Latest news with #UraniumEnrichment
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trump slams Biden's handling of Iran and rules out uranium enrichment
President Donald Trump blamed former President Joe Biden for the U.S.'s current Iran woes - and denied that the new Iran nuclear deal would allow for uranium enrichment. On Monday, Axios reported that the 'secret' nuclear deal proposed Saturday by the United States would allow Iran to enrich low levels of uranium for a period of time that was yet to be determined. 'The AUTOPEN should have stopped Iran a long time ago from "enriching,"' Trump chimed in Monday evening. 'Under our potential Agreement - WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!' The president has nicknamed 82-year-old Biden 'autopen,' using it as a way to disparage the Democrat for allegedly being asleep at the wheel - and allowing aides to sign documents for him. Not much progress was made with Iran during Biden's four years in office, after Trump pulled out of the Obama-era nuclear deal in 2018. The Biden administration initially tried to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Obama deal, but it was later declared 'dead.' In the meantime there were warnings about Iranian assassination plots against Trump and other key Trump 1.0 administration figures over the U.S.'s 2020 targeted strike in Iraq that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Now the U.S. is once engaged in Iran nuclear talks, this time with Witkoff at the helm. Axios reported that the proposal Witkoff submitted on Saturday included 'preliminary ideas' that would be discussed in the next round of talks. Under the proposal, Iran would be barred from building new enrichment facilities and would have to 'dismantle critical infrastructure for conversion and processing of uranium.' It also stated that Iran would have to halt new research and development of centrifuges. At the same time, it would allow for some domestic enrichment, though not beyond those necessary for civilian purposes. Upon signing the agreement, Iran would have to temporarily reduce its enrichment concentration to 3 percent, sources told Axios. Iran's underground nuclear facilities would have to become 'non-operational' for a period of time that was agreed to by the parties. The country's above-ground facilities would be limited to to the level needed to make nuclear reactor fuel using International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines. Sanctions relief would follow if Iran 'demonstrates real commitment' to the satifaction of the U.S. and the IAEA. And overall the nuclear deal would focus on creating a regional enrichment consortium. Those terms would make it easier for the U.S. to strike a deal. But they would likely irritate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has called on the U.S. to only strike a deal with Iran under the strictest terms. 'President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios in a statement. 'Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it,' she said. 'Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the Administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media.' When asked for comment on the Axios story, a White House official told the Daily Mail that the deal was 'tough' and it would prevent Iran from getting the bomb. 'President Trump is speaking the cold, hard truth,' the official said via email. 'The terms we gave Iran were very tough and would make it impossible for them to ever obtain a nuclear bomb.'
South China Morning Post
15 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Trump says US-Iran deal would not allow any uranium enrichment
US President Donald Trump on Monday ruled out allowing Iran to enrich uranium under any nuclear deal between the foes – as Tehran defended what it said was its 'peaceful' pursuit of fuel for power generation. Advertisement Uranium enrichment has remained a key point of contention in five rounds of talks since April to sign a new accord to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. 'Under our potential Agreement – WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!' Trump said on his Truth Social network after the Axios news outlet said Washington's offer would let Tehran enrich some of the nuclear fuel. Republican Trump also blamed predecessor Joe Biden for the impasse, saying the Democrat 'should have stopped Iran a long time ago from 'enriching''. Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi in Cairo. Photo: AFP Axios said the latest proposal that Washington had sent Tehran on Saturday would allow limited low-level uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, for an amount of time that has yet to be determined.
The National
16 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Trump rules out 'any' uranium enrichment under Iran nuclear deal
US President Donald Trump on Monday ruled out allowing Iran to enrich uranium under a nuclear deal despite Tehran repeatedly stating that its nuclear programme is a red line. The issue of uranium enrichment has remained a major point of contention between Washington and Tehran in the five rounds of talks that have taken place since April 12. The US has submitted a proposal to Iran but it is yet to respond. "Under our potential Agreement - WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!" Mr Trump said on his Truth Social network after the Axios news outlet said Washington's offer would let Tehran enrich some of the nuclear fuel, contradicting what the president and officials have been saying. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who submitted the proposal, has repeatedly stated that Iran would not be allowed to continue enriching uranium. Iran has consistently said it would not sign any deal that wouldn't allow enrichment for civilian purposes. 'President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement before Mr Trump's post. "Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it. Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the Administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media.' The White House has described the US proposal as 'acceptable' and in Iran's 'best interest' to accept. The New York Times reported that the proposal suggests the creation of a regional consortium to produce nuclear power. The idea of a regional group to handle Iran's enrichment had previously been reported. Citing US officials, Axios reported that the proposal allows limited low-level uranium enrichment on Iranian soil and does not call for the full dismantlement of Tehran's nuclear facilities. Iran has insisted that it has "nothing to hide" on its nuclear program. Speaking in Cairo, where he met the UN nuclear watchdog's chief Rafael Grossi, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said: 'We reject nuclear weapons and are not striving for them, but we will not give up our natural rights either,' he said. 'With regards to the peacefulness of our nuclear programme, we confirmed this to Egypt and are ready to provide assurances.' He also spoke of the sacrifices Iran has made to achieve its nuclear milestones. US officials have said that Iran could produce weapons-grade uranium in less than two weeks if it chose to develop a nuclear weapon, and has the capacity to build a bomb within months. Tehran insists its programme is for peaceful purposes only. 'This issue is known as the red line of the Islamic Republic of Iran. No one can claim that Iran does not have the right to enrich, because this issue depends on its own frameworks and regulations,' Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, said on Sunday.
Reuters
21 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Oil rises on Iran, Russia and Canada supply concerns
June 3 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose in early Asia trade on Tuesday on concerns about supply, with Iran set to reject a U.S. nuclear deal proposal that would be key to easing sanctions on the major oil producer, and with production in Canada hit by wildfires. Brent crude futures gained 55 cents, or 0.85%, to $65.18 a barrel by 0000 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 59 cents, or 0.94%, to $63.11 a barrel, after rising around 1% earlier in the session. Both contracts gained nearly 3% in the previous session after OPEC+ agreed to keep output increases in July at 411,000 barrels per day, which was less than some in the market had feared and the same hike as in the previous two months. Geopolitical tensions supported prices on Tuesday. Iran was poised to reject a U.S. proposal to end a decades-old nuclear dispute, an Iranian diplomat said on Monday, saying it fails to address Tehran's interests or soften Washington's stance on uranium enrichment. If nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran fail, it could mean continued sanctions on Iran, which would limit Iranian supply and be supportive of oil prices. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continued to stoke supply concerns and geopolitical risk premiums. Adding to supply worries, a wildfire in the province of Alberta in Canada has prompted a temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production, which could reduce supply. According to Reuters calculations, wildfires in Canada have affected more than 344,000 bpd of oil sands production, or about 7% of the country's overall crude oil output. The big jump in oil prices on Monday mostly reflected relief that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, including Russia, did not go ahead with a larger production hike than in the previous two months. "With the worst fears not panning out, investors unwound their bearish positions they had built prior to the weekend's meeting," Daniel Hynes, senior commodity strategist at ANZ, said in a note.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trump slaps Biden over Iran and denies U.S. nuclear deal would allow country to enrich uranium
President Donald Trump blamed former President Joe Biden for the U.S.'s current Iran woes - and denied that the new Iran nuclear deal would allow for uranium enrichment. On Monday, Axios reported that the 'secret' nuclear deal proposed Saturday by the United States would allow Iran to enrich low levels of uranium for a period of time that was yet to be determined. The White House didn't immediately contest those details, which run counter to public statements from White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 'The AUTOPEN should have stopped Iran a long time ago from "enriching,"' Trump chimed in Monday evening. 'Under our potential Agreement - WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!' The president has nicknamed 82-year-old Biden 'autopen,' using it as a way to disparage the Democrat for allegedly being asleep at the wheel - and allowing aides to sign documents for him. Not much progress was made with Iran during Biden's four years in office, after Trump pulled out of the Obama-era nuclear deal in 2018. The Biden administration initially tried to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Obama deal, but it was later declared 'dead.' In the meantime there were warnings about Iranian assassination plots against Trump and other key Trump 1.0 administration figures over the U.S.'s 2020 targeted strike in Iraq that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Now the U.S. is once engaged in Iran nuclear talks, this time with Witkoff at the helm. Axios reported that the proposal Witkoff submitted on Saturday included 'preliminary ideas' that would be discussed in the next round of talks. Under the proposal, Iran would be barred from building new enrichment facilities and would have to 'dismantle critical infrastructure for conversion and processing of uranium.' It also stated that Iran would have to halt new research and development of centrifuges. At the same time, it would allow for some domestic enrichment, though not beyond those necessary for civilian purposes. Upon signing the agreement, Iran would have to temporarily reduce its enrichment concentration to 3 percent, sources told Axios. Iran's underground nuclear facilities would have to become 'non-operational' for a period of time that was agreed to by the parties. The country's above-ground facilities would be limited to to the level needed to make nuclear reactor fuel using International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines. Sanctions relief would follow if Iran 'demonstrates real commitment' to the satifaction of the U.S. and the IAEA. And overall the nuclear deal would focus on creating a regional enrichment consortium. Those terms would make it easier for the U.S. to strike a deal. But they would likely irritate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has called on the U.S. to only strike a deal with Iran under the strictest terms. 'President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios in a statement. 'Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it,' she said. 'Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the Administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media.' When asked for comment on the Axios story, a White House official told the Daily Mail that the deal was 'tough' and it would prevent Iran from getting the bomb. 'President Trump is speaking the cold, hard truth,' the official said via email. 'The terms we gave Iran were very tough and would make it impossible for them to ever obtain a nuclear bomb.'
