Rouhani’s hasty speech and Fantasizing-dreaming
January 24, 2021, 3:36 pm

Rouhani’s hasty speech and Fantasizing-dreaming

By : Cyrus Yaqubi

President Hassan Rouhani, in his angry and obsessive speech about Trump’s policies on Wednesday January 20^th, said: "The one whose government ends today, that is Trump, did not know politics ... but those who replaced him today know politics." Rouhani, while sending the green light to Biden’s diplomacy, addressed his speech to the internal opponents of the JCPOA, the dominant gang, who believe that the JCPOA is a "body with a damaged brain" or a "rotten corpse" and play the opposition music to negotiations. By this speech he wanted to draw a red line on views that reject negotiation and push them back. He was happy that he was able to survive, at least temporarily, the overthrow crisis that his regime has faced and said, "They wanted to overthrow our government and our system, they wanted to bring the people to the streets, but all this failed.”.

He also lamented that Qassem Soleimani had been killed and said that Trump had explicitly admitted that he had ordered the assassination of Qassem Soleimani.

In the face of Rouhani’s dreams, The Hill website associated with US congress wrote, “Anthony Blinken, in his confirmation meeting with the US Foreign Relations Committee that lasted 4 hours, in response to committee members questions explained his plans to counter the Iranian regime's vicious activities, with special attention paid to terrorist financing in the region, ballistic missiles and human rights violations.”.

Senator James Risch, a member of the Intelligence Committee and chairman of the Middle East Subcommittee, said, “any new deal with Iran should consider all aspects of their malicious behavior, and any agreement should be submitted to the Senate as a treaty to be confirmed.”

Blinken pledged to start serious talks on Iran with the US Congress and US allies in the region, including the Arab states and Israel.

"Iran continues to be a source of instability in the region and a threat to both US regional allies and US forces stationed in the region," said General Lloyd Austin, Biden's defense secretary pick.

Thus, Rouhani once again proved with his hasty speech that the explosive situation of the society or, as he put it, “bringing the people to the streets” is his main concern and he has found the solution in associating with Biden and begging for the survival of the mullahs’ regime. But this main headache and concern does not leave him even for a moment and took away his ability to understand that 2016 conditions will not return and no longer exist. This can be seen from the statements of Biden administration’s officials and politicians, who are aware of regional and international sensitivities to the Islamic Republic's missile threats and the consequences of Tehran's financial and weapons support for the region's militias. As Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan put it, "Iran's ballistic missile program must be on the table."

Internally, Iranian society has gone through the uprisings of 2017, 2018 and 2019 during these 4 years and is currently in an explosive condition. Both the regime’s internal and regional power and awe have been shattered, with its regional capabilities diminishing every day and its strategic depth having suffered major blows. But Rouhani wants to paint a positive perspective for the JCPOA as a breakthrough for lifting sanctions and display it as his trump card.

Cyrus Yaqubi is a Research Analyst and Iranian Foreign Affairs Commentator investigating the economy of the middle east countries that are relying on the oil revenue and comparing their progress to their ruling system, specially covering a variety of topics about Iran.

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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.