U.N. nuclear watchdog official to visit Iran in a bid to improve ties, but no inspections set
There will be no inspection of nuclear facilities during the visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency scheduled for Monday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. The visit would be the first since Israel and Iran's 12-day war in June, when some of its key nuclear facilities were struck.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 3 ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the IAEA after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes hit its most important nuclear facilities. The decision is likely to further limit inspectors' ability to track Tehran's program that had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels.
'As long as we haven't reached a new framework for cooperation, there will be no cooperation, and the new framework will definitely be based on the law passed by the Parliament,' Araghchi said.
State media last week quoted Aragchi as saying during a television program that Tehran would allow for IAEA cooperation only through the approval of the Supreme National Security Council, the country's highest security body.
Iran has had limited IAEA inspections in the past as a condition of agreements with Western powers, and it is unclear how soon talks between Tehran and Washington for a deal over its nuclear program might resume.
U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency had assessed that Iran last had an organized nuclear weapons program in 2003, though Tehran had been enriching uranium up to 60% — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Iran says its nuclear program was not for military purposes.
The U.S. bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites in June as Israel waged an air war with Iran. Nearly 1,100 people were killed in Iran, including military commanders and nuclear scientists, while 28 people were killed in Israel.
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The Hill
15 minutes ago
- The Hill
Israeli strike kills Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif as toll on journalists in Gaza worsens
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's military targeted an Al Jazeera correspondent with an airstrike Sunday, killing him, another network journalist and at least six other people, all of whom were sheltering outside the Gaza City Hospital complex. Officials at Shifa Hospital said those killed included Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohamed Qureiqa. The strike also killed four other journalists and two other people, hospital administrative director Rami Mohanna told The Associated Press. The strike also damaged the entrance to the hospital complex's emergency building. Both Israel and hospital officials in Gaza City confirmed the deaths, which press advocates described as retribution against those documenting the war in Gaza. Israel's military later Sunday described al-Sharif as the leader of a Hamas cell — an allegation that Al Jazeera and al-Sharif had previously dismissed as baseless. The incident marked the first time during the war that Israel's military has swiftly claimed responsibility after a journalist was killed in a strike. It came less than a year after Israeli army officials first accused al-Sharif and other Al Jazeera journalists of being members of the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In a July 24 video, Israel's army spokesperson Avichay Adraee attacked Al Jazeera and accused al-Sharif of being part of Hamas' military wing. Al Jazeera calls strike 'assassination' Al Jazeera called the strike 'targeted assassination' and accused Israeli officials of incitement, connecting al-Sharif's death to the allegations that both the network and correspondent had denied. 'Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people,' the Qatari network said in a statement. Apart from rare invitations to observe Israeli military operations, international media have been barred from entering Gaza for the duration of the war. Al Jazeera is among the few outlets still fielding a big team of reporters inside the besieged strip, chronicling daily life amid airstrikes, hunger and the rubble of destroyed neighborhoods. The network has suffered heavy losses during the war, including 27-year-old correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi, killed last summer, and freelancer Hossam Shabat, killed in an Israeli airstrike in March. Like al-Sharif, Shabat was among the six that Israel accused of being members of militant groups last October. Funeral-goers call to protect journalists Hundreds of people, including many journalists, gathered Monday to mourn al-Sharif, Qureiqa and their colleagues. The bodies lay wrapped in white sheets at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital complex. Ahed Ferwana of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said reporters were being deliberately targeted and urged the international community to act. Al-Sharif reported a nearby bombardment minutes before his death. In a social media post that Al Jazeera said was written to be posted in case of his death, he bemoaned the devastation and destruction that war had wrought and bid farewell to his wife, son and daughter. 'I never hesitated for a single day to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification,' the 28-year-old wrote. The journalists are the latest to be killed in what observers have called the deadliest conflict for journalists in modern times. The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Sunday that at least 186 have been killed in Gaza, and Brown University's Watson Institute in April said the war was 'quite simply, the worst ever conflict for reporters.' Al-Sharif began reporting for Al Jazeera a few days after war broke out. He was known for reporting on Israel's bombardment in northern Gaza, and later for the starvation gripping much of the territory's population. Qureiqa, a 33-year-old Gaza City native, is survived by two children. Both journalists were separated from their families for months earlier in the war. When they managed to reunite during the ceasefire earlier this year, their children appeared unable to recognize them, according to video footage they posted at the time. In a July broadcast al-Sharif cried on air as woman behind him collapsed from hunger. 'I am taking about slow death of those people,' he said at the time. Al Jazeera is blocked in Israel and soldiers raided its offices in the occupied West Bank last year, ordering them closed. Al-Sharif's death comes weeks after a U.N. expert and the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said Israel had targeted him with a smear campaign. Irene Khan, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, on July 31 said that the killings were 'part of a deliberate strategy of Israel to suppress the truth, obstruct the documentation of international crimes and bury any possibility of future accountability.' The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Sunday that it was appalled by the strike. 'Israel's pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom,' Sara Qudah, the group's regional director, said in a statement.
Boston Globe
15 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Israeli strike kills journalists in Gaza City, worsening the death toll for the media
Advertisement The incident marked the first time during the war that Israel's military has swiftly claimed responsibility after a journalist was killed in a strike. It came less than a year after Israeli army officials first accused al-Sharif and other Al Jazeera journalists of being members of the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In a July 24 video, Israel's army spokesperson Avichay Adraee attacked Al Jazeera and accused al-Sharif of being part of Hamas' military wing. Al Jazeera called the strike 'targeted assassination' and accused Israeli officials of incitement, connecting al-Sharif's death to the allegations that both the network and correspondent had denied. 'Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people,' the Qatari network said in a statement. Advertisement International media have been mostly barred from entering Gaza throughout the war and Al Jazeera is among the few outlets still fielding a big team of reporters inside Gaza, chronicling daily life amid airstrikes, hunger and the rubble of destroyed neighborhoods. The network has suffered heavy losses during the war, including 27-year-old correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi, killed last summer, and freelancer Hossam Shabat, killed in an Israeli airstrike in March. Like al-Sharif, Shabat was among the six that Israel accused of being members of militant groups last October. Hundreds of people, including many journalists, gathered Monday to mourn al-Sharif, Qureiqa and their colleagues. The bodies lay wrapped in white sheets at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital complex. Ahed Ferwana of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said reporters were being deliberately targeted and urged the international community to act. Al-Sharif reported a nearby bombardment minutes before his death. In a social media post that Al Jazeera said was written to be posted in case of his death, he bemoaned the devastation and destruction that war had wrought and bid farewell to his wife, son and daughter. 'I never hesitated for a single day to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification,' the 28-year-old wrote. The journalists are the latest to be killed in what observers have called the deadliest conflict for journalists in modern times. The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Sunday that at least 186 have been killed in Gaza and Brown University's Watson Institute in April said the war was 'quite simply, the worst ever conflict for reporters.' Al-Sharif began reporting for Al Jazeera a few days after war broke out. He was known for reporting on Israel's bombardment in northern Gaza, and later for the starvation gripping much of the territory's population. Qureiqa, a 33-year-old Gaza City native, is survived by two children. Advertisement Both journalists were separated from their families for months earlier in the war. When they managed to reunite during the ceasefire earlier this year, their children appeared unable to recognize them, according to video footage they posted at the time. In a July broadcast al-Sharif cried on air as woman behind him collapsed from hunger. 'I am taking about slow death of those people,' he said at the time. Al Jazeera is blocked in Israel and soldiers raided its offices in the occupied West Bank last year, ordering them closed. Al-Sharif's death comes weeks after a U.N. expert and the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said Israel had targeted him with a smear campaign. Irene Khan, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, on July 31 said that the killings were 'part of a deliberate strategy of Israel to suppress the truth, obstruct the documentation of international crimes and bury any possibility of future accountability.' The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Sunday that it was appalled by the strike. 'Israel's pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom,' Sara Qudah, the group's regional director, said in a statement. Magdy reported from Cairo.
New York Times
44 minutes ago
- New York Times
Australia Joins Growing Effort to Recognize Palestinian Statehood
Australia said it would recognize Palestine statehood during the United Nations General Assembly's annual session in September — echoing similar announcements by France, Britain and Canada, and adding to international pressure on Israel to bring the war in Gaza to a negotiated end. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia said on Monday that the move was 'part of a coordinated global effort building momentum for a two-state solution.' He said Australia's recognition would be 'predicated' on 'detailed and significant' commitments he had received from the Palestinian Authority's leader, Mahmoud Abbas, to demilitarize, hold general elections and ensure that Hamas plays no role in a future Palestinian state. 'The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears,' Mr. Albanese said in a televised news conference. The announcement came hours after Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, defended plans for a new offensive in Gaza and denounced the countries' moves toward recognizing Palestine as 'shameful,' saying they would not change Israel's position. Last month, France became the first major Western power to say that it would recognize Palestinian statehood. The surprise declaration by President Emmanuel Macron came amid increasing global alarm over the abject humanitarian crisis in Gaza and catastrophic starvation. France's decision was followed in short order by Britain, then Canada. In Australia earlier this month, an estimated 100,000 protesters filled Sydney Harbour Bridge, calling for an end to the war and criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said last week that 'the reason for urgency' was because 'there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognize if the world does not act.' Ms. Wong said on Monday that she had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and informed him of Australia's intensions as a diplomatic courtesy. She did not say how the U.S. official reacted, but Mr. Rubio has criticized Mr. Macron's announcement as 'reckless,' saying it 'only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace.' Mr. Albanese said he reached the decision after discussions in recent weeks with Mr. Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, as well as the leaders of Japan and New Zealand. New Zealand's foreign minister, Winston Peters, said in a statement Monday that the country was also weighing recognizing Palestinian statehood. In his announcement Monday, Mr. Albanese acknowledged that there was a history of failures in the question of statehood for Palestine, but said there was a 'moment of opportunity' that the international community must seize. 'The risk of trying is nothing compared to the danger of letting this moment pass us by,' he said. 'The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives.'
