Iran warns of retaliation if European powers make ‘political' use of UN nuclear report
TEHRAN, June 1 — Iran today warned it would retaliate if European powers 'exploit' a UN report showing it has stepped up production of highly enriched uranium.
The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60 per cent, close to the roughly 90 per cent level needed for atomic weapons.
Iran's total amount of enriched uranium now exceeds 45 times the limit authorised by a landmark 2015 agreement with world powers, and is estimated at 9,247.6 kilograms, according to the confidential IAEA report seen by AFP.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement he had told IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in a phone call that 'Iran will respond to any inappropriate action by the European parties' to the 2015 agreement, referring to Britain, France and Germany.
The European trio have warned they could reimpose sanctions if Iran's nuclear programme threatens the continent's security.
Araghchi urged Grossi in their Saturday call to stop 'parties from exploiting' the nuclear watchdog report 'to advance their political objectives', according to the statement.
Iran rejected the IAEA report, the latest move in years-long efforts to restrict its nuclear activities over fears that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
The Islamic republic has denied seeking nuclear arms and says it needs the uranium for civilian power production. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
38 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Trump says Iran deal would not allow ‘any' uranium enrichment
IAEA Director Rafael Grossi was featured in a copy of the Iranian newspaper Setare Sobh at a kiosk in Tehran. (EPA Images pic) WASHINGTON : US President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran would not be allowed to enrich any uranium under a possible nuclear deal that Tehran and Washington are negotiating. 'Under our potential Agreement – WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!' Trump said on his Truth Social network, after the Axios news outlet said Washington's offer would let Tehran enrich some of the nuclear fuel. Republican Trump also blamed predecessor Joe Biden for the current situation, saying that the Democrat 'should have stopped Iran a long time ago from 'enriching.'' Iran has held five rounds of talks with the US since April in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. Uranium enrichment has remained a key point of contention in the talks, with Iran defending what it says is its pursuit of a civil nuclear programme but with the US side calling it a 'red line'. Axios said the latest proposal that Washington had sent Tehran on Saturday would allow limited low-level uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, for an amount of time that has yet to be determined. Key US ally Israel has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran's nuclear program. But Trump said last week he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off from striking Iran while the talks continue.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Iran says no nuclear deal if deprived of ‘peaceful activities'
CAIRO: Iran said Monday it will not accept a nuclear agreement that deprives it of what it calls 'peaceful activities', a reference to uranium enrichment, as it pressed the United States for guarantees it will drop sanctions. Uranium enrichment has remained a key point of contention between the foes, in talks to seal a nuclear deal since April, with Iran defending what it says is its pursuit of a civil nuclear programme but with the US side calling it a 'red line'. Speaking in Cairo, where he met the UN nuclear watchdog's chief Rafael Grossi, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said: 'If the goal is to deprive Iran of its peaceful activities, then certainly no agreement will be reached.' Araghchi insisted that Iran has 'nothing to hide' on its nuclear programme. 'Iran has a peaceful nuclear programme... we are prepared to provide this assurance to any party or entity,' he said. The remarks came after Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday called for more transparency from Iran following a leaked report that showed Tehran had stepped up uranium enrichment. The IAEA report showed that Iran has stepped up production of uranium enriched up to 60 percent -- close to the roughly 90 percent level needed for atomic weapons. 'There is a need for more transparency -- this is very, very clear -- in Iran, and nothing will bring us to this confidence (besides) full explanations of a number of activities,' Grossi said ahead of meeting Araghchi. Grossi added that some of the report's findings 'may be uncomfortable for some, and we are... used to being criticised'. Iran has rejected the report, warning it would retaliate if European powers that have threatened to reimpose nuclear sanctions 'exploit' it. 'Some countries are trying to abuse this agency to pave the way for escalation with Iran. I hope that this agency does not fall into this trap,' Araghchi said of the IAEA. Iran meanwhile pushed for the United States to drop sanctions that have crippled its economy as a condition for a nuclear agreement with President Donald Trump's administration. Araghchi said on Saturday that he had received 'elements' of a US proposal for a nuclear deal following five rounds of talks mediated by Oman. 'With or without a deal' On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a news conference: 'We want to guarantee that the sanctions are effectively lifted.' 'So far, the American side has not wanted to clarify this issue,' he said. The US envoy in the nuclear talks said last month that Trump's administration would oppose any Iranian enrichment. 'An enrichment programme can never exist in the state of Iran ever again. That's our red line. No enrichment,' Steve Witkoff told Breitbart News. Iran has vowed to keep enriching uranium 'with or without a deal' on its nuclear programme. The United States has sent Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal that the White House called 'acceptable' and in Tehran's 'best interest' to accept, US media reported on Saturday. The New York Times, citing officials familiar with the diplomatic exchanges, said the proposal calls on Iran to stop all enrichment and suggests creating a regional grouping to produce nuclear power. Iran has held five rounds of talks with the United States in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018.
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
UN nuclear chief urges ‘more transparency' from Iran
CAIRO: The UN atomic watchdog's chief on Monday called for more transparency from Iran as it seeks relief from sanctions in negotiations over its nuclear programme. International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Grossi made the comments ahead of a meeting in Cairo with Iran's top diplomat and chief nuclear negotiator, Abbas Araghchi. It comes a day after a leaked IAEA report showed Iran has stepped up production of uranium enriched up to 60 percent -- close to the roughly 90 percent level needed for atomic weapons. In a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty before the scheduled tripartite meeting, Grossi defended the report, calling it 'impartial'. 'We say things as they are without a political agenda,' Grossi said, stressing the report 'tells it as it is'. 'There is a need for more transparency -- this is very, very clear -- in Iran, and nothing will bring us to this confidence (besides) full explanations of a number of activities,' he added. Iran has rejected the IAEA's findings, calling it a 'political' manouevre based on 'unreliable and misleading information'. Grossi said some of the report's findings 'may be uncomfortable for some, and we are... used to being criticised'. In a phone call with Grossi on Saturday, Araghchi warned Iran would retaliate if European powers that have threatened to reimpose nuclear sanctions 'exploit' the report. Abdelatty urged a peaceful solution, saying 'the region is already experiencing enough crises and security challenges'. 'We completely reject any escalation or incitement of a military option,' he said, warning against 'descending into a state of chaos from which no one will be spared'. The UN report comes as Iran holds talks with the United States on its nuclear programme, after Washington unilaterally abandoned a landmark agreement between Tehran and world powers in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term. Iran on Monday demanded a US guarantee that sanctions will be lifted as part of a nuclear deal. The 2015 deal aimed to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb -- a goal Western countries accused it of pursuing, though Tehran denies it. The Iranian foreign minister said Saturday he had received 'elements' of a US proposal for a potential nuclear deal following five rounds of Omani-mediated talks. The UN agency's board of governors is set to review Iran's nuclear activities in its upcoming quarterly meeting in Vienna starting June 9.
