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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Iran has secretly amassed near weapons-grade levels of uranium and could soon have enough for NINE ATOM BOMBS
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IRAN has secretly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels and could soon have enough to make atomic weapons, the UN's nuclear watchdog has warned. Tehran has now become the only non-nuclear-weapon state to have produced such material, according to a confidential report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 An Iranian rocket launches from an undisclosed location Credit: AFP 7 Iran exhibits its missiles and satellite-carrying rockets Credit: Getty 7 Part of the secret base codenamed Rainbow Credit: NCRI 7 Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaking during a meeting in Tehran Credit: EPA The regime has amassed 408.6 kgs of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, which is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. That's an increase of 133.8kgs - almost 50 per cent - since IAEA's last report in February. Theoretically, some 42 kilograms of 90 per cent enriched uranium is enough to produce one atomic bomb. This means if Tehran manages to enrich its current stockpile to weapons-grade levels, it would be sufficient to make at least nine atom bombs. The UN report also estimates that Iran's overall stockpile of enriched uranium stood at 9,247.6kgs - an increase of 953.2kgs since February. It comes as Tehran and Washington have been holding several rounds of talks over a possible nuclear deal that President Donald Trump is trying to reach. Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. But Rafael Grossi, the Director General for the IAEA, warned the world that the regime is "not far away" from completing a successful nuclear test aimed at military use. US intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program - but is in a position to produce a nuclear weapon if it wishes to. Israel accused Iran of being determined to acquire nuclear weapons after the UN report was shared with member states. The report was a "clear warning sign" that "Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons programme", a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. It said IAEA's report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years: the purpose of Iran's nuclear program is not peaceful. Israel MUST defy Trump and strike weakened Iran to neutralise nuclear threat "Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever," it added. The Sun previously revealed chilling satellite pictures showing Iran's sprawling secret nuclear site codenamed "Rainbow". Sources inside Iran uncovered how the base is being used to develop nuclear-capable missiles with a 2,000-mile range - able to strike US bases in the Middle East. But despite US Vice President JD Vance insisting talks between the US and Iran on the "right pathway", Tehran has secretly been greatly expanding its nuclear empire. A powerful nuclear blast from Iran could have disastrous consequences for the Middle East - and beyond - thanks to the capability of the warheads. This week, senior Iranian officials dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the US. They said that any agreement must fully lift sanctions and allow the country's nuclear program to continue. The comments came a day after Trump said he had told Netanyahu to hold off on striking Iran to give the US administration more time to push for a new deal with Tehran. Trump said on Friday that he still thinks a deal could be completed in the not-too-distant future. Iran's accelerates nuclear development Exclusive by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) IRAN is believed to have accelerated its nuclear weapons development and is building terrifying nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range exceeding 1,800 miles (3,000km). A powerful blast from Iran could impact on several continents due to the chilling capability of the warheads. Italy, Ukraine, Sudan, India and even large swaths of Russia would all potentially be in the firing line. They are being developed at two sites in Shahrud and Semnan, which were previously pinned as rocket or space satellite launch sites. A third site, Sorkheh Hesar, is also said to be carrying out projects, including research on nuclear power and underground explosions. Nukes are being quickly created under the watchful eye of the regime's nuclear weaponization entity, the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND). Bosses are developing nuclear warheads for the solid-fuel Ghaem-100 missiles, which are equipped with mobile launch platforms at the Shahrud site. Iran's rocket designers have used North Korea's missiles as a guide to develop the Ghaem-100 missile. When the missile was in a very early testing stage in 2011, dozens of missile experts were killed at the Modarres site in Tehran. Personnel vehicles are banned from entering the Shahrud site and are forced to park at a checkpoint before people are transported in. Meanwhile, they are using the liquid fuel missile Simorgh to develop nuclear warheads in Semnan. Iran has staged three successful Ghaem-100 missile launches over the past two years, enhancing the regime's capability to deploy nuclear weapons. He added: "They dont want to be blown up. They would rather make a deal. "It would be a great thing if we could have a deal without bombs being dropped all over the Middle East." Tehran was slapped with a chilling deadline to either hold direct talks and sign a new nuclear agreement or potentially face military action. But Khamenei strongly refused to agree to Trump's demands, saying that Iran will not engage in any direct negotiations with the US. The snub saw a furious Trump rip into the regime and threaten to strike Iran. Trump said he would slap Tehran with further sanctions under his administration's maximum pressure policy to cripple its economy. Trump told NBC: "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing. "It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before." The war of words came as the US amassed at least five B-2 strategic bombers on the British island of Diego Garcia - all aimed at Iran. Iran is over 2,300 miles from where the bombers are stationed - but the B-2s have a massive 6,900-mile range. The heavy bombers can obliterate targets with their huge 25-tonne bomb payload per jet. It had been thought the five B-2 Spirit bombers were aimed at Yemen and the Houthi terror group after Trump launched strikes against them two weeks ago. 7 Iranians burn Israel and US flags during an anti-Israeli demonstration at Palestine Square in Tehran, Iran Credit: EPA 7 A missile being launched during a military drill at an undisclosed location in the Persian Gulf, southern Iran Credit: Rex 7 Mounting fears came as Donald Trump launched blistering threats on Iran
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Iran has secretly amassed near weapons-grade levels of uranium and could soon have enough for NINE ATOM BOMBS
IRAN has secretly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels and could soon have enough to make atomic weapons, the UN's nuclear watchdog has warned. Tehran has now become the only non-nuclear-weapon state to have produced such material, according to a confidential report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 7 An Iranian rocket launches from an undisclosed location Credit: AFP 7 Iran exhibits its missiles and satellite-carrying rockets Credit: Getty 7 Part of the secret base codenamed Rainbow Credit: NCRI 7 Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaking during a meeting in Tehran Credit: EPA The regime has amassed 408.6 kgs of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, which is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. That's an increase of 133.8kgs - almost 50 per cent - since IAEA's last report in February. Theoretically, some 42 kilograms of 90 per cent enriched uranium is enough to produce one atomic bomb. This means if Tehran manages to enrich its current stockpile to weapons-grade levels, it would be sufficient to make at least nine atom bombs. The UN report also estimates that Iran's overall stockpile of enriched uranium stood at 9,247.6kgs - an increase of 953.2kgs since February. It comes as Tehran and Washington have been holding several rounds of talks over a possible nuclear deal that President Donald Trump is trying to reach. Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. But Rafael Grossi, the Director General for the IAEA, warned the world that the regime is "not far away" from completing a successful nuclear test aimed at military use. Most read in The US Sun US intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program - but is in a position to produce a nuclear weapon if it wishes to. Israel accused Iran of being determined to acquire nuclear weapons after the UN report was shared with member states. The report was a "clear warning sign" that "Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons programme", a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. It said IAEA's report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years: the purpose of Iran's nuclear program is not peaceful. Israel MUST defy Trump and strike weakened Iran to neutralise nuclear threat "Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever," it added. The Sun previously revealed Sources inside Iran uncovered how the base is being used to develop But despite US Vice President JD Vance insisting talks between the US and Iran on the "right pathway", Tehran has secretly been greatly expanding its nuclear empire. A powerful nuclear blast from Iran could have disastrous consequences for the Middle East - and beyond - thanks to the capability of the warheads. This week, senior Iranian officials dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the US. They said that any agreement must fully lift sanctions and allow the country's nuclear program to continue. The comments came a day after Trump said on Friday that he still thinks a deal could be completed in the not-too-distant future . Iran's accelerates nuclear development Exclusive by Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) IRAN is believed to have accelerated its A powerful blast from Iran could impact on several continents due to the chilling capability of the warheads. Italy, Ukraine, Sudan, India and even large swaths of Russia would all potentially be in the firing line. They are being developed at two sites in Shahrud and Semnan, which were previously pinned as rocket or space satellite launch sites. A third site, Sorkheh Hesar, is also said to be carrying out projects, including research on nuclear power and underground explosions. Nukes are being quickly created under the watchful eye of the regime's nuclear weaponization entity, the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND). Bosses are developing nuclear warheads for the solid-fuel Ghaem-100 missiles, which are equipped with mobile launch platforms at the Shahrud site. Iran's rocket designers have used North Korea's missiles as a guide to develop the Ghaem-100 missile. When the missile was in a very early testing stage in 2011, dozens of missile experts were killed at the Modarres site in Tehran. Personnel vehicles are banned from entering the Shahrud site and are forced to park at a checkpoint before people are transported in. Meanwhile, they are using the liquid fuel missile Simorgh to develop nuclear warheads in Semnan. Iran has staged three successful Ghaem-100 missile launches over the past two years, enhancing the regime's capability to deploy nuclear weapons. He added: "They dont want to be blown up. They would rather make a deal. "It would be a great thing if we could have a deal without bombs being dropped all over the Middle East." Tehran was slapped with a chilling deadline to either hold direct talks and sign a new nuclear agreement or potentially face military action. But Khamenei strongly refused to agree to Trump's demands, saying that Iran will not engage in any direct negotiations with the US. The snub saw a furious Trump said he would slap Tehran with further sanctions under his administration's maximum pressure policy to cripple its economy. Trump told NBC: "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing. "It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before." The war of words came as the US amassed at least five B-2 strategic bombers on the British island of Diego Garcia - all aimed at Iran. Iran is over 2,300 miles from where the bombers are stationed - but the B-2s have a massive 6,900-mile range. The heavy bombers can obliterate targets with their huge 25-tonne bomb payload per jet. It had been 7 Iranians burn Israel and US flags during an anti-Israeli demonstration at Palestine Square in Tehran, Iran Credit: EPA 7 A missile being launched during a military drill at an undisclosed location in the Persian Gulf, southern Iran Credit: Rex 7 Mounting fears came as Donald Trump launched blistering threats on Iran Read more on the Irish Sun
Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
Fox News Digital's News Quiz: May 30, 2025
Todd and Julie Chrisley walked out of prison this week, and this world leader appeared to be shoved in the face. Do you know the details? Test your news knowledge with this week's Fox News Digital News Quiz. Looking for more fun? Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called a U.S. demand "utter nonsense" in last week's News Quiz. Test yourself on country classics and patriotic practices in this week's American Culture Quiz. If you're looking to play even more, you can find all of our quizzes by clicking here. Check back next week for the latest News Quiz from Fox News Digital. Thanks for playing!
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Trump wants Iran deal that lets US ‘blow up' nuclear sites, ‘whatever we want'
US President Donald Trump said he envisions a nuclear deal with Iran that would allow the destruction of 'whatever we want' in the country including labs, a version of an inspections regime that is likely to be rejected by Tehran. Advertisement Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump briefly outlined his vision of a deal that is 'very strong, where we can go in with inspectors. We can take whatever we want. We can blow up whatever we want. But nobody getting killed,' he said. Trump also said he believed a deal with Iran could be completed within 'the next couple of weeks' and that talks had made 'a lot of progress'. But his comments about destroying nuclear facilities highlight a major sticking point between the two over whether Iran should be allowed to produce its own enriched uranium. An adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, dismissed Trump's ideas. Advertisement 'Accessing Iran's nuclear sites and 'blowing up infrastructure' is a fantasy past US presidents shared. Iran is independent, with strong defences, resilient people, and clear red lines,' Ali Shamkhani said in a post on social media on Thursday.
Memri
2 days ago
- Politics
- Memri
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's Nonexistent Nuclear Fatwa Reemerges In Iranian Discourse With Trump Administration
On the eve of the fifth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, the fatwa allegedly issued by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei banning Iran's development, possession, and use of nuclear weapons as a guarantee that Iran would not seek to obtain them was brought up by two mouthpieces of the Iranian regime. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed it in a television interview on May 22, 2025, and the Iranian regime mouthpiece Kayhan discussed it in an article published May 21, 2025. Over the years, no such fatwa has ever appeared on either of Khamenei's two fatwa websites, and while the fatwa has been said to have been issued on several different dates and in a range of different versions, no one has ever actually seen it. Although the regime mouthpieces have insisted for two decades that it does exist, the fact is that it does not; its existence was invented for Iranian diplomatic purposes (see Appendix: MEMRI Reports On Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's Nonexistent Fatwa). The following is background on this nonexistent fatwa, the translation of excerpts of Foreign Minister Araghchi's interview discussing it and Kayhan's article about it, and a list of MEMRI reports over the years about it. Background: The Nonexistent Nuclear Fatwa As A Guarantee That Iran Will Not Seek To Obtain Nuclear Weapons For over two decades, Iranian regime mouthpieces and regime officials have presented the nonexistent fatwa allegedly issued by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as a legal and religious guarantee that Iran will not launch, produce, or possess nuclear weapons. The claim about this "nuclear fatwa" has been presented to the West, with which the Iranian regime has been in a dialogue ever since 2002, when Iran's illegal and undeclared nuclear activity was exposed. The fatwa is aimed at achieving legitimacy for Iran's strategic goal of attaining "nuclear threshold state" status, and for conducting on its a full "nuclear fuel cycle," including uranium mining, uranium enrichment, using uranium as fuel, and handling radioactive waste. During the 2002-2006 Iran-EU3 (UK, France, and Germany) nuclear negotiations, Iran presented its position that a fatwa by Khamenei bans nuclear weapons. The EU3 demanded that Iran approve a clause in its state constitution similar to one in the constitutions of the "nuclear threshold states" Germany and Japan vis-à-vis a ban on nuclear weapons. Iran rejected this demand, and, in order to circumvent it, Hassan Rohani, who had headed the Iranian nuclear negotiating team and who would in 2013 become Iran's president, said in a May 2012 interview that it was he who had proposed claiming that Khamenei had published this fatwa in a Friday sermon in November 2004 (see MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 1022, The Official Iranian Version Regarding Khamenei's Alleged Anti-Nuclear Weapons Fatwa Is A Lie, October 3, 2013). Again, this alleged fatwa has never been found on Khamenei's fatwa webpages, not in November 2004 nor at any other time. Rohani's proposal, as he attested, was to present this alleged fatwa to the Europeans as a guarantee that Iran would not strive to produce nuclear weapons. It is worth noting that while the Iranian regime rejected a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons, it has added articles concerning scientific and technological advances to its constitution, as a result of which there has been extensive investment in space, nuclear technology, and industry. Majlis National Security Committee deputy chairman Abbas Moqtadei stated on May 24, 2025 that "based on the aims and the policy set out in the constitution, we are committed to a precise plan to achieve comprehensive advancement of the nation in a range of aspects. In this context, there have been extensive activities and investment in various scientific areas, including aviation, space, nuclear energy, science and medicine, agriculture, industry, and new technologies."[1] When in 2005 the EU3 demanded to see this fatwa, the regime representatives failed to produce it, and the EU3 did not accept the regime's claim. All Iran would provide was a report by an Iranian news agency purportedly about the fatwa (see MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 825, Renewed Iran-West Nuclear Talks – Part II: Tehran Attempts to Deceive U.S. President Obama, Sec'y of State Clinton With Nonexistent Anti-Nuclear Weapons Fatwa By Supreme Leader Khamenei, April 19, 2012). The Obama administration, which took over from the EU3 in conducting the nuclear negotiations with Iran, did accept Iran's position that this fatwa actually existed and that it did indeed serve as an alternative to invasive IAEA oversight. The administration promoted the fatwa as binding, even though it too never saw it.[2] The Obama administration went on to approve the Iranian regime as a legitimate party to the negotiations, erasing Iran's record of NPT violations, and even recognized Iran's right to enrich uranium on its soil with President Obama's signature. (See Inquiry and Analysis 1080, U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry In New And Unprecedented Statement: 'President Obama And I Are Both Extremely Welcoming And Grateful For The Fact That [Iranian] Supreme Leader [Khamenei] Has Issued A [Nonexistent] Fatwa' Banning Nuclear Weapons', March 31, 2014, and Special Dispatch No. 5461, President Obama Endorses The Lie About Khamenei's 'Fatwa' Against Nuclear Arms, September 29, 2013.) Since then, Iran has adamantly rejected the Trump administration's demand for "zero enrichment" – that is, it refuses to give up enriching uranium on its soil and argues that its right to do so is nonnegotiable. According to regime representatives, the right to enrich uranium is an Iranian national achievement bought with blood that elevates Iran's status, gives it honor among the nations, and ensures independence from Western countries, as it is a revolutionary country that refuses to submit to the Western world order when it comes to the acquisition of enriched material.[3] This is despite the fact that Iran has no civilian nuclear plants powered by fuel enriched to the very high level that it possesses, as attested to by Iranian Majlis National Security And Foreign Policy Committee Member Ahmad Bakhshayish Ardestani. He said on May 25, 2025: "The 300 kg of uranium stored in Iran is equal to 10 atom bombs – and if Israel continues its threats, we will be able to increase the enrichment level even more."[4] The fatwa, as a legal and religious guarantee that Iran is not striving to obtain nuclear weapons – despite the repeated announcements by Iranian officials about Iran's capability, and right, to possess them[5] – has recently been brought up again in regime mouthpiece claims vis-à-vis the Trump administration. This is in the hope that the latter will follow in the footsteps of the Obama administration that accepted the fatwa even though it does not exist. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi In May 22, 2025 TV Interview: "The Supreme Leader Issued A Fatwa And We Do Not Need Nuclear Weapons In Our Defense Doctrine" Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in his Iranian television interview on May 22, 2025, on the eve of the fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome: "If America's aim is for Iran not to advance toward nuclear weapons, this is achievable. We have no desire to build nuclear weapons. The Supreme Leader issued a fatwa, and we do not need nuclear weapons in our defense doctrine. They [the Americans] imposed sanctions on us due to the enrichment. We were under sanctions for years, but we didn't turn to [nuclear] weapons. Our scientists were assassinated, but we didn't turn to [nuclear] weapons. We came, we negotiated, and we reached an agreement through negotiations, but they [the U.S.] abandoned [the agreement]. We didn't use [nuclear] weapons. Our policy is based on principles and foundations, and nuclear weapons have no place in our defense doctrine."[6] Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (Source: Tasnim, Iran, May 22, 2025) Regime Mouthpiece Kayhan, May 21, 2025: "This Fatwa Is Not A Political Tactic, But A Legal And Strategic Position Within The Framework Of The Principles Of Islam" In its May 21, 2025 article, Kayhan quoted Supreme Leader Khamenei's announcement that Iran would continue with its uranium enrichment policy and that it needed no approval from any country. The article stated: "The experience of the past few decades has shown that the West's main problem with Iran is not nuclear weapons. The American administration and the European 'troika' (Britain, France, and Germany) have repeatedly stated that they 'are concerned that Iran will acquire nuclear weapons.' These governments know very well that Iran has the technical know-how to acquire nuclear weapons, but that for religious and moral reasons it will never move towards producing nuclear weapons. "Iran has repeatedly declared [this], and, more importantly, the Supreme Leader [Khamenei] has issued a religious fatwa banning the production and use of nuclear weapons. This fatwa is not a political tactic, but a legal and strategic position within the framework of the principles of Islam."[7] Appendix: MEMRI Reports On Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's Nonexistent Fatwa Below are MEMRI reports on the nonexistent fatwa published over the years: Renewed Iran-West Nuclear Talks – Part II: Tehran Attempts to Deceive U.S. President Obama, Sec'y of State Clinton With Nonexistent Anti-Nuclear Weapons Fatwa By Supreme Leader Khamenei, April 19, 2012 Release Of Compilation Of Newest Fatwas By Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei – Without Alleged Fatwa About Nuclear Bomb, August 13, 2013 President Obama Endorses The Lie About Khamenei's 'Fatwa' Against Nuclear Weapons, September 29, 2013 The Official Iranian Version Regarding Khamenei's Alleged Anti-Nuclear Weapons Fatwa Is A Lie, October 3, 2013. Iranian President Hassan Rohani In Article In Saudi Daily: While Avoiding Confrontation And Hostility, We Shall Be Diligent In Pursuing Our Supreme Interests, December 23, 2013 U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry In New And Unprecedented Statement: 'President Obama And I Are Both Extremely Welcoming And Grateful For The Fact That [Iranian] Supreme Leader [Khamenei] Has Issued A [Nonexistent] Fatwa' Banning Nuclear Weapons,' March 31, 2014 Tehran Again Offers Khamenei's Nonexistent Fatwa In Negotiations As A Guarantee That It Is Not Developing Nuclear Weapons – Iranian Regime Continues Its Lies And Fabrications About Supreme Leader Khamenei's Nonexistent Fatwa Banning Nuclear Weapons, April 6, 2015 Insights Following Exposure Of Iran's Military Nuclear Program – Part I: The Leadership Of Iran's Religious Regime Lies About Essential Islamic Matters, Manipulates Religion To Justify Its Grip On Power, Regional Expansion, May 6, 2018 Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif Reiterates Iran's Lie, Promoted By Obama Administration, That Supreme Leader Khamenei Issued Fatwa Banning Nuclear Weapons; No Such Fatwa Ever Existed, May 31, 2019 Iran Uses 'Maximum Pressure' On Biden Administration – Part II: Supreme Leader Khamenei: 'If The Islamic Republic [Of Iran] Decided To Obtain Nuclear Weapons, Neither You [The Zionist Clown] Nor Those Greater Than You [The U.S.] Would Be Able To Stop It' , February 23, 2021 Shift In Iranian Regime Statements On Nuclear Weapons: Regime Spokesmen Talk Openly About Them, Aiming For Western Acquiescence To Iran As A Nuclear Threshold State, August 2, 2022 Khamenei's 'Nuclear Fatwa,' Once Again MEMRI Daily Brief Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei: 'If It Were Not An Islamic Principle, And If We Had The Will To Build Nuclear Weapons, We Would Do So – Even The Enemies Know That They Cannot Stop Us'; MEMRI: The Fatwa Banning Nuclear Weapons That Is Attributed To Khamenei Does Not Exist, June 26, 2023. Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1784 - In Advance Of Revival Of U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks, Iranian Calls For Iran To Possess Nuclear Weapons Are Again Heard, September 5, 2024. Special Dispatch No. 11833 - Iranian Regime Continues To Lie About The Alleged Fatwa Banning Nuclear Weapons, February 11, 2025.
