Iranian foreign minister says Iran cannot give up on nuclear enrichment, World News
Prior to the war, Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks mediated by Oman but could not agree on the extent to which Iran should be allowed to enrich uranium. Israel and Washington say Iran was close to enriching to levels that would allow it to quickly produce a nuclear weapon, while Tehran says its enrichment programme is for civilian purposes only. Key quotes
"It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe. But obviously we cannot give up (on) enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," the foreign minister told the Fox News show "Special Report with Bret Baier" on Monday (July 21).
The foreign minister said the damage to the nuclear facilities in Iran after US and Israeli strikes was serious and was being evaluated further.
Araghchi also said Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was in "good health" and that Tehran was open to talks with Washington but that those will not be direct "for the time being". Context
US ally Israel attacked Iran on June 13 and the Middle Eastern rivals then engaged in an air war for 12 days in which Washington also bombed Iran's nuclear facilities. A ceasefire was reached in late June.
Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. The UN nuclear watchdog says it has "no credible indication" of an active, coordinated weapons programme in Iran. Tehran maintains its nuclear programme is solely meant for civilian purposes.
Israel is the only Middle Eastern country believed to have nuclear weapons and said its war against Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.
[[nid:719087]]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Backlash after ‘interview' with AI avatar of US school shooting victim
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Former CNN White House chief correspondent Jim Acosta (left) interviewing an AI avatar of Parkland school shooting victim Joaquin Oliver. NEW YORK - Independent journalist Jim Acosta faced a torrent of online criticism on Aug 6 after he posted an 'interview' conducted with an AI avatar of a US school shooting victim. Former CNN White House chief correspondent Mr Acosta interacted with a virtual likeness of Joaquin Oliver, one of the 17 people killed in the Parkland, Florida school shooting in 2018. Mr Acosta, a long-standing hate figure for some supporters of US President Donald Trump who often derided the veteran Washington correspondent, has long been an advocate for increased gun control. The clip posted on Mr Acosta's YouTube channel on Aug 4 to coincide with what would have been Oliver's 25th birthday has gathered more than 22,000 views. On the Guy Benson Show on Fox News, conservative columnist Joe Concha said of the segment, 'It's just sick.' Mr Acosta said that Oliver's parents Manuel and Patricia 'have created an AI version of their son to deliver a powerful message on gun violence' after falling victim to one of the deadliest US mass shootings. In the interview, Mr Acosta asks Oliver, who was killed aged 17, what happened to him. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore MRT track issue causes 5-hour delay; Jeffrey Siow says 'we can and will do better' Singapore ST Explains: What is a track point fault and why does it cause lengthy train disruptions? Singapore Three people taken to hospital after fire in Punggol executive condominium Singapore Elderly man found dead in SingPost Centre stairwell could have been in confused state: Coroner Singapore 81 primary schools to hold ballot for Phase 2C of Primary 1 registration Singapore S'pore and Indonesia have discussed jointly developing military training facilities: Chan Chun Sing Singapore Two workers died after being hit by flying gas cylinders in separate incidents in 2025 Sport Young Lions and distance runner Soh Rui Yong out of SEA Games contingent Despite having the blessing of Oliver's parents, critics said the approach was tasteless and did not advance the campaign against gun violence. 'It was more of a bizarre AI demonstration than an interview,' wrote columnist Kirsten Fleming in the New York Post tabloid. 'It's also false. And grotesque. Like a dystopian plot come to life.' In the clip, Oliver's likeness gives opinions on how to counter gun violence. 'I was taken from this world too early while at school due to gun violence,' says a metallic, sped-up voice synthesised to sound like Oliver's. 'It's important to talk about these issues so we can create a safer future for everyone.' In an opinion piece published on Aug 6, journalism institute Poynter suggested that Mr Acosta's move from major media outlet CNN to an independent operation where he operates without an editorial support mechanism was behind his judgment. 'I hope Jim Acosta decides to phone a friend next time. We've all got a lot of figuring out to do,' it said. It is not the first time artificial intelligence has been used to highlight the impact of the Parkland shooting. In 2024, US lawmakers heard recreations of Oliver's voice and those of other victims in AI phone call recordings demanding to know why action had not been taken on gun control. On Feb 14, 2018, then 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, a town north of Miami, carrying a high-powered AR-15 rifle. He had been expelled from the school a year earlier for disciplinary reasons. In a matter of nine minutes, he killed 14 students and three school employees, then fled by mixing in with people frantically escaping the gruesome scene. Police arrested Cruz shortly thereafter as he walked along the street. He pleaded guilty to the massacre to the massacre in 2021 and was sentenced to life without parole a year later. AFP
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Slovenia introduces ban on imports from Israeli-occupied territories
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BELGRADE - Slovenia on Wednesday introduced a ban on imports of goods produced in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories and approved an additional aid package for Palestinians in Gaza, the government said in a statement. "The government today banned the import of goods originating from settlements in the occupied territories, including a ban on circumventing the ban on these imports," the statement on the government website said. The statement did not specify whether the ban refers to all goods produced in the territories or just Israeli goods. The government also instructed the competent ministries to consider banning the export of goods from Slovenia intended for these Israeli-occupied settlements. "Israeli government's actions, including the construction of illegal settlements, expropriations, the forced displacement of the Palestinian population, the destruction of their serious and repeated violations of international humanitarian law," Prime Minister Robert Golob said in statement quoted by the STA news agency. "These actions not only threaten the lives and dignity of the Palestinian population, but also the foundations of the international order." The news agency said the volume of goods affected is extremely low at under 2,000 euros ($2,327.60) in 2023. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal. The Israeli government deems settlements legal under its own laws, while some so-called "outposts" are illegal but often tolerated and sometimes later legalised. The government also said on Wednesday it would provide material assistance in the form of food and blankets, estimated to be worth up to 879,490 euros, to the Palestinians affected by the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas in Gaza. Slovenia recognised a Palestinian state in June last year, following Spain, Ireland and Norway. It last week imposed an embargo on exports, imports and the transit of arms to Israel, two weeks after it declared Israeli ministers persona non grata. REUTERS
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Hezbollah says Lebanon Cabinet decision to limit arms to state is ‘grave sin'
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Lebanese Cabinet meeting on Aug 5. The US and anti-Hezbollah parties in Lebanon ramped up pressure on it to publicly commit to disarming the group. BEIRUT – Hezbollah said on Aug 6 the Lebanese government was committing a 'grave sin' by tasking the army with establishing a state monopoly on arms, sharpening a national divide over calls for the Shi'ite Muslim group to disarm. The Cabinet on Aug 5 authorised the Lebanese army to draw up a plan to confine arms across the country to six official security forces by year's end – a major challenge to the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The move came after the US and anti-Hezbollah parties in Lebanon ramped up pressure on the Cabinet to publicly commit to disarming the group, amid fears that Israel could intensify strikes on Lebanon if they fail to do so. In a written statement on Aug 6, Hezbollah said the move was a result of US 'diktats' and that it would 'deal with it as if it does not exist'. 'The government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam committed a grave sin by taking a decision to strip Lebanon of its weapons to resist the Israeli enemy... This decision fully serves Israel's interest,' the group said. The statement said Shi'ite ministers walked out of the Lebanese Cabinet session before the decision was reached as 'an expression of the resistance's (Hezbollah's) rejection of this decision'. The group said it remained ready to discuss a broader national security strategy and called on its supporters to remain patient. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore MRT track issue causes 5-hour delay; Jeffrey Siow says 'we can and will do better' Singapore ST Explains: What is a track point fault and why does it cause lengthy train disruptions? Singapore 81 primary schools to hold ballot for Phase 2C of Primary 1 registration Singapore Three people taken to hospital after fire in Punggol executive condominium Sport Young Lions and distance runner Soh Rui Yong out of SEA Games contingent Singapore Elderly man found dead in SingPost Centre stairwell could have been in confused state: Coroner Singapore Two workers died after being hit by flying gas cylinders in separate incidents in 2025 Singapore Man recruited victim to open bank account, forced him to drink urine after account was frozen The session at Lebanon's presidential palace was the first time the Cabinet addressed Hezbollah's weapons – unimaginable when the group was at the zenith of its power before a devastating war with Israel in 2024. The Lebanese Cabinet is scheduled to meet again on Aug 7 to continue discussions on US proposals to disarm Hezbollah within a specific time frame. REUTERS
