World

Biden administration defends Iran prisoner exchange deal

Five Americans will be freed from Iran on Monday, senior Biden administration officials said, in exchange for releasing five Iranians from US custody and unfreezing $6 billion in Iranian funds abroad.

The wrongfully detained Americans include Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, and two other Americans who wish to remain private, a senior Biden administration official told reporters ahead of the exchange.

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Siamak’s mother, Effie, and Morad’s wife, Vida, will also be on the plane out of Tehran after having been previously banned from leaving Iran.

The seven individuals will head to Doha and depart “as quickly as possible” before going to Washington to be reunited with their families.

The Pentagon will offer services to families needing help to reintegrate into normal life.

In return for the safe return of the Americans, five Iranians will be granted clemency.

According to the official, they have all been charged or convicted with non-violent crimes. Two of the five have been in prison, and their sentences were “about to expire,” the official said. The other three were awaiting trial and had not yet been convicted.

Two of the Iranians, who do not have legal status in the US, are expected to return to Iran. As for the other three, a second senior administration official said their status “may still need some time to play out.”

The first official said it was a “complicated endeavor.”

No US funds being released

The US officials were quick to bat down criticism for the deal, mainly from Republicans and former Trump administration officials.

Critics have said the release of $6 billion will only encourage Iran and other US adversaries to continue hostage-taking for ransom.

The money Iran will now have access to comes from South Korea for oil it had purchased from Iran years ago, some of which took place under the Trump administration, said the first official.

After being moved from South Korea in a restricted account, the money will now be in another restricted account in Qatar “where they will be available for a very limited category of humanitarian transactions.”

The US officials said this includes food, medicine, medical devices and agricultural products.

They also said there would be a stringent monitoring process to ensure the funds were not used for any sanctionable purchases.

Iranian officials have repeatedly claimed that they will be able to use the money for whatever they want.

But the US officials said they would take action to “lock up” the funds if Iran tried to divert them for anything other than the humanitarian purposes agreed to.

“No money ever goes to Iran,” the first official suggested.

The money is also Iranian, and “these are not taxpayer dollars,” the official added. “No funds into Iran, ever, nor do any funds get paid to Iranian companies or entities.”

Both officials defended the deal when asked what message this could send Russia, which is detaining multiple Americans, or other countries.

“I do think we start with the question of what message would it send to Americans if they were wrongfully detained in a place like Evin prison for years and had no hope of coming home?” the second official said in response to a question from Al Arabiya English.

No sanctions being lifted, only more issued

Next month, a UN arms embargo on Iran is set to expire. European countries had previously considered letting it run out as part of efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, which the US withdrew from under the previous administration.

Asked by Al Arabiya English what the Biden administration’s stance was on the embargo expiring, the first official said the US government was not lifting any sanctions, even as part of the prisoner exchange.

The US issued sanctions waivers as part of the deal to allow the funds in South Korea to be transferred to Qatar, outside the US financial system. “But that was for that limited purpose to allow the funds to transfer through some European banks ultimately on their way to Doha,” the official said.

Addressing the October arms embargo expiration, the official said Washington would not lift any sanctions and was in active discussions with European partners to ensure that sanctions remain enforced, “particularly when it comes to Iran’s missile and drone program.

The official also said the US was absolutely committed to ensuring Iran never acquired a nuclear weapon.

The official said this week’s deal does not change the US relationship with Iran. “Iran is an adversary and a state sponsor of terrorism. We will hold them accountable wherever possible.”

Increased US troop presence in Middle East

The officials said the increased US force posture in response to Iranian and Iran-backed attacks on US troops in the Middle East has been effective.

They pointed to no attacks on US forces in Syria in over six months when the US retaliated for strikes that injured US troops and killed one US contractor.

No attacks on US troops in Iraq in 13 months have been recorded, the officials said.

The official said that Washington has also increased its interdiction posture to deter weapons shipments into Yemen, adding that the world has witnessed one of the “quietest periods” since the war started in 2014.

“We are focused daily on a policy for the Middle East that combines deterrence with diplomacy to reduce the risk of Iran’s aggression while de-escalating conflicts through diplomacy wherever possible and contributing and building a more stable, integrated, prosperous Middle East region.”

Five US citizens detained in Iran are ‘in full health’: Raisi

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM