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New revelations cast doubt on Defence Secretary's claims that nobody had texted war plans
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The National
an hour ago
- The National
Iran's Pezeshkian says Tehran will not bow to US pressure over nuclear programme
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran will not bow to pressure by the US to dismantle its nuclear programme and Washington stated its maximum pressure campaign remains in "full force" despite efforts to reach a deal. "They (the U.S.) say you must dismantle everything you have, but no free human being will bow to oppression and injustice", he said on Tuesday in a televised speech. Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear programme remains a red line as Tehran and Washington continue to work towards a deal. The issue of uranium enrichment and Iran's nuclear capabilities have remained a major point of contention between Washington and Tehran in the five rounds of talks that have taken place since April 12. The US has submitted a proposal to Iran but it is yet to respond. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the proposal submitted through mediator Oman has "many ambiguities and questions," adding that it would soon send its response. "The written proposal we received from the United States contains many ambiguities and questions; many issues in this proposal are not clear," Mr Araghchi said while on a visit to Lebanon. The White House has described the US proposal as 'acceptable' and in Iran's 'best interest' to accept. "We will not ask anyone for permission to continue enriching uranium in Iran. However, we are ready to take steps... to ensure that this enrichment will not lead to the production of nuclear weapons," he said. US officials have said that Iran could produce weapons-grade uranium in less than two weeks if it chose to develop a nuclear weapon, and has the capacity to build a bomb within months. Tehran insists its programme is for peaceful purposes only. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration is proposing an interim plan that would allow low levels of enrichment while working towards a more detailed plan with other countries aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. According to media reports, the US proposal also suggests the creation of a regional consortium to produce nuclear power. The idea of a regional group to handle Iran's enrichment had previously been floated during negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear deal.
The National
7 hours ago
- The National
Air raid sirens blare out across Israel as missiles are fired from Yemen and Syria
The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile, while others fell on open land, and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage
The National
8 hours ago
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Steve Witkoff must testify about 'secret side deal' with Iran, top Democrat says
A leading US senator on Tuesday said special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff must appear before Congress to face questions about whether the Trump administration is trying to cut a 'secret side deal' with Iran. Mr Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump have repeatedly said Iran will not be allowed to enrich any uranium as part of continuing nuclear talks, including for civilian purposes. But reports by The New York Times and Axios contradict this. They say Washington and Tehran are working on a solution in which Iran could enrich uranium at low levels for civilian use until the US and other nations formulate a larger plan that stops its progress towards a nuclear bomb. 'Steve Witkoff must testify before Congress,' Senator Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, said on X. 'Is there a secret side deal that will allow Iran to continue enriching uranium and empowers Iran's nefarious activity or not?' Whether Mr Witkoff testifies is up to Republicans, who control the US Senate and House of Representatives. The reports also say the proposal suggests the formation of a regional consortium to produce nuclear power, which could include Saudi Arabia and other nations. In a separate video message, Mr Schumer accused Mr Trump of 'folding' to Iran's demands. 'What kind of bull is this? You're going to sound tough in public and then have a secret side eal that let's Iran get away with everything. That's outrageous.' The purported agreement would allow for Iran and the US to find a way past red lines both countries have drawn. Mr Trump has said Iran will not be allowed to enrich 'any' uranium, while Iran has said that its ability to enrich uranium is non-negotiable. When asked about a side deal, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce declined to comment on any negotiations. 'What I can say, though, of course, is that the maximum-pressure campaign on Iran remains in full force,' she told reporters. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that a directive came down last week from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to pause all new sanctions activity towards Iran.
