The US House of Representatives will vote on four bills on Wednesday aimed at ramping up the pressure on Tehran and its Lebanese ally, Hizbollah.
It comes a few weeks after US president Donald Trump rolled out a new strategy to counter the "fanatical regime" of Iran and announced his decision to decertify the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.
If passed, the four bills would target Iran’s ballistic missile programme, pressure the Europeans to designate Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation, and impose sanctions on the Shiite militant group.
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Read more:
Do business with Iran at your own risk, Tillerson says
US policymakers need to tread carefully over the Lebanese situation
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Voting is expected to begin at 12pm local time (8pm UAE) on Wednesday and go on until 3pm local time. The first bill, known as the “Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act", is sponsored by the chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, Ed Royce, and enjoys bipartisan support. It would clamp down on any outside support for Iran's ballistic missile programme.
Amir Toumaj, an expert on Iran at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, told The National that the resolution "is meant to tighten sanctions on [the] IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) missile programme and disruption of procurement".
Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard was designated a “supporter of terrorism” by the US treasury department on October 13, shortly after Mr Trump’s announcement that he was decertifying the nuclear deal.
The resolution, Mr Toumaj added, “specifically seeks to prevent Iran from undertaking any activity related to nuclear-capable ballistic missiles”, a benchmark that the Trump administration would like to enforce in the nuclear deal.
Next on the agenda, the House will vote on three bills related to Hizbollah sanctions: the first is known as the "Sanctioning Hizbollah’s Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenceless Shields Act"; the second — and most critical — is known as the “Hizbollah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act” (Hifpa), which would target the group’s financial and social network; and the third is a non-binding resolution “urging the European Union to designate Hizbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organisation and increase pressure on it and its members”.
Mr Toumaj said all four pieces of legislation “are expected to have bipartisan support” and are not in violation of the nuclear deal signed with world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Instead, he said, “they express US intent to curb non-nuclear activities, specifically ballistic missiles and Hizbollah — two arenas the Trump administration perceives as serious threats from Tehran”.
The voting coincides with a visit to Washington by Lebanese army chief General Joseph Aoun, who is set to meet with US military commanders, as well as National Security Adviser HR McMaster.
The Lebanese government has expressed concerned about a backlash from the Hizbollah sanctions on the country’s fragile economy. If passed, Hifpa would require the US president to release an annual estimate of the net worth of Hizbollah leaders and backers, including its secretary general Hassan Nasrallah and other influential backers in Lebanon.
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
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Brief scores:
Toss: Northern Warriors, elected to field first
Bengal Tigers 130-1 (10 ov)
Roy 60 not out, Rutherford 47 not out
Northern Warriors 94-7 (10 ov)
Simmons 44; Yamin 4-4
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Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
Community Shield info
Where, when and at what time Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday at 5pm (UAE time)
Arsenal line up (3-4-2-1) Petr Cech; Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal; Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck; Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Chelsea line up (3-4-2-1) Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill; Victor Moses, Cesc Fabregas, N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso; Willian, Pedro; Michy Batshuayi
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte
Referee Bobby Madley
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16, second leg (first-leg scores in brackets):
PSG (2) v Manchester United (0)
Midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).