Latest news with #InternationalAtomicEnergyAgency
Shafaq News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
US, allies press IAEA to declare Iran non-compliant on nuclear commitments
Shafaq News/ The US, joined by the UK, France, and Germany, launched a high-level push to persuade the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to formally declare that Iran is failing to meet its nuclear commitments, diplomatic sources told Shafaq News. The move, considered the most serious escalation in nearly two decades, comes ahead of the IAEA Board of Governors' quarterly meeting on June 9. The meeting will coincide with the release of new IAEA reports on Iran's nuclear activities and compliance with non-proliferation agreements. Diplomats said the Western-backed draft resolution aims to pressure Iran to clarify the presence of uranium traces found at undeclared sites, amid mounting concern over the rapid progress of Tehran's nuclear program. While previous IAEA board statements have urged Iran to boost transparency and cooperation, this new draft would be the first to formally declare Tehran in non-compliance, signaling a major diplomatic escalation. Observers warn that this step could complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts, including indirect talks between Iran and the US aimed at reviving understandings around Iran's nuclear program, which have faltered since the 2015 deal collapsed.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
West plans to push IAEA board to find Iran in breach of duties, diplomats say
The logo of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is displayed at the agency's headquarters on the opening day of a quarterly meeting of its 35-nation Board of Governors in Vienna, Austria, June 3, 2024. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo VIENNA - Western powers are preparing to push the U.N. nuclear watchdog's board at its next quarterly meeting to declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years, a move bound to enrage Tehran, diplomats said. The step is likely to further complicate talks between the United States and Iran aimed at imposing fresh restrictions on Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme. Washington and its European allies Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, proposed past resolutions adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors calling on Iran to quickly take steps such as explain uranium traces the IAEA found at undeclared sites. The IAEA is preparing to send member states its quarterly reports on Iran before the next board meeting, which begins on June 9. One of those will be a longer, "comprehensive" account of issues including Iran's cooperation, as demanded by a board resolution in November, and diplomats expect it to be damning. "We expect the comprehensive report to be tough, but there were already no doubts over Iran not keeping its non-proliferation commitments," one European official said. Once that report is issued, the United States will draft a proposed resolution text declaring Iran in breach of its so-called safeguards obligations, three diplomats said. A fourth said the Western powers were preparing a draft resolution without going into specifics. The text will be discussed with countries on the board in coming days before being formally submitted to the board by the four Western powers during the quarterly meeting as has happened with previous resolutions, diplomats said. SECURITY COUNCIL The last time the board took the step of formally declaring Iran in breach of its safeguards obligations was in September 2005 as part of a diplomatic standoff that stemmed from the discovery of clandestine nuclear activities in Iran. The United States and IAEA now believe Iran had a secret, coordinated nuclear weapons programme that it halted in 2003. Iran denies ever having had a weapons programme and says it is only using nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. A separate IAEA board resolution passed in February 2006 referred Iran's non-compliance to the U.N. Security Council, which later imposed sanctions on Iran. The diplomats said it had not yet been determined at what point the Western powers would seek to have the matter referred to the Security Council, and it is unclear what action if any the Security Council would then take against Iran. The most immediate effect of a resolution is likely to be on Tehran's talks with the United States and any further nuclear steps Iran decides to take on the ground. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would react to a resolution by "expanding nuclear work based on (the content of) the resolution". The board has passed all recent resolutions proposed by the Western powers on Iran, and there is little doubt that this one would go through as well. The only question is how large the majority would be. Russia and China have been the only countries to consistently oppose such resolutions. Iran bristles at resolutions and other criticism of it at the IAEA board, taking steps such as accelerating and expanding its uranium enrichment programme or barring top IAEA inspectors. It is already enriching uranium to up to 60% purity, which can easily be further enriched to the roughly 90% of weapons grade. It has enough material at that level, if enriched further, for six nuclear weapons, according to an IAEA yardstick. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Iran calls Austria intel on nuclear programme 'fake'
Iran on Friday (May 30, 2025) branded as "fake" an Austrian intelligence report that said Tehran is seeking atomic weapons, even as it pursues delicate negotiations with the United States on its nuclear programme. In its annual report on global threats, Austria's domestic intelligence service (DSN) said Monday that Iran's "nuclear weapons development programme is well advanced". The United States, Israel and other Western countries have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon. Iran has categorically denied the claims, instead arguing that it is pursuing a nuclear programme for civilian purposes alone. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), however, Iran is the only country in the world that enriches uranium up to 60 percent. That rate is still below the 90 percent threshold required for a nuclear weapon, but far above the 3.67 percent limit set under a 2015 agreement with world powers. "All efforts to prevent Iran's armament through sanctions and agreements have so far proved ineffective," the Austrian report said. On Friday, Iran's foreign ministry condemned "the fake information" disseminated in the report and demanded an explanation from the Austrian government. The IAEA, whose headquarters is in the Austrian capital, will in coming days publish its own review of Iran's nuclear activities. Iran and the United States are engaged in an Omani-mediated effort to reach a deal on Tehran's nuclear programme, after Donald Trump during his first presidency pulled out of the 2015 agreement. No date has yet been set for the next Iran-US meeting since last week's discussions in Rome. On Thursday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was "not sure" that a deal with the United States was imminent. His statement came after Trump said on Wednesday that the two sides were "very close to a solution".
Euronews
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Russian ship captain pleads not guilty in North Sea tanker collision
The Russian captain of a cargo vessel involved in a fatal collision with a US tanker in the North Sea has pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter in front of a UK court. Vladimir Motin, 59, of St Petersburg, appeared via video link from custody at a pre-trial hearing at London's Central Criminal Court. With the assistance of an interpreter, he denied gross negligence manslaughter over the presumed death of 38-year-old Filipino crew member Mark Angelo Pernia. Motin was remanded in custody, with a trial date scheduled for 12 January. The collision occurred on 10 March, when the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong, travelling at approximately 28 km/h, struck the anchored US tanker MV Stena Immaculate roughly 19 kilometres off England's northeast coast. The Stena Immaculate had been carrying jet fuel intended for the US military. The impact triggered a fire that burned for nearly a week. Thirty-six crew members from both vessels were rescued. Pernia remains missing and is presumed dead. British authorities have stated there is no evidence linking the incident to any national security threat. Although initial fears of severe environmental damage have eased, thousands of plastic pellets, known as nurdles, from ruptured containers aboard the Solong have washed ashore along the east coast of England. Conservation groups warn that while nurdles are not inherently toxic, they can pose a danger to wildlife if ingested. From Belgium to Denmark, Bangladesh to Egypt, nuclear power is making a political and policy comeback and drew advocates from across the globe to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Vienna headquarters this week, though it remains less loved in the Austrian home of the UN agency. With big tech looking at nuclear energy to power future AI operations and policymakers increasingly mulling the potential of small modular reactors – mini nuclear plants that could be factory-built and power a small town, the International Atomic Energy Agency has noticed more and more countries interested in its expertise. That is why the Vienna-based nuclear watchdog invited representatives from across the globe to its headquarters this week for a convention to deep dive into the good, bad and ugly of what advocates call a very carbon-friendly fuel. "At the IAEA, we're seeing a number of member states that have expressed interest in nuclear power for several reasons related to growing energy demands, climate change and other national considerations," Matthew van Sickle, a senior nuclear power engineer told Euronews. The IAEA offers expertise to member states on all the main challenges from financing to human resources to communication strategies to garner public support. But in Austria, where the IAEA has been based since it came about in 1957, a referendum in the 1970s resulted in the Austrian National Assembly passing a law prohibiting the use of nuclear energy in Austria. The outcome was an outstanding win for participatory democracy, but a major loss for the Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Plant, which cost €1 billion to build and was ready to operate. Situated in Lower Austria alongside the river Danube, today the plant has become a quirky Homer Simpson-inspired tourist attraction and the biggest nuclear training centre in the whole of Europe. Peter Schinnerf, who works at the plant as a guide and trainer, told Euronews that the plant has more emotional than financial worth today. "This facility was never used," he said. Since 2017, the plant has also been hosting the annual Shut Down festival - a massive techno festival attracting revellers from all across Austria and beyond.
Euronews
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Nuclear power on the rise except in UN watchdog's home, Austria
The Russian captain of a cargo vessel involved in a fatal collision with a US tanker in the North Sea has pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter in front of a UK court. Vladimir Motin, 59, of St Petersburg, appeared via video link from custody at a pre-trial hearing at London's Central Criminal Court. With the assistance of an interpreter, he denied gross negligence manslaughter over the presumed death of 38-year-old Filipino crew member Mark Angelo Pernia. Motin was remanded in custody, with a trial date scheduled for 12 January. The collision occurred on 10 March, when the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong, travelling at approximately 28 km/h, struck the anchored US tanker MV Stena Immaculate roughly 19 kilometres off England's northeast coast. The Stena Immaculate had been carrying jet fuel intended for the US military. The impact triggered a fire that burned for nearly a week. Thirty-six crew members from both vessels were rescued. Pernia remains missing and is presumed dead. British authorities have stated there is no evidence linking the incident to any national security threat. Although initial fears of severe environmental damage have eased, thousands of plastic pellets, known as nurdles, from ruptured containers aboard the Solong have washed ashore along the east coast of England. Conservation groups warn that while nurdles are not inherently toxic, they can pose a danger to wildlife if ingested. From Belgium to Denmark, Bangladesh to Egypt, nuclear power is making a political and policy comeback and drew advocates from across the globe to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Vienna headquarters this week, though it remains less loved in the Austrian home of the UN agency. With big tech looking at nuclear energy to power future AI operations and policymakers increasingly mulling the potential of small modular reactors – mini nuclear plants that could be factory-built and power a small town, the International Atomic Energy Agency has noticed more and more countries interested in its expertise. That is why the Vienna-based nuclear watchdog invited representatives from across the globe to its headquarters this week for a convention to deep dive into the good, bad and ugly of what advocates call a very carbon-friendly fuel. "At the IAEA, we're seeing a number of member states that have expressed interest in nuclear power for several reasons related to growing energy demands, climate change and other national considerations," Matthew van Sickle, a senior nuclear power engineer told Euronews. The IAEA offers expertise to member states on all the main challenges from financing to human resources to communication strategies to garner public support. But in Austria, where the IAEA has been based since it came about in 1957, a referendum in the 1970s resulted in the Austrian National Assembly passing a law prohibiting the use of nuclear energy in Austria. The outcome was an outstanding win for participatory democracy, but a major loss for the Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Plant, which cost €1 billion to build and was ready to operate. Situated in Lower Austria alongside the river Danube, today the plant has become a quirky Homer Simpson-inspired tourist attraction and the biggest nuclear training centre in the whole of Europe. Peter Schinnerf, who works at the plant as a guide and trainer, told Euronews that the plant has more emotional than financial worth today. "This facility was never used," he said. Since 2017, the plant has also been hosting the annual Shut Down festival - a massive techno festival attracting revellers from all across Austria and beyond. EU Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resilience, Jessika Roswall, says "anyone who wants to join in solidarity with the LGBTQ community in Hungary should do so." She was responding to the Hungarian government's decision to ban Gay Pride parades, a decision that has been heavily condemned by a majority of EU member states including France, Germany and Spain. "The European Union is built on values, which, of course, we all stand behind, and this is the pressure we are in this union of – one of the key things is built of this precious value of people's freedom and loving whoever they want to, or rule of law and all these things," Roswall told Euronews. "So I stand, of course, behind that and I myself have been to many prides, only in Stockholm though," she added. Meanwhile, a European Commission source told Euronews that it's unlikely EU Commissioners will stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community as it could be seen to "provoke" Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and open the door to him accusing the EU of interfering in Hungarian affairs. "I think it would play into Orbán's hands were senior people from Brussels to turn up," the source said. However, law experts and some member states argue the European Commission is obliged to protect the rights and freedoms of EU citizens under Article 2 of the EU Treaty. A group of 17 member states led by the Netherlands signed a declaration condemning the Hungarian decision. We are "concerned by the implications of these measures on freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to privacy," part of their statement read. EU Commissioner of Justice and Rule of Law Michael McGrath has called freedom of assembly a fundamental right that must be protected. He insisted that Pride marches do not constitute a threat to children, as the Hungarian parliament argued. Meanwhile, Roswall says she does not want to make decisions for others but says that the issue is at the centre of her beliefs and the values of the 27-member bloc. "I don't tell people what to do, but that's what I truly believe in, and that is also the core of the European Union," she explained. The Budapest Pride event is set to take place on 28 June in defiance of the new law, and while several MEPs have indicated their intention to attend, no European Commissioners have.
