in Iran's fractious regime.

Mr Salehi told Turkey's state-run Anatolian news agency on Wednesday that those who made the "irresponsible and senseless" threats against Nato bases had been warned.

"The official view of the Islamic republic of Iran towards Turkey is based on deep brotherhood and friendship," he said. "Other statements are considered personal views."

Only a day before, however, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, denounced Turkey's model of "secular Islam".

It was a version of western liberal democracy that was unacceptable for countries that are going through an "Islamic awakening", he said.

Iran, which is competing with Turkey and Saudi Arabia for influence in a changing Arab world, says the Arab uprisings are inspired by its 1979 Islamic revolution.

But it suppressed mass pro-democracy protests that erupted after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election as president in 2009. And despite its vast oil wealth, Iran is struggling to control double-digit inflation and unemployment while Turkey's economy is booming.

Even though Mr Moslehi's trip to Saudi Arabia was apparently at the behest of Ayatollah Khamenei, it did not stop others in the supreme leader's camp from criticising his attempts to ease strained relations with the kingdom.

Hossein Shariatmadari, an aide to the ayatollah and editor of Iran's hardline Kayhan newspaper, wrote on Wednesday: "Unfortunately, it must be said that our diplomatic apparatus unintentionally has given the collapsing Saud family a gift it badly needed."

The Iranian regime has shown similar divisions over the recent storming of the British embassy in Tehran, which has badly soured relations with Europe.

Iran's foreign ministry criticised the brief embassy takeover and expressed regret, while some in Ayatollah Khamenei's camp hailed it as a well-deserved blow to the "colonial old fox".

Tehran and Ankara have mutually beneficial trade relations, and Turkey has opposed Washington's uncompromising stance on Iran's nuclear programme, arguing for a diplomatic solution to the protracted standoff instead of sanctions.

But the Arab Spring is stoking regional tensions. Turkey, along with Saudi Arabia, has condemned Syria's brutal crackdown on its opposition while Iran is a staunch supporter of the president Bashar Al Assad's regime, Tehran's only Arab ally.

Saudi Arabia accused Iran of fomenting unrest in Bahrain this year and angered Tehran by sending troops into the emirate to help to crush protests.

Despite its public bravado, Iran appears jittery about the possibility of an attack on its nuclear facilities: Tehran said on Wednesday it may move some of its uranium enrichment work to more secure locations.

Influential voices in Washington, meanwhile, have warned that the US, if it relies solely on compulsion, could stumble into a catastrophic war with Iran.

Zbignew Brzezinski, who was national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s, warned on Wednesday: "If we slide into a conflict with Iran, in this or that fashion, the consequences for us all will be disastrous, disastrous on a massive scale and also globally at the same time."

mtheodoulou@thenational.ae

Closing the loophole on sugary drinks

As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.

The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.

Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.

Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category

Not taxed:

Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.

if you go

The flights

Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.

The tour

Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.

While you're here

Johann Chacko: Why Maldives has become a theatre for US-China rivalry

C Uday Bhaskar: What is India's Indo-Pacific strategy?

C Uday Bhaskar: The 'Asian Century' depends on China and India working together

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

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THE BIO

Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking

Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest

Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.

Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.

Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.

Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.

Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.

Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia

Five personal finance podcasts from The National

To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes

Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth

What is a portfolio stress test?

What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested?

How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies

Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai

Gulf Under 19

Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy

Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2

Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina

Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School

RESULT

Huddersfield Town 1 Manchester City 2
Huddersfield: Otamendi (45' 1 og), van La Parra (red card 90' 6)
Man City: Agüero (47' pen), Sterling (84')

Man of the match: Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town)