Israel Accepts Gaza Deal Restoring UN Aid as Hamas Remains Wary
Israel has accepted a US ceasefire proposal for Gaza that Israeli officials familiar with the matter said would involve a 60-day pause in the fighting and restore UN-led aid distribution to the enclave.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that Israel signed off on the proposal before it was submitted to Hamas but didn't say what was in it. Two Israeli officials confirmed that decision.
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Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike
The White House on Saturday said it is in Iran's "best interest to accept" its proposal on a nuclear deal following a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency saying the country is swiftly increasing its stockpile of near weapons-grade enriched uranium. "President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "Special Envoy [Steve] Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it. Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media." The IAEA's report said Iran had increased its stockpile to 900.8 pounds of uranium enriched by up to 60% as of May 17, a nearly 50% increase since the agency's last report in February, which put the stockpile at 605.8 pounds. The report said Iran is "the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material," which is a "serious concern." The IAEA added that just 92 pounds of 60% enriched uranium is enough to produce an atomic bomb if it is enriched to 90%. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but U.S. intelligence agencies say the country has "undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so." Iran's Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a joint statement that the report was based on "unreliable and differing information sources," claiming that it was biased and unprofessional. The statement added, "The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its disappointment about the report, which was prepared by imposing pressure on the agency for political purposes, and expresses its obvious objection about its content." On Thursday, Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that he was unsure a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal could be imminently reached. "Iran is sincere about a diplomatic solution that will serve the interests of all sides. But getting there requires an agreement that will fully terminate all sanctions and uphold Iran's nuclear rights — including enrichment," he wrote. Oman Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi presented the Trump administration's first formal proposal in Tehran Saturday, which calls for Iran to cease all uranium enrichment and for a regional consortium that includes Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states and the U.S. for producing nuclear power, The New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the document. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also put out a rare statement on a Saturday about the IAEA's report, calling it "grave." "The agency presents a stark picture that serves as a clear warning sign: Despite countless warnings by the international community, Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons program," Netanyahu's office said. "The report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years — the purpose of Iran's nuclear program is not peaceful. This is evident from the alarming scope of Iran's uranium enrichment activity. Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever. "The report clearly indicates that Iran remains in non-compliance of its fundamental commitments and obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and continues to withhold cooperation from IAEA inspectors. The international community must act now to stop Iran."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Defense Ministry awards security prize to 'movie-like' systems behind Nasrallah killing
"These are capabilities you only see in movies, which made a decisive contribution before the campaign against our enemies, and some even helped in the elimination of Nasrallah,' Israel Katz said. Defense MinisterIsrael Katz will award the Israel Security Prize for 2025 to the "Eitan" Armoured personnel carrier, the "Oron", "Shavit", and "Eitam" aircraft, and unique capabilities that led to the killing of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, the Defense Ministry stated on Thursday. "A tremendous contribution to the country's security. These are capabilities you only see in movies, which made a decisive contribution before the campaign against our enemies, and some even helped in the elimination of Nasrallah,' Katz said. 'I congratulate the winners who continue to ensure Israel's security – today and in the future." The Eitan APC is an 8x8 wheeled armored personnel carrier designed for infantry fighters, allowing operations in highly threatening combat scenarios. The Eitan has played a significant role in the Israel-Hamas War, including participating in the rescue of hostages from Gaza. The prize for the Eitan APC will be awarded to the military directorates responsible for its development and production, including the Merkava and Armored Corps Directorate (MANTAK), the Security Procurement Administration (MAHAR), the Weaponry Division, the Operational Mobility School of the Ground Corps, the Medical Corps in the Technology and Logistics Branch, and the Nahal Brigade The Shavit, Eitam, and Oron mission aircraft played a vital role in defending Israel's airspace during the war and preserving intelligence superiority. The system is based on advanced technologies that provide control and monitoring capabilities. The prize will be awarded to the Research and Development Directorate for Weaponry and Technology Infrastructure in the Ministry of Defense, Israel Aerospace Industries, the Air Force, the Navy, and the IDF Intelligence Directorate. Additional prizes will also be awarded to the Shin Bet, the Mossad, and Elbit Systems for various defense missions, including the killing of Nasrallah. The Israel Security Prize will be awarded in the presence of President Isaac Herzog, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and other security officials on June 18 at the President's Residence.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
US sends nuclear deal proposal to Iran
The US has sent Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal between Tehran and Washington, the White House confirmed on Saturday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he had been presented with "elements of a US deal" by his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi during a short visit to the Iranian capital. It comes after a report by the UN nuclear watchdog said Iran had further stepped up its production of enriched uranium, a key component in the making of nuclear weapons. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Saturday it was in Tehran's "best interest to accept" the deal, adding: "President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb". Leavitt said a "detailed and acceptable" proposal had been sent to Iran by US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff. The US proposal "will be appropriately responded to in line with the principles, national interests and rights of the people of Iran", Araghchi wrote on X. The precise details of the deal are not yet clear. The proposal follows a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), - seen by the BBC - which found Iran now possesses over 400kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity - close to the 90% purity required for weapons-grade uranium. This is well above the level of purity sufficient for civilian nuclear power and research purposes. It is enough for about 10 nuclear weapons if further refined, making Iran the only non nuclear-armed state producing uranium at this level. Iran has long said its programme is peaceful. Iran significantly growing uranium stockpile, warns UN nuclear agency The US has long sought to limit Iran's nuclear capacity. Talks between the two powers mediated by Oman have been under way since April. Both sides have expressed optimism during the course of the talks but remain divided over key issues - chief among them, whether Iran can continue enrichment under any future agreement. Despite the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington, the IAEA report offered no indication that Iran has slowed its nuclear enrichment efforts. Iran has produced highly enriched uranium at a rate equivalent to roughly one nuclear weapon per month over the past three months, the IAEA report found. US officials estimate that, if Iran chooses to make a weapon, it could produce weapons-grade material in less than two weeks and potentially build a bomb within months. Iran has long denied it is attempting to develop nuclear weapons. However, the IAEA said it could not confirm whether this was still the case because Iran refuses to grant access to senior inspectors and has not answered longstanding questions about its nuclear history. Trump is seeking a new nuclear agreement with Tehran after pulling the US out of a previous nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers in 2018. This nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA, was signed in 2015 by Iran and the US, China, France, Russia, Germany and the UK. The JCPOA sought to limit and monitor Iran's nuclear programme in return for lifting sanctions that had been placed on the regime in 2010 over suspicions that its nuclear programme was being used to develop a bomb. But Donald Trump withdrew from the deal during his first term in office, claiming JCPOA was a "bad deal" because it was not permanent and did not address Iran's ballistic missile programme, amongst other things. Trump then re-imposed US sanctions as part of a "maximum pressure" campaign to compel Iran to negotiate a new and expanded agreement. In the intervening years, Tehran has steadily overstepped the 2015 agreement's limits on its nuclear programme, designed to make it harder to develop an atomic bomb. Trump has previously threatened to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails to achieve a deal. What is Iran's nuclear programme and what does the US want?
