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Saudi Gazette
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Energy minister, IAEA chief discuss Saudi nuclear energy program progress
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy, received Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Riyadh on Tuesday to discuss ongoing cooperation and progress in the Kingdom's national nuclear energy program. The meeting covered key areas of mutual interest, including technical and regulatory collaboration, advancements achieved through Saudi-IAEA cooperation, and the application of the highest international standards for nuclear safety and security. Discussions also focused on preparations for the International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response, which Saudi Arabia is set to host in December 2025 in Riyadh. The event will be organized in partnership with the IAEA and overseen by the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission. The meeting reflects the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to strengthen its nuclear infrastructure and build national capabilities through international partnerships. It aligns with Vision 2030's energy diversification goals, which include integrating peaceful nuclear energy into the national energy mix to enhance sustainability.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Iran threatens to ramp up enrichment of nuke-grade uranium AGAIN – just 24 days after Trump bombed ‘Mount Doom' facility
IRAN has again threatened to ramp up enrichment of its near-weapons-grade uranium stockpile just days after being bombed by the US. It comes after Israel said some of Iran's nuclear fuel 10 A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex after the US bombings on June 21 Credit: Reuters 10 This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a close view of the Isfahan nuclear technology in Iran after US strikes Credit: AP 10 This picture shows a general view of the Isfahan nuclear power plant in 2005 Credit: AFP 10 Tehran admitted that But it said the bombings will not deter the regime from enriching uranium, which they claim is for peaceful civilian use. The uranium in question is enriched to 60 per cent - way above levels for civilian use but slightly below weapons-grade. That material, if further refined to 90 per cent, would Read more on iran Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission told Mehr News Agency: "We will never give up our legitimate right to enrich uranium. "Enrichment is a sovereign right that we will continue to pursue based on our national needs. "Bombing cannot erase this knowledge — it will only come back stronger." It comes as the UK, France and Germany have agreed to restore tough UN sanctions on Iran by the end of August if there has been no concrete progress on a nuclear deal. Most read in The US Sun Ali Velayati, an adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA: "If the negotiations [with the US] must be conditioned on stopping enrichment, such negotiations will not take place." Boroujerdi added: "We will in no way succumb to the West's demands for zero enrichment." The UN's top nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned Iran could . Doubts remained whether Iran quietly removed 408.6 kgs of uranium from its most sensitive sites before the US strikes - potentially hiding nuclear material elsewhere in the country. Trump rips critics & insists 'bombs went through like butter' at Iran sites An Israeli official told The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not express concern about the remaining stockpile and said any attempt to recover it would be detected by the Israeli intelligence. They also said that Israel would have enough time to attack Iran's nuclear facilities again if the regime tries to recover it. But it was not clear immediately if the strikes - which hit Iran's Fordow nuclear enrichment plant, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities - were able to wipe out the entire stockpile of enriched uranium. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi admitted Iran could still have stockpiles of enriched uranium, saying: "We don't know where this material could be. 10 10 The moment a GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) hit the earth in the test footage "So some could have been destroyed as part of the attack, but some could have been moved. So there has to be at some point a clarification," he said in an interview with CBS. "We need to be in a position to ascertain, to confirm what is there, and where it is and what happened," Grossi said. Satellite imagery showed trucks moving out of Fordow in the days leading up to the attack - leading to speculations that Iran moved some of its underground uranium stockpile. US and Israel, as well as independent experts, agree that all of Iran's working centrifuges at Natanz and Fordo — some 18,000 - were either destroyed or damaged beyond repair. DOOM & BOOM Satellite imagery appeared to show construction work at the Fordow Nuclear Enrichment facility in Qom, near Tehran. Heavy earthmoving equipment can be seen working near the impact craters caused by US GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs. Excavators and cranes can also be seen working, while more construction trucks are visible on roads leading to the impact points at the site. A new access road between the site's northern tunnel entrance and one of the impact craters can be seen after Israel said its air force struck Fordow to "disrupt" access to the site. David Albright, a US weapons expert, 10 Construction activity post-bombing at Fordow as of June 27; annotations by The Sun Credit: Maxar via Reuters 10 A satellite overview shows earthmoving at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility on June 27; annotations by The Sun Credit: Maxar via Reuters The 12-Day War began on June 13 when Israel launched The Israelis also brilliantly orchestrated Operation Red Wedding - 30 Iran retaliated by launching daily salvos of ballistic missiles across Israel, but failed to hit any strategic targets. Less than a fortnight later, Trump The US military 's flagship B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped more than a dozen The bunker-buster bombs were used to hit Iran's Fordow Nuclear Enrichment Plant. Iran, which vowed to hit US military bases across the Middle East, sought its revenge by launching missiles at Al-Udeid Air Base - America's biggest military station in the region. 10 President Donald Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington after the strikes 10 President Donald Trump and his national security team meet in the Situation Room during the bombings Credit: White House
United News of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
India issues travel advisory for Iran
Tehran/ New Delhi, July 16 (UNI) The Indian Embassy in Iran today issued a travel advisory for Indian nationals urging them to avoid non-essential travel to Iran. The advisory comes amid rising security concerns in the region over the past several weeks. "In view of the security-related developments over the past several weeks, Indian nationals are advised to carefully consider the evolving situation before undertaking non-essential travel to Iran," the Indian Embassy said on X. Further the embassy also wrote "advised to continue to monitor the latest regional developments and follow updated advisories issued by the Indian authorities." For Indian nationals currently in Iran who wish to return, the embassy has noted that options are available. "Indian nationals already in Iran, and interested in leaving, may avail the commercial flight and ferry options which are available right now," it said. The advisory follows a sharp rise in regional tensions after Israel launched air attacks on Iran, hitting military and nuclear sites as well as numerous civilian areas. The attacks were then followed by US air raids using bunker-buster bombs at key Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Israel, triggering a 12-day conflict. The Iranian Armed Forces launched retaliatory strikes, targeting key positions across the Israeli-occupied territories and on the US military airbase in Qatar. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed into law a bill suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The state broadcaster of Iran reported that Pezeshkian ratified the bill after Parliament approved the legislation. Iran's president has warned the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to abandon its 'double standards' if it intends to restore cooperation over the country's nuclear programme as the UN nuclear watchdog's refused to condemn the strikes undertaken by United States on nuclear sites. UNI AAB RKM
Middle East
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// FM holds high-level talks to advance regional de-escalation as per President Sisi's directives
CAIRO, July 16 (MENA) - In line with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's directives to intensify diplomatic efforts toward de-escalating regional tensions, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration Badr Abdelatty held a series of high-level talks with key international stakeholders. These included Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, US Presidential Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi. During the discussions, Abdelatty stressed the importance of pursuing peaceful solutions and resuming negotiations concerning the Iranian nuclear issue. He reaffirmed Egypt's steadfast position that military options are not viable, neither for this matter nor for other crises undermining regional stability. The talks also included an exchange of views on mechanisms to de-escalate tensions and establish a comprehensive ceasefire between Iran and Israel. They stressed the need to prevent the resumption of hostilities and reinforce a political, peaceful solution to the conflict. The talks with US Envoy Steve Witkoff addressed the ongoing intensive efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and ensure its sustainability. The discussion focused on advancing the process of releasing a number of hostages and detainees in exchange for halting military operations, and guaranteeing the unimpeded and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid, in light of the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the Strip. Abdelatty also reaffirmed Egypt's categorical rejection of any proposals involving the establishment of temporary encampments in southern Gaza or initiatives that could result in demographic changes in the occupied Palestinian territories. He presented Egypt's proposal to host an international conference focused on early recovery and post-conflict reconstruction, to be convened following the establishment of a ceasefire. This initiative is in line with the Arab-Islamic plan aimed at speeding up Gaza's recovery and rebuilding. For his part, US Envoy Steve Witkoff commended Egypt's efforts, under the leadership of Presiden Sisi, to advance regional peace and stability. He underscored Egypt's role as a vital strategic partner of the United States in these efforts. (MENA) R R N/
New York Times
6 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Europeans Threaten to Reimpose Tough U.N. Nuclear Sanctions on Iran
Britain, France and Germany have agreed to restore punishing U.N. sanctions on Iran by the end of August if there is no concrete progress on a deal to limit its nuclear activities, according to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot of France. The announcement was part of an effort to push Tehran into renewed negotiations on restricting its nuclear program. Mr. Barrot said France and its partners that remain in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal were 'justified in reapplying global embargoes on arms, banks and nuclear equipment that were lifted 10 years ago' under the deal, which expires in mid-October. 'Without a firm, tangible and verifiable commitment from Iran, we will do so by the end of August at the latest,' Mr. Barrot said on Tuesday in Brussels. After Israel and the United States bombed Iranian nuclear sites last month, Iran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose inspectors left. They try to monitor Iran's nuclear program and its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, some of which is near-bomb-grade and could eventually produce up to 10 nuclear weapons, the agency has said. Iran must allow inspections under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, but the inspectors also monitored its compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, and its violations of that agreement. The Europeans are hoping that the prospect of restored multilateral sanctions will persuade Iran to restore its cooperation with the agency and also renew serious negotiations on restricting or eliminating its ability to enrich uranium. So far, there has been no progress since the bombings to renew talks between Iran and the United States on a new nuclear deal. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
