Latest news with #Omani-mediated
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".
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Iran protests over 'fake' Austria intel on nuclear programme
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (AP) TEHRAN: Iran on Friday summoned Austria's charge d'affaires after it branded as "fake" an Austrian intelligence report that said Tehran is seeking to acquire atomic weapons. The spat comes even as Tehran 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 Austria's government. It later summoned Austria's charge d'affaires in Tehran Michaela Pacher to "convey Iran's strong protest", the official IRNA news agency reported. It said that during the meeting, the ministry "emphasised the complete contradiction of the Austrian report with numerous IAEA reports". The IAEA, whose headquarters are in the Austrian capital, will in the 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".
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Iran rejects push to suspend enrichment to reach US deal
Iran yesterday ruled out suspending uranium enrichment as part of any nuclear deal with the United States -- a key demand from Washington in successive rounds of talks between the foes. The issue has come into focus in recent weeks, with Iran staunchly defending its right to enrich uranium as part of what it says is a civilian nuclear programme, while the United States wants it to stop. The negotiations, which began in April, are the highest-level contact between the two sides since the United States quit a landmark 2015 nuclear accord during US President Donald Trump's first term. Trump described the latest round of discussions in Rome as "very, very good", while Iran's foreign minister described it as "complicated". Since returning to office, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign on the Islamic republic, backing diplomacy but warning of military action if it fails. Tehran wants a new deal that would ease sanctions battering its economy. Western governments and Israel suspect Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons -- a charge it strongly denies. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who is leading the talks for Washington, said the United States "could not authorise even one percent" of enrichment by Iran. 'Totally false' On Monday, Iran ruled out suspending its uranium enrichment. "This information is a figment of the imagination and totally false," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, asked about the possibility during a press briefing in Tehran. Iran insists it has the right to a civilian nuclear programme, including for energy, and considers the US demand a red line that violates the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory. Following the latest round of Omani-mediated talks in Rome, Iran's foreign minister and lead negotiator Abbas Araghchi downplayed the progress, stressing "the negotiations are too complicated to be resolved in two or three meetings". Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the fifth round concluded "with some but not conclusive progress", adding he hoped "the remaining issues" would be clarified in the coming days. But on Sunday Trump said the ongoing discussions had been "very, very good". "I think we could have some good news on the Iran front," he said, adding that an announcement could come "over the next two days." No date has yet been set for the next talks, according to Iran's foreign ministry. The talks came ahead of a June meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, during which Iran's nuclear activities will be reviewed.
Japan Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Iran rejects push to suspend uranium enrichment to reach U.S. deal
US President Donald Trump described the latest round of talks in Rome as 'very, very good' By Ahmad Parhizi Iran on Monday ruled out suspending uranium enrichment as part of any nuclear deal with the United States -- a key demand from Washington in successive rounds of talks between the foes. The issue has come into focus in recent weeks, with Iran staunchly defending its right to enrich uranium as part of what it says is a civilian nuclear program, while the United States wants it to stop. The negotiations, which began in April, are the highest-level contact between the two sides since the United States quit a landmark 2015 nuclear accord during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term. Trump described the latest round of discussions in Rome as "very, very good", while Iran's foreign minister described it as "complicated". Since returning to office, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign on the Islamic republic, backing diplomacy but warning of military action if it fails. Tehran wants a new deal that would ease sanctions battering its economy. Western governments and Israel suspect Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons -- a charge it strongly denies. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who is leading the talks for Washington, said the United States "could not authorize even one percent" of enrichment by Iran. On Monday, Iran ruled out suspending its uranium enrichment. "This information is a figment of the imagination and totally false," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, asked about the possibility during a press briefing in Tehran. Iran insists it has the right to a civilian nuclear program, including for energy, and considers the US demand a red line that violates the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory. Following the latest round of Omani-mediated talks in Rome, Iran's foreign minister and lead negotiator Abbas Araghchi downplayed the progress, stressing "the negotiations are too complicated to be resolved in two or three meetings". Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the fifth round concluded "with some but not conclusive progress", adding he hoped "the remaining issues" would be clarified in the coming days. But on Sunday Trump said the ongoing discussions had been "very, very good". "I think we could have some good news on the Iran front," he said, adding that an announcement could come "over the next two days." No date has yet been set for the next talks, according to Iran's foreign ministry. The talks came ahead of a June meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, during which Iran's nuclear activities will be reviewed. They also come before the October expiry of the 2015 accord, which aimed to allay US and European Union suspicions that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons capability, an ambition that Tehran has consistently denied. Iran has ramped up its nuclear activities since the collapse of the 2015 deal, and is now enriching uranium to 60 percent -- far above the deal's 3.67 percent cap but below the 90 percent needed for weapons-grade material. Experts say that uranium enriched beyond 20 percent can be further enriched to a weapons-grade level quickly. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to visit Oman this week. © 2025 AFP
France 24
4 days ago
- Business
- France 24
Iran rejects push to suspend uranium enrichment to reach US deal
The issue has come into focus in recent weeks, with Iran staunchly defending its right to enrich uranium as part of what it says is a civilian nuclear programme, while the United States wants it to stop. The negotiations, which began in April, are the highest-level contact between the two sides since the United States quit a landmark 2015 nuclear accord during US President Donald Trump's first term. Trump described the latest round of discussions in Rome as "very, very good", while Iran's foreign minister described it as "complicated". Since returning to office, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign on the Islamic republic, backing diplomacy but warning of military action if it fails. Tehran wants a new deal that would ease sanctions battering its economy. Western governments and Israel suspect Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons -- a charge it strongly denies. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who is leading the talks for Washington, said the United States "could not authorise even one percent" of enrichment by Iran. 'Totally false' On Monday, Iran ruled out suspending its uranium enrichment. "This information is a figment of the imagination and totally false," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, asked about the possibility during a press briefing in Tehran. Iran insists it has the right to a civilian nuclear programme, including for energy, and considers the US demand a red line that violates the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory. Following the latest round of Omani-mediated talks in Rome, Iran's foreign minister and lead negotiator Abbas Araghchi downplayed the progress, stressing "the negotiations are too complicated to be resolved in two or three meetings". Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the fifth round concluded "with some but not conclusive progress", adding he hoped "the remaining issues" would be clarified in the coming days. But on Sunday Trump said the ongoing discussions had been "very, very good". "I think we could have some good news on the Iran front," he said, adding that an announcement could come "over the next two days." No date has yet been set for the next talks, according to Iran's foreign ministry. The talks came ahead of a June meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, during which Iran's nuclear activities will be reviewed. They also come before the October expiry of the 2015 accord, which aimed to allay US and European Union suspicions that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons capability, an ambition that Tehran has consistently denied. Iran has ramped up its nuclear activities since the collapse of the 2015 deal, and is now enriching uranium to 60 percent -- far above the deal's 3.67 percent cap but below the 90 percent needed for weapons-grade material. Experts say that uranium enriched beyond 20 percent can be further enriched to a weapons-grade level quickly.
