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Suleimani assassination will continue to echo – inside Iran and beyond

IAN BLACK
It is too early to say what will be the long-term impact of President Donald Trump’s dramatic decision to assassinate Major-General Qassem Suleimani of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. But Tehran’s belated admission that it was indeed responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian passenger aircraft, and the deaths of the 176 people who were on board, may turn out to be some kind of historic turning-point.
Nearly three days elapsed between the first reports of the crash, close to Imam Khomeini International Airport, and the announcement that Flight 752 had in fact been targeted by IRGC air defence personnel who feared it was a US cruise missile. That followed Iranian strikes against two US bases in Iraq in retaliation for the Suleimani killing. No American or Iraqi personnel were injured and little damage was done.
Iran’s response was cautious. Initial claims that 80 US servicemen had died on the bases were untrue – and clearly intended for internal consumption. In terms of international public opinion Tehran was helped by Trump’s extraordinary threat to attack its “cultural heritage” - which, as was widely pointed out – would be a crime under international law.
Pundits who assessed that Suleimani’s death was a “Franz Ferdinand moment” – a reference to the Sarajevo assassination of 1914 that marked the start of the first world war – looked embarrassingly wrong. Iran’s measured, almost symbolic retaliation, which was communicated in advance to the Iraqi government, seemed carefully calibrated. It was a clear sign that, already facing crippling US sanctions and serious internal unrest, it did not want to go to war with the greatest power on earth.
Tehran’s categorical denial that it was responsible for the disaster of Flight 752 was, however, extremely damaging. The eventual finding that it was caused by “human error” was described by President Hassan Rouhani as an “unforgiveable mistake” – fuelling speculation that his language may have been aimed as much at IRGC hardliners as a way of appeasing a horrified international community.
Several warning signs appeared – both domestic and international. Amir-Kabir University in Tehran saw protests against the IRGC where students deliberately avoided ritually stepping on American and Israeli flags. Iranians took to social media to ask why the Ukrainian plane had been allowed to take off at a time of heightened tension. That seriously undermined the official narrative suggesting that patriotic Iranians were united in response to Suleimani’s death.
For one Iranian intellectual, this was the “Chernobyl moment” of the Islamic Republic. “The tragic incident itself and the lies and deception were all clear signs of incompetence.” Going forward, predicted Bijan Khajehpour, “either there will be significant structural and governance reforms or the regime will collapse.”
Abroad, the admission of responsibility was welcomed as the right thing to have done, though Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, was criticized for having still implied that “US adventurism” was to blame. Ukraine, Canada and Germany called for an international investigation into the crash and the payment of compensation to the families of the victims – 82 Iranians, Canadians and others.
On a cautiously optimistic note Iran’s confession may open up the way for a wider dialogue, promoted by Europeans, that could ensure the survival of the 2015 nuclear agreement and ease US sanctions. Still, the arrest of the British ambassador to Tehran – at a vigil for the victims of the disaster that turned into an anti-regime protest – did not augur well.
The UK foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, warned that Iran was at a “crossroads moment” where it could “continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.”
In Arab countries where forces under Suleimani’s command were deployed, reactions to his death were largely positive. Independent observers saw him correctly as the spearhead of the Iranian state who was personally complicit in supporting Bashar al-Assad in Syria and serving as the patron of Iraqi Shia militias that fed the Sunni radicalism and resentment from which Isis benefited.
It still seems unlikely that Trump authorized Suleimani’s killing as a part of a wider strategy. But it makes sense to assume that the threat to the US embassy in Baghdad reminded him of the 1979 Tehran hostage crisis and the assault on US consulate in Benghazi in 2012.
Of course it remains to be seen whether Iran will retaliate against US or allied targets in future, though the repercussions of the Ukrainian plane tragedy will make it harder to do that. On balance the president’s decision may have added, albeit inadvertently, to his long-standing policy of “maximum pressure.” In the words of Ryan Crocker, a former US ambassador to Iraq: “Qassem Suleimani was many things, almost a unique individual. Nobody is irreplaceable, we all say, but he may be pretty close.”
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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