Shortly after Donald Trump promised to intensify economic pressure on Iran at the United Nations General Assembly, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton doubled down on his tough stance, calling Tehran an “outlaw regime”.
Speaking at a conference hosted by United Against Nuclear Iran in New York, Mr Pompeo argued that the Iranian regime has not lived with other nations in peace, naming attacks that Tehran has carried out or attempted to perpetrate in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
“The Iranian regime is more concerned with heavy water than drinking water,” he said, estimating that it provides more than "$100 million each year to terror groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.”
Calling Iran one of the “worst violators of the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolutions,” Mr Pompeo said “it is truly an outlaw regime”.
The State Department’s new Iran Action Group has released a 48-page report that chronicles Iran’s destabilising activities around the world.
But later in the speech and amid reports that the European Union, Russia and China have agreed on a "special purpose vehicle" that would allow countries to deal with Iran while avoiding US sanctions, Mr Pompeo aimed his fire at the Europeans.
“Unfortunately, just last night I was disturbed and, indeed, deeply disappointed to hear remaining parties in the Iran [nuclear] deal announce they are setting up a special payment system to bypass US sanctions. This is one of the most counterproductive measures imaginable for regional global peace and security,” he said.
“By sustaining revenues to the regime you are solidifying Iran’s ranking as (the) number one state sponsor of terror,” he warned.
Mr Bolton echoed this message in his speech.
“We do not intend for our sanctions to be evaded by Europe or anybody else,” he said. But he also ridiculed the EU as "strong on rhetoric, weak on follow through.”
He said that “there will be hell to pay” if Iran attacks the US or its allies.
“According to the mullahs in Tehran, we are 'the Great Satan,' lord of the underworld, master of the raging inferno … If you cross us, our allies, or our partners; if you harm our citizens; if you continue to lie, cheat and deceive, yes, there will indeed be hell to pay” he said.
“Let my message today be very clear: We are watching and we will come after you,” Mr Bolton ended by saying.
Three protesters, one with sign that read “peace with Iran”, interrupted Mr Pompeo’s speech and were ejected from the room.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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