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The Cunning Fox: Britain and Iran

Iran, Straw recounts in The English Job (subtitle: Understanding Iran and Why It Distrusts Britain), is the only country in the world that still thinks that the UK is a global superpower. “To the Iranians, however, it’s not a joke.” Suspicion and paranoia about foreign interference are the enduring legacy of the troubled relations between the two countries. He finds Iran simultaneously fascinating, infuriating and perplexing.
Straw’s 2001 visit came in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on America – and before the US invasion of Afghanistan. Tehran condemned the attacks and also provided “much valuable intelligence” in return for US information on Al-Qaida leaders who had fled to Iran. But President George Bush’s speech, in which he included Iran in his famous “axis of evil,” only benefitted the hardliners in Tehran, he argues.
Even then he was aware of the strong feelings Iranians harbour about Britain’s role. It was seen as the “old colonial fox” that had taken advantage of their country’s weakness in the 19th century. It occupied part of it during and after the second world war. Britain took part in the coup against the democratically-elected Prime Minister Mossadegh in 1953, supported the Shah and supplied weapons to Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war.
Soon afterwards Straw represented Britain when it tried, along with France and Germany – acting as the E3 – to engage Iran on the sensitive question of its nuclear programme. Efforts ended when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (“on a different planet from the rest of us”) became president and were only revived under the Obama administration after 2009.
The British embassy in Tehran, with two separate compounds, is still one of the largest and best known in the capital. The US embassy – still referred to in Persian as the “nest of spies” - is now a museum commemorating its seizure and the subsequent hostage crisis during the revolution.
Inspiration for the book came long after Straw ended his official role. In 2015 he went on holiday to Iran with his wife and two friends. They were followed and harassed by members of the Basij militia. It was indeed a holiday to remember – but not for relaxing reasons. He calls it “forced conscription into a thriller.”
The Basij handed out a petition: “Although it is in our tradition as Iranians to welcome guests, this ‘welcome’ gesture does not apply to you!” it began. “The people of Iran do not have good memories about you and the British regime. “You know better than us about the crimes and the …plots that were orchestrated by your country against the people of this land.”
Straw reflects interestingly on the gap in perceptions between the two sides: “These days there is no collective memory in Britain that we, with the Soviets, ran Iran for almost five years. But the memory in Iran is fresh, and it is everywhere,” he writes. The US led the coup against Mossadegh - a defining moment of 20th century Iranian history. But “it would and could not have happened at all but for us,” he admits frankly. “It was an English job – and we are still living with the consequences.”
Britain’s role fused with the concept of gharbzadegi (Westoxification), which became a standard term of revolutionary politics after 1979. The west’s support for Saddam during the eight bloody years of the Iran-Iraq war is still a recent memory for the country’s current leaders - including the IRGC’s Quds force commander Qassem Soleimani- as is the support of most Arab states except Syria.
A persistent theme is the fact that the representatives of the Iranian state – diplomats and nuclear negotiators who maintain contact with foreigners – have no control over far more powerful elements: the Supreme Leader, the IRGC, the Basij. As he summarizes the question: “The hard end of state power is completely beyond the influence of the elected government.”
Straw is certainly critical of Iran, but not fundamentally hostile. John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s hawkish –and now former - national security adviser, even dubbed him “Jack of Tehran.” He observes that a consistent theme of Iran’s foreign policy is the desire to be respected internationally as one of the dominant powers of the region. “Indeed, it is more than just a desire; rather a craving. It is based on a deep-seated sense of Iranian nationalism, of pride in the antiquity of its civilization, and of continued resentment that the country’s strategic importance has not been properly recognized.”

The English Job: Understanding Iran and Why It Distrusts Britain
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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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