Latest news with #Zarif
New Straits Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Mutiara Line LRT construction in Penang to begin in fourth quarter 2026
GEORGE TOWN: Large-scale construction of the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is expected to take shape in the fourth quarter of next year. Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim said, based on the progress, the contractor, SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd (SRS), would soon begin soil investigations along the Mutiara Line LRT route. He said that soil investigations had already been carried out previously and that the data was available, adding that this was not a new process. "It is possible that there are some locations where the contractor needs to make adjustments, which means an update. The last soil investigation was conducted around 2018, so it has been quite a while. "Now, what the contractor needs to do is conduct another round of soil investigations in certain areas. Once this is done, they will be able to finalise the design, as the design must take the soil conditions into account," he told reporters during MRT Corp's Hari Raya open house at The Top here this afternoon. Present was Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. Zarif said that once the finalisation is done, the next step would be to determine whether the location has utilities that need to be relocated. As is known, he explained, there are utilities running underground next to the road. He mentioned that they would be utilising a large portion of the road reserve. "So, obviously, some utilities in the road reserve will need to be relocated first. That also needs to be done." "If you talk about construction activity, you will start to see, for example, six months from now, small machinery going to the site to begin relocating the utilities." "However, the large-scale construction, such as the viaduct, will start to take shape by the fourth quarter of next year." "Next year is only 2026, and with the target delivery date set for December 31, 2031, we still have five years to go," he added. Zarif said it was normal for projects like this to follow an S-curve, with the initial phase being a bit slow. He explained that after reaching a certain critical mass, progress would pick up, following the S-curve pattern. "So, projects like this follow an S-curve. It's not like a spike. Therefore, you'll see slow progress at the beginning. I would say the upward slope of the S-curve will start to appear after 2027 or 2028." "You have to understand the S-curve scenario. That's why I say that by the time we reach 2029, we will be at the top of the S-curve. From there, we'll have another two years until the end of 2031." "I know there is an expectation from the people of Penang and the state government that this has been a long-drawn project, but we are doing our best to expedite it," he said. He also said that despite it having only been three months, people could already see substantial progress. "For us to mobilise the entire machinery of the government and everyone else to achieve what we have today is quite significant. "I hope that with this kind of momentum, we will continue progressing. And hopefully, we will be able to exceed our own target timeline," he said. MRT Corp recently assured the public that the Mutiara Line LRT project remains on track and on schedule. As the asset owner and project developer, MRT Corp said that over the past three months, it had been actively driving the project forward. On Jan 10, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mutiara Line LRT project, marking the commencement of a transformative new chapter for the state's public transport network.
Nahar Net
17-04-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
Iran confirms 2nd round of nuclear talks with US will be in Rome
by Naharnet Newsdesk 17 April 2025, 16:53 Iran confirmed Wednesday that the next round of nuclear talks with the United States this weekend will be held in Rome after earlier confusion over where the negotiations would be held. The announcement by Iranian state television came as Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian formally approved the resignation of one of his vice presidents who served as Tehran's key negotiator in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also arrived in the Islamic Republic on Wednesday. His talks may include negotiations over just what access the IAEA inspectors can get under any proposed deal. The state TV announcement said Oman will again mediate the talks on Saturday in Rome. Oman's foreign minister served as an interlocutor between the two sides at talks last weekend in Muscat, the sultanate's capital. Officials initially on Monday identified Rome as hosting the negotiations, only for Iran to insist early Tuesday they would return to Oman. American officials so far haven't said publicly where the talks will be held, though Trump did call Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on Tuesday, while the ruler was on a trip to the Netherlands. The stakes of the negotiations couldn't be higher for the two nations closing in on half a century of enmity. U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear program if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Pezeshkian praises former vice president while acknowledging his resignation The former vice president, Mohammad Javad Zarif, served as a key supporter of Pezeshkian in his election last year but drew criticism from hard-liners within Iran's Shiite theocracy, who long have alleged Zarif gave away too much in negotiations. In March, Zarif tendered his resignation to Pezeshkian. However, the president did not immediately respond to the letter. Zarif has used resignation announcements in the past in his political career as leverage, including in a dispute last year over the composition of Pezeshkian's Cabinet. The president had rejected that resignation. But on late Tuesday, a statement from the presidency said Pezeshkian wrote Zarif a letter praising him but accepting his resignation. "Pezeshkian emphasized that due to certain issues, his administration can no longer benefit from Zarif's valuable knowledge and expertise," a statement from the presidency said. The president in a decree appointed Mohsen Ismaili, 59, to be his new vice president for strategic affairs. In Iran's political system, the president has multiple vice presidents. Ismaili is known as a political moderate and a legal expert. Grossi visit comes as Iran has restricted IAEA access Grossi arrived in Tehran for meetings with Pezeshkian and others. He met Wednesday night with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, writing on the social platform X after the meeting: "Cooperation with (the IAEA) is indispensable to provide credible assurances about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme at a time when diplomacy is urgently needed." Iran's state-run IRNA news agency described Araghchi as briefing Grossi on the first round of talks with the U.S., while also urging the IAEA to "adopt a clear and transparent stance regarding threats against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities." Both Israel and the U.S. have threatened to attack Iran's nuclear sites if a deal can't be reached to limit Tehran's program. "As variety of spoilers are gathered to derail current negotiations, we need a Director General of Peace," Araghchi wrote on X. "Our predisposition is to trust Grossi in mission to keep the Agency away from politics and politicization, and to retain focus on its technical mandate." Since the nuclear deal's collapse in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdraw of the U.S. from the accord, Iran has abandoned all limits on its program, and enriches uranium to up to 60% purity — near weapons-grade levels of 90%. Surveillance cameras installed by the IAEA have been disrupted, while Iran has barred some of the Vienna-based agency's most experienced inspectors. Iranian officials also have increasingly threatened that they could pursue atomic weapons, something the West and the IAEA have been worried about for years since Tehran abandoned an organized weapons program in 2003. Any possible deal between Iran and the U.S. likely would need to rely on the IAEA's expertise to ensure Tehran's compliance. And despite tensions between Iran and the agency, its access has not been entirely revoked. Iran's foreign minister questions contradictory responses from US envoy Meanwhile, Araghchi on Wednesday warned the U.S. about taking contradictory stances in the talks. That likely refers to comments from U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who this week initially suggested a deal could see Iran go back to 3.67% uranium enrichment — like in the 2015 deal reached by the Obama administration. Witkoff then followed up with saying "a deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal." "Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program," he wrote on X. "It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do." Araghchi warned America about taking any "contradictory and opposing stances" in the talks. "What is certain is that Iran's enrichment (program) is a real, accepted matter," he said. "We are prepared to build trust and address any potential concerns, but the core issue of enrichment itself is not negotiable."
Saudi Gazette
17-04-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
US-Iran nuclear talks venue confirmed as Rome following confusion over location
TEHRAN — Iran has confirmed that the next round of nuclear talks with the United States this weekend will be held in Rome after earlier confusion over the location of the negotiations. Officials initially identified Rome as hosting the negotiations, only for Iran to insist early on Tuesday that they would return to Oman. An Iranian state TV announcement said Oman will again mediate the talks on Saturday in Rome. Oman's foreign minister served as an interlocutor between the two sides at talks last weekend in the capital Muscat. The stakes of the negotiations couldn't be higher for the two nations closing in on half a century of enmity. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear program if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials have increasingly warned that they could pursue the development of a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Wednesday's announcement came as Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian formally approved the resignation of one of his vice presidents who served as Tehran's key negotiator in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Mohammad Javad Zarif served as a key supporter of Pezeshkian in his election last year but attracted criticism from hard-liners within the Shiite theocracy, who long have alleged Zarif gave away too much in negotiations. "Pezeshkian emphasized that due to certain issues, his administration can no longer benefit from Zarif's valuable knowledge and expertise," a statement from the presidency said. The president in a decree appointed Mohsen Ismaili, 59, to be his new vice president for strategic affairs. In Iran's political system, the president has multiple vice presidents. Ismaili is known as a political moderate and a legal expert. The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, arrived in Tehran for meetings with Pezeshkian and others, which likely will be held on Thursday as his previous visits saw engagements take place the morning after his arrival. Since the landmark nuclear deal's collapse in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord, Iran has abandoned all limits on its program, and enriches uranium to up to 60% purity — near weapons-grade levels of 90%. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in 2015 and saw Iran agree to limit its nuclear activities in return for international sanctions relief. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned the US about taking contradictory stances in the talks. "Enrichment is a real and accepted issue and we are ready for trust-building about possible concerns," Araghchi said, but added that losing the right to enrich at all "is not negotiable." Araghchi's warning likely refers to comments from US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who this week initially suggested a deal could see Iran go back to 3.67% uranium enrichment, similar to the 2015 level when the deal was reached by the Obama administration. Witkoff then followed up with saying "a deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal." "Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program," he wrote on the social media platform X. "It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do." — Euronews
Arab News
17-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Iran confirms second round of nuclear talks with the US will be in Rome
DUBAI: Iran confirmed Wednesday that the next round of nuclear talks with the United States this weekend will be held in Rome after earlier confusion over where the negotiations would be announcement by Iranian state television came as Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian formally approved the resignation of one of his vice presidents who served as Tehran's key negotiator in its 2015 nuclear deal with world head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also arrived in the Islamic Republic on Wednesday. His talks may include negotiations over just what access the IAEA inspectors can get under any proposed state TV announcement said Oman will again mediate the talks on Saturday in Rome. Oman's foreign minister served as an interlocutor between the two sides at talks last weekend in Muscat, the sultanate's initially on Monday identified Rome as hosting the negotiations, only for Iran to insist early Tuesday they would return to Oman. American officials so far haven't said publicly where the talks will be held, though Trump did call Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on Tuesday, while the ruler was on a trip to the stakes of the negotiations couldn't be higher for the two nations closing in on half a century of enmity. US President Donald Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear program if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade praises former vice president while acknowledging his resignationThe former vice president, Mohammad Javad Zarif, served as a key supporter of Pezeshkian in his election last year but drew criticism from hard-liners within Iran's Shiite theocracy, who long have alleged Zarif gave away too much in March, Zarif tendered his resignation to Pezeshkian. However, the president did not immediately respond to the letter. Zarif has used resignation announcements in the past in his political career as leverage, including in a dispute last year over the composition of Pezeshkian's Cabinet. The president had rejected that on late Tuesday, a statement from the presidency said Pezeshkian wrote Zarif a letter praising him but accepting his resignation.'Pezeshkian emphasized that due to certain issues, his administration can no longer benefit from Zarif's valuable knowledge and expertise,' a statement from the presidency president in a decree appointed Mohsen Ismaili, 59, to be his new vice president for strategic affairs. In Iran's political system, the president has multiple vice presidents. Ismaili is known as a political moderate and a legal visit comes as Iran has restricted IAEA accessGrossi arrived in Tehran for meetings with Pezeshkian and others. He met Wednesday night with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, writing on the social platform X after the meeting: 'Cooperation with (the IAEA) is indispensable to provide credible assurances about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program at a time when diplomacy is urgently needed.'Iran's state-run IRNA news agency described Araghchi as briefing Grossi on the first round of talks with the US, while also urging the IAEA to 'adopt a clear and transparent stance regarding threats against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities.' Both Israel and the US have threatened to attack Iran's nuclear sites if a deal can't be reached to limit Tehran's program.'As variety of spoilers are gathered to derail current negotiations, we need a Director General of Peace,' Araghchi wrote on X. 'Our predisposition is to trust Grossi in mission to keep the Agency away from politics and politicization, and to retain focus on its technical mandate.'Since the nuclear deal's collapse in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdraw of the US from the accord, Iran has abandoned all limits on its program, and enriches uranium to up to 60 percent purity — near weapons-grade levels of 90 cameras installed by the IAEA have been disrupted, while Iran has barred some of the Vienna-based agency's most experienced inspectors. Iranian officials also have increasingly threatened that they could pursue atomic weapons, something the West and the IAEA have been worried about for years since Tehran abandoned an organized weapons program in possible deal between Iran and the US likely would need to rely on the IAEA's expertise to ensure Tehran's compliance. And despite tensions between Iran and the agency, its access has not been entirely foreign minister questions contradictory responses from US envoyMeanwhile, Araghchi on Wednesday warned the US about taking contradictory stances in the likely refers to comments from US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who this week initially suggested a deal could see Iran go back to 3.67 percent uranium enrichment — like in the 2015 deal reached by the Obama administration. Witkoff then followed up with saying 'a deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal.''Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program,' he wrote on X. 'It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.'Araghchi warned America about taking any 'contradictory and opposing stances' in the talks.'What is certain is that Iran's enrichment (program) is a real, accepted matter,' he said. 'We are prepared to build trust and address any potential concerns, but the core issue of enrichment itself is not negotiable.'
Euronews
17-04-2025
- Business
- Euronews
US-Iran nuclear talks venue confirmed as Rome following confusion over location
ADVERTISEMENT Iran has confirmed that the next round of nuclear talks with the United States this weekend will be held in Rome after earlier confusion over the location of the negotiations. Officials initially identified Rome as hosting the negotiations, only for Iran to insist early on Tuesday that they would return to Oman. An Iranian state TV announcement said Oman will again mediate the talks on Saturday in Rome. Oman's foreign minister served as an interlocutor between the two sides at talks last weekend in the capital Muscat. The stakes of the negotiations couldn't be higher for the two nations closing in on half a century of enmity. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear program if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials have increasingly warned that they could pursue the development of a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. A worker rides a bicycle in front of the reactor building of the Bushehr nuclear power plant outside the southern city of Bushehr, 26 October, 2010 AP Photo Iranian vice president resigns Wednesday's announcement came as Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian formally approved the resignation of one of his vice presidents who served as Tehran's key negotiator in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Mohammad Javad Zarif served as a key supporter of Pezeshkian in his election last year but attracted criticism from hard-liners within the Shiite theocracy, who long have alleged Zarif gave away too much in negotiations. "Pezeshkian emphasised that due to certain issues, his administration can no longer benefit from Zarif's valuable knowledge and expertise," a statement from the presidency said. The president in a decree appointed Mohsen Ismaili, 59, to be his new vice president for strategic affairs. In Iran's political system, the president has multiple vice presidents. Ismaili is known as a political moderate and a legal expert. The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, arrived in Tehran for meetings with Pezeshkian and others, which likely will be held on Thursday as his previous visits saw engagements take place the morning after his arrival. Since the landmark nuclear deal's collapse in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord, Iran has abandoned all limits on its program, and enriches uranium to up to 60% purity — near weapons-grade levels of 90%. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in 2015 and saw Iran agree to limit its nuclear activities in return for international sanctions relief. Steve Witkoff wants a 'Trump deal' Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned the US about taking contradictory stances in the talks. "Enrichment is a real and accepted issue and we are ready for trust-building about possible concerns," Araghchi said, but added that losing the right to enrich at all "is not negotiable." ADVERTISEMENT Araghchi's warning likely refers to comments from US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who this week initially suggested a deal could see Iran go back to 3.67% uranium enrichment, similar to the 2015 level when the deal was reached by the Obama administration. Witkoff then followed up with saying "a deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal." "Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponisation program," he wrote on the social media platform X. "It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do." ADVERTISEMENT
