Latest news with #Iran-IAEA
See - Sada Elbalad
16 hours ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Iran Halts Cooperation with IAEA, Blames Director General Grossi for Nuclear Site Attacks
Taarek Refaat In a dramatic escalation of tensions surrounding its nuclear program, Iran announced the suspension of its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), placing the blame squarely on the agency's Director General Rafael Grossi, for what it claims is his complicity in recent attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. The announcement came via Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who stated in a post on the social platform X (formerly Twitter) that the Iranian parliament had voted to halt all collaboration with the UN nuclear watchdog 'until the safety and security of Iran's nuclear activities are guaranteed.' According to Araghchi, Grossi played a 'regrettable role' in facilitating international pressure on Iran by allegedly covering up the fact that 'all previous issues related to Iran's nuclear file had been officially closed over a decade ago.' The minister further accused the IAEA chief of 'bias' that paved the way for what he described as 'politically motivated resolutions' passed by the IAEA's Board of Governors — resolutions that, in Araghchi's view, encouraged recent Israeli and American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. 'By refusing to condemn these attacks,' Araghchi said, 'Grossi violated the professional duties entrusted to him by the international community. We hold him and the IAEA fully responsible for the current situation.' The remarks follow mounting frustration in Tehran over what it views as double standards in the international nuclear oversight system, particularly in light of recent sabotage incidents at nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, which Iranian officials attribute to Israeli covert operations. 'A National Symbol of Resistance' In a separate statement, Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), praised what he called the 'resilience of the Iranian people' in the face of foreign aggression. He described Iran's nuclear program as 'a successful symbol of the Iranian nation's determination to achieve scientific independence, national sovereignty, and technological advancement.' Eslami also pointed out that Iran's nuclear sites are under 'full and continuous surveillance by the IAEA,' arguing that the attacks against these internationally monitored facilities constitute 'a clear violation of international law and established regulatory frameworks.' He sharply criticized Grossi for his 'silence' regarding these attacks, calling it 'a blatant breach of the agency's charter and international responsibilities.' A Deepening Rift The decision to suspend cooperation marks a turning point in Iran-IAEA relations and threatens to further undermine the already fragile nuclear monitoring system in the region. The IAEA has yet to issue a formal response to Iran's accusations or its suspension of cooperation. The move comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and a stalled revival of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which the United States withdrew in 2018. Despite sporadic diplomatic overtures in recent years, Iran has steadily expanded its nuclear activities, enriching uranium well beyond the limits set by the deal. With the IAEA now effectively sidelined and Iran hardening its stance, experts warn that the risk of miscalculation or open confrontation may increase, especially given ongoing shadow conflict dynamics between Tehran, Tel Aviv, and Washington. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
Rudaw Net
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iran committed to nuclear safeguards: Deputy FM
Also in Iran Iran says will respond to Trump's letter after review IRGC vows a 'stronger' response to threats, denies role in shaping Yemen policies Iran arrests five Kurds following Newroz festivities: Watchdog IRGC deploys to Kurdish areas ahead of Newroz A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Monday emphasized his country's commitment to nuclear safeguards following a meeting he held with the United Nations' nuclear chief Rafael Grossi in Vienna. In a statement he posted on X, Gharibabadi stressed that Iran 'remains committed to cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within the framework of its safeguards' obligations,' while also 'safeguarding its national security and interests.' Nuclear safeguards are IAEA protocols designed to ensure that nuclear materials and technology are used solely for peaceful purposes, and not diverted to the development of nuclear weapons. Gharibabadi noted that he and Grossi 'exchanged views on Iran-IAEA cooperation, the resolution of two outstanding issues, the security of nuclear facilities, the latest developments surrounding the nuclear issue, and the lifting of sanctions.' For his part, the UN's nuclear chief reaffirmed, in a statement he shared on X, that cooperation with the IAEA 'is indispensable to provide credible guarantees of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.' The meeting in Vienna comes shortly after Gharibabadi held talks with his Chinese and Russian counterparts in Beijing on Friday. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that the meeting with the IAEA was 'part of our ongoing engagement with the agency,' and that 'as threats against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities have increased, it is natural for us to intensify consultations' with the agency. Tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program have escalated recently. A December report by the IAEA suggested that Tehran plans to 'significantly increase' its uranium enrichment to 60 percent, inching closer to the 90 percent required for a nuclear weapon. For its part, Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, including energy production. On March 7, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox Business that he had sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, asking that nuclear negotiations be restarted. He warned that 'if we have to go in militarily, it's going to be a terrible thing for them [Iran].' This move came after Trump had in February restored his 'maximum pressure' campaign against Iran, in a bid to drive its oil exports down to zero. Trump argued that Iran is 'too close' to obtaining nuclear weapons, but expressed interest in negotiating a deal with Tehran. Tehran's foreign ministry confirmed the receipt of Trump's letter on Friday, noting that 'it is currently under review' and a decision will be made on how to respond after a thorough evaluation. In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear deal with the P5+1, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany - to limit enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the agreement began to unravel in 2018 when Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the accord and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran. Tehran adhered to the deal for a year but gradually ramped up its nuclear activities afterward. In recent months, Iran has held multiple rounds of talks with Britain, France, and Germany in attempts to revive the agreement.
Asharq Al-Awsat
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
European Powers Alarmed by Iran's Threats to Leave NTP Treaty
France, Germany and the UK on Wednesday said they are alarmed by Iran's repeated threats to leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and of further expanding its enriched uranium stockpile. The troika, known as the E3, said it urgently calls on Iran to change course. In a joint statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Iran's implementation of its nuclear commitments under the JCPoA, the three countries said Iran should halt and reverse its nuclear escalation and return to the limits imposed by the nuclear deal. 'The international community must remain united and firm in its determination to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons,' the three countries affirmed. 'The E3 will continue to work towards a diplomatic solution, and we stand ready to use all diplomatic levers to achieve this goal,' they said in a statement distributed by the British Foreign Office. The statement noted that the E3 remains alarmed by Iran's repeated threats to leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. 'This poses a serious threat to the non-proliferation system upon which we all rely,' the troika said. Therefore, the three countries called on Iran to halt and reverse its nuclear escalation and refrain from making threats regarding nuclear weapons. Also, they said, Iran should return to the limits imposed by the JCPoA, in particular those regarding enrichment levels and enriched uranium stockpiles, and implement the Iran-IAEA March 2023 Joint statement and the commitments it made regarding transparency and cooperation with the IAEA including re-applying all transparency measures that it stopped in February 2021. Furthermore, the European countries said Iran should allow the Agency to install surveillance and monitoring equipment and fully reverse its September 2023 decision to withdraw the designations of experienced inspectors. The E3 statement came in response to the latest report issued by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Iran's nuclear program and which confirms that Tehran continues to undertake activities in blatant violation of the nuclear deal.
