China approached UAE for possible bilateral free trade deal, UAE minister says
China approached the United Arab Emirates for a possible bilateral free trade deal, UAE's Trade minister Thani Al Zeyoudi said on Wednesday, after an announcement of the launch of EU-UAE talks for a similar agreement.
Since 2021, the UAE has initiated a raft of bilateral trade, investment and cooperation deals - called Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements - to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and bolster long-term growth prospects.
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Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump says Iran ‘slowwalking' as Khamenei opposes nuclear proposal
US President Donald Trump accused Tehran on Wednesday of 'slowwalking' on a nuclear deal, after Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the latest proposal from Washington was against Iran's national interest. The longtime foes have held five rounds of talks since April to thrash out a new accord to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018, but sharp differences remain over whether Tehran can continue to enrich uranium. On Saturday, Iran said it had received 'elements' of the US proposal through Omani mediators, the details of which have not been publicly disclosed. 'The proposal presented by the Americans is 100 percent against' notions of independence and self-reliance, Khamenei said in a televised speech, invoking ideals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. 'Independence means not waiting for the green light from America and the likes of America.' Iran's enrichment of uranium has emerged as a major point of contention. Trump said on Monday his administration would not allow 'any' enrichment, despite Tehran's insistence it is its right under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin who 'suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran.' 'It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!' Trump said. Low-level enrichment Khamenei said enrichment is 'key' to Iran's nuclear program and that the United States 'cannot have a say' on the issue. 'If we have 100 nuclear power plants but don't have enrichment, they will be of no use to us,' because 'nuclear power plants need fuel' to operate, he said. The New York Times reported Tuesday that the US proposal includes 'an arrangement that would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium at low levels' as the US and other countries 'work out a more detailed plan intended to block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon.' It said the proposal would see the United States facilitating 'the building of nuclear power plants for Iran and negotiate the construction of enrichment facilities managed by a consortium of regional countries.' Iran has previously said it is open to temporary limits on its enrichment of uranium, and is willing to consider the establishment of a regional nuclear fuel consortium. But it has stressed that such a consortium is 'in no way intended to replace Iran's own uranium enrichment program' Iran's chief negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said in a Wednesday post on X: 'No enrichment, no deal. No nuclear weapons, we have a deal.' Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set in the 2015 deal but still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead. 'Less than satisfactory' The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in its latest quarterly report last week that Iran had further stepped up its production of highly enriched uranium. In a separate report, it also criticized 'less than satisfactory' cooperation from Tehran, particularly in explaining past cases of nuclear material found at undeclared sites. The reports came ahead of a planned IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna later this month which will review Iran's nuclear activities. Washington and other Western governments have continued to accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapons capability. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes only. The 2015 deal provided Iran with relief from international sanctions in return for UN-monitored restrictions on its nuclear activities. Trump reimposed US sanctions when he quit the agreement in 2018 and has since tightened them with secondary sanctions against third parties who violate them. Britain, France and Germany, the three European countries who were party to the 2015 deal, are currently weighing whether to trigger the sanctions 'snapback' mechanism in the accord. The mechanism would reinstate UN sanctions in response to Iranian non-compliance – an option that expires in October. Iran has criticized the IAEA report as unbalanced, saying it relied on 'forged documents' provided by its arch foe Israel.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Pakistani PM reiterates gratitude to Trump, Gulf nations for India ceasefire
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday thanked US President Donald Trump and Gulf countries for helping defuse Pakistan's tensions with India following an armed conflict between the nuclear-armed nations last month. Trump announced he had helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan on May 10 after the worst fighting between the two countries since 1999. Following weeks of tensions, India and Pakistan pounded each other with artillery, fighter jets, missiles and drones in May before agreeing to cease hostilities. Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also engaged both Indian and Pakistani officials throughout the conflict to help defuse tensions. '[US] President [Donald] Trump has shown, beyond a ray of doubt and imagination, that he is a man for peace,' Sharif said at a ceremony at the US embassy in connection with the upcoming American Independence Day. 'He is a man for promoting peace and beneficial business needs. He is a man who is against escalation,' he added. Days after the ceasefire agreement was announced, Trump said he used trade to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan. Sharif noted Trump had advised both countries to promote trade and investments instead of fighting each other. The Pakistani premier appreciated Trump's 'outstanding contribution' to broker the ceasefire. The Pakistani premier hoped the ceasefire would last between the two countries and lead to increased trade and investment. 'I hope and pray to God Almighty that this will become a long, lasting ceasefire on which we can build an edifice of investments, trade, pollution and so on so forth,' he said. The Pakistani premier also appreciated the role played by Middle Eastern countries in resolving the dangerous conflict. 'And here, obviously, I'd like to mention the role of our friendly and brotherly countries in the Gulf, in the Middle East, who proactively coordinated with us and supported President Trump's genuine efforts,' Sharif said. Sharif will travel to Saudi Arabia on a day-long visit to the Kingdom on Thursday, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said. The Pakistani premier will thank the Saudi leadership for its solidarity and support to Pakistan throughout the India standoff, Dar said.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Red Cross chief declares Gaza ‘worse than hell on earth'
LONDON: The situation in Gaza has become 'worse than hell on earth,' the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross has said. 'Humanity is failing in Gaza,' Mirjana Spoljaric told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Wednesday. 'We cannot continue to watch what is happening.' The ICRC, a global organization assisting people affected by conflict, has about 300 staff in Gaza. It runs a field hospital in Rafah that was swamped with casualties in recent days after witnesses described Israeli troops opening fire on crowds trying to access food aid. Spoljaric said that the situation in the territory was 'surpassing any acceptable legal, moral and humane standard.' 'The fact that we are watching a people being entirely stripped of its human dignity should really shock our collective conscience.' "The fact that we are watching people being entirely stripped of their human dignity should really shock our collective conscience." Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President, shared with @BowenBBC about the dire situation for civilians in Gaza and made a call for leaders to act now — ICRC (@ICRC) June 4, 2025 She called on world leaders to do more to bring the conflict to an end because the consequences would haunt them and 'reach their doorsteps.' Israel's devastating military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 54,000 people since October 2023, mostly women and children. The offensive was launched after a Hamas-led attack on Israel killed 1,200 people and seized dozens of hostages. Spoljaric said that while every state had a right to defend itself, there could be 'no excuse for depriving children from their access to food, health and security.' She added: 'There are rules in the conduct of hostilities that every party to every conflict has to respect.' International condemnation of Israel has increased in recent weeks after its military pushed to take full control of Gaza after severing all food and aid supplies to the territory's population. Late last month, some aid deliveries resumed after Israel set up a new aid system that bypassed the UN and is now run by a newly formed US organization. Operations at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's three aid delivery sites were paused on Wednesday after dozens of Palestinians were killed by gunfire near one of the sites.
