UK £2 Issue 211, Year 5 June 23, 2019 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com What to expect from Bahrain meeting Refugees in MENA Pages 6,18 Pages 5-6,11 Iraq’s mysterious fires Page 3 US mulls ‘measured’ strikes as Iran prepares to break nuclear limits ► According to analyst Roland Popp, Iran has only two options left: to remain patient and hope that Trump would not be re-elected next year “or war.” Thomas Seibert being fired. It was unclear if attacks on Iran might go ahead later, the newspa- Istanbul per said, nor was it known whether Trump had changed his mind or he Gulf region is sliding whether his administration had be- towards war as the United come concerned about logistics or States considers “meas- strategy. T ured” strikes against Iran Iranian officials told Reuters that while Tehran threatens to retaliate, Tehran had received a message from officials said. Trump through Oman warning that Iran’s announcement to break a US attack on Iran was imminent. limits set by the international nu- Tehran said Iran would retaliate clear deal is making it more difficult if the United States attacked. The for mediators to find a solution and IRNA news agency quoted Mohsen irritating European powers. Baharvand, a senior Iranian Foreign Reports from Washington said Ministry official, as saying the Unit- that although initial plans for re- ed States would “receive a recipro- taliatory strikes were abandoned at cal response whose consequences the last minute, the administration are unpredictable.” of US President Donald Trump was The military escalation came af- still considering a “measured” mili- ter Tehran signalled it was ready to tary response after Iran shot down surpass limits set by the 2015 nu- Suspended strikes. Iranians walk past a mural painting along the wall of the former US Embassy in a US unmanned aerial vehicle over clear deal, formally known as the Tehran, June 22, 2019. (AFP) the Strait of Hormuz. Washington Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action said the drone was flying in inter- (JCPOA). national airspace but Iran claimed it The Atomic Energy Organisation to exert pressure on Washington to possible settlement mechanism if enrich uranium or even reopen the had breached its border. of Iran said Tehran was prepared to loosen the screws somewhat.” discussions with the European Un- plutonium path, they will lose the Trump said in a news interview enrich uranium to a higher level if “It is both a sign of a loss of pa- ion fail. moral high ground, force the Euro- June 21 that the initially planned Europe did not step in. The agency tience on the Iranian side and of a Concern about a military confron- peans back into Washington’s lap strikes were aborted because of said Iran would exceed limits under gradual reassertion of a more hawk- tation has increased since attacks on and also make it impossible for the wariness about Iranian casualties. the accord on stockpiles of enriched ish approach,” Popp wrote in re- two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman Chinese and Russians to offer much uranium as early as June 27. sponse to questions. June 13 and on four tankers off the help,” Popp wrote. US President Tehran’s steps could mean the French Foreign Minister Jean- United Arab Emirates May 12, both Options for Iran to solve the crisis Donald Trump end of the 2015 nuclear deal, whose Yves Le Drian, speaking after a near the Strait of Hormuz, a major politically are decreasing, Popp said. fate has been in doubt since the cabinet meeting in Paris attended conduit for global oil supplies. The “The sad fact is that there is no way United States left the agreement by German Foreign Minister Heiko United States and its regional ally, out even for a well-meaning and last year. Maas, said France and Germany Saudi Arabia, blamed Iran for the skilled Iranian strategist,” he wrote. “We were cocked & loaded European countries want to save would increase efforts to reduce incidents. Iran has denied respon- Bowing to US demands, which to retaliate last night.” the JCPOA because they see it as the tensions but conceded time was sibility. call on Iran to end enrichment ac- best opportunity to keep Iran from running out and the risk of war Ted Deutch, a Democrat and a tivities and ballistic missile prolif- building a nuclear weapon but they could not be ruled out. member of the House Committee eration as well as to stop support “Ten minutes before the strike are facing an uphill task because of “There is still time and we hope on Foreign Affairs, said Trump’s for terrorist groups such as Hezbol- I stopped it, not proportionate Washington’s pressure on Iran and all the actors show more calm. “maximum pressure” campaign “is lah and the Houthis, among other to shooting down an unmanned Tehran’s determination to abandon There is still time but only a little increasing the chances of miscalcu- things, was out of the question for drone,” Trump said. the agreement if Europe does not time,” he said. lation, which then would bring the Tehran, Popp said. “We were cocked & loaded to re- find a way to shield its Iran trade Recent visits by Maas and Japa- United States and Iran closer to a Iran had only two options left, he taliate last night,” Trump also wrote from US sanctions. nese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to military conflict.” added: to remain patient and hope on Twitter. Roland Popp, a security analyst Tehran failed to break the deadlock. The United States may not be that Trump would not be re-elected The New York Times quoted a focusing on Middle Eastern affairs, Britain, France and Germany plan the only side in the conflict risk- next year “or war.” senior administration official as said: “Some people in Iran think a new push to keep Iran in the nu- ing miscalculation. Popp pointed saying US warplanes took to the air that waving the nuclear card will clear deal but they may be nearing to “a basic fault in the Iranian stra- Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly and ships were put in position for a create panic in European capitals, the end of the diplomatic road, dip- tegic calculus” that could end up correspondent. retaliatory attack before an order to moving governments there to either lomats told Reuters. Iran said it was strengthening Iran’s adversaries. stand down without any weapons challenge the US sanctions threat or in talks with Russia and China on a “If the Iranians resort to sizeably P2,15 Jordan’s Jerash Festival hopes to be summer draw despite row over artists’ pay Roufan Nahhas boud said he would boycott the fes- in addition to the participation of handicrafts, food products and the East, carries the flag as the main tival in support of his compatriots. 25 Jordanian folklore groups from other traditional Jordanian items. and leading attraction for summer “I am supporting my colleagues various governorates, poetry re- The 34th Jerash Festival is sched- festivities in Jordan. Amman in their decision. The Jordanian citals and exhibitions showcasing uled for July 18-28 and organisers Artists Association showed an un- said they hope to “restore the lo- espite its high ambitions, appreciative attitude towards our cal community and visitors’ confi- A number of Jordanian the Jerash Festival, Jor- work. They offered me $1,130 to dence in the festival and boost its artists are boycotting the dan’s leading summer at- participate in the festival while artistic and cultural appeal.” festival, complaining of ill D traction, is facing a boy- offering (visiting) Arab singers The festival will include new pay compared to non-local cott by Jordanian artists for what $70,000. It is unacceptable and il- activities such as a film festival, Arab performers. the performers say is poor manage- logical,” Abboud said. during which 25 movies will be ment and poor pay. Jerash Festival Executive Direc- screened, and the “Jerash Festival The festival previously faced Singers Rami Shafeeq, Ghada Ab- tor Ayman Samawi, in a statement, Lights” programme. harsh criticism from the public and basi, Haitham Amer and Tawfiq Al said: “The budget allocated for Jor- Taking place in the ancient city’s media but this year “things are go- Dalo announced their boycott after danian artists has been doubled, Greco-Roman theatres, 48km north ing the right way,” journalist Majdi rejecting organisers’ offers, which reaching around $36,600, while of Amman, the Jerash Festival had Tell said. the performers said were “degrad- (visiting) Arab artists will receive a humble start in 1981 when it was “There were some ups and downs ing,” compared to fees paid to non- about $373,700 in total, which con- founded by Queen Noor. It quickly but it seems the festival has finally local Arab performers. firms the importance of the Jorda- gained popularity, attracting large found a way to be more attractive Shafeeq, who has a wide fan base nian artists’ presence and partici- numbers of locals and visitors from and well-organised with a host of at home and in Arab countries, said: pation.” ‘Unfair treatment’. Jordanian the Gulf region. interesting activities and an ‘A list’ “There should be a fair treatment The statement referred to the singer Rami Shafeeq is The festival had a 4-year inter- of local and Arab artists,” Tell said. between Arab and Jordanian art- local participation as “excellent” among Jordanian performers ruption but was revived in 2011 and ists.” with two nights dedicated to Jorda- boycotting the Jerash Festival. today Jerash, once known as Gerasa Roufan Nahhas is a journalist Jordanian singer Suleiman Ab- nian artists on the southern stage Roufan Nahhas and referred to as the Pompeii of based in Jordan.