Latest news with #nuclearprogramme
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Ali Larijani appointed secretary of Iran's top security body
Iran has appointed Ali Larijani, a top adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as secretary of its Supreme National Security Council. The appointment by Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian was reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Tuesday. Ali Akbar Ahmadian previously held the position. The son of a prominent cleric, Mr Larijani has held several influential positions in government. He served as speaker of parliament from 2008 to 2020. He was also a national security adviser and before that the head of Iran's state broadcaster. He and his four brothers are part of a powerful conservative family with ties to other prominent members of the political class. Mr Larijani's father-in-law was the late Morteza Motahhari, a well-known cleric and a central figure in the 1979 revolution. Last month, Mr Larijani made a surprise visit to Moscow, where he met the Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme. Mr Larijani "conveyed assessments of the escalating situation in the Middle East and around the Iranian nuclear programme", the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the meeting at the time. Mr Putin had expressed Russia's "well-known positions on how to stabilise the situation in the region and on the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear programme", he added. Moscow has a cordial relationship with Iran's leadership and provides crucial backing for Tehran but did not swing forcefully behind its partner even after the US joined Israel's massive bombing campaign against Iran in June. Iran has consistently denied seeking a nuclear weapon, while defending its "legitimate rights" to the peaceful use of atomic energy. Mr Larijani also visited China as the sitting speaker in 2019, in the company of Mohammad Javad Zarif, who at that time was the country's foreign minister. Even after leaving office, he continued to help steer Tehran's relations with Beijing.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sanctions loom as Iran and Europe revisit nuclear deal in Istanbul talks
In a renewed bid to defuse tensions and revive diplomacy, Iranian and European diplomats met in Istanbul on Friday to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme. The talks, held at Iran's consulate, brought together representatives from France, Germany and the United Kingdom – known as the E3 – for the first time since Iran's conflict with Israel in June. The hostilities, which also saw American B-52 bombers target Iranian nuclear-linked facilities, marked a sharp escalation in the already fragile situation. Now the focus has shifted back to diplomacy, with discussions centring on whether to reintroduce sanctions originally lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran says it will not halt nuclear enrichment ahead of European talks 'Snapback' sanctions A European diplomat, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press news agency, confirmed that the so-called 'snapback' sanctions mechanism remains very much on the table. The 'snapback' mechanism allows for the automatic reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran if it is found to be violating the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, without the need for a new vote. However, the diplomat said that a delay in triggering sanctions could be considered – if Iran demonstrates meaningful engagement, resumes full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and provides reassurances regarding its stockpile of highly-enriched uranium. European leaders have been clear though that unless tangible progress is made, sanctions could return by the end of August. Tehran, however, is demanding more than words. The country's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has reiterated that Iran's trust, particularly in the United States, needs to be rebuilt. 'Iran has absolutely no trust in the US,' he stated, adding that talks must not be used to mask 'hidden agendas such as military action". Gharibabadi also reaffirmed Iran's position that it has the right to enrich uranium to meet its legitimate energy needs. However, this remains one of the West's major concerns. In May, the IAEA revealed that Iran's uranium enriched to 60 percent purity had exceeded 400 kilograms, a figure that set alarm bells ringing in Europe and beyond. Ninety percent enrichment is required for nuclear weapons, and the 2015 accord set a cap of 3.67 percent for Iran. Macron urges calm as Iran halts nuclear cooperation amid IAEA row Iran decries 'hypocrisy' Friday's discussions mark the second time such a meeting has taken place in Istanbul this year, with talks in May failing to produce a breakthrough. The geopolitical backdrop is complex, with Iran accusing the E3 of hypocrisy, accusing them of failing to uphold their end of the nuclear deal while tacitly supporting Israeli strikes. Iran responded to the June attacks with missile launches aimed at Israel and a retaliatory strike on a US base in Qatar. While tensions remain high, both sides appear keen – at least outwardly – to explore diplomatic solutions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking to Al Jazeera earlier this week, reaffirmed that Iran is not seeking to produce nuclear weapons and intends to operate within international law. Meanwhile, Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation insists the country's nuclear sector will 'thrive again,' despite recent military strikes. (with newswires)
The National
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Nuclear discussions with Europe will continue, says Iranian minister after Istanbul talks
Iran and European powers held talks in Istanbul over Tehran's nuclear programme but appeared to make no concrete decisions before a deadline to reimpose UN sanctions in September. "Both sides came to the meeting with specific ideas, the various aspects of which were examined," Kazem Gharibabadi, one of Iran's deputy foreign ministers and nuclear negotiators, said in a post on X after the meeting. "It was agreed that consultations on this matter will continue." Representatives from the foreign ministries of the UK, France and Germany met Mr Gharibabadi and Majid Takht-Ravanchi, another deputy foreign minister, at the Iranian consulate in the Turkish city. There was no immediate comment from European parties to the talks. These were the first in-person discussions between Iran and the European countries, known as the E3, since the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June and subsequent US air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The negotiations centred on the so-called snapback mechanism. As part of the 2015 nuclear deal's dispute resolution clauses, it allows remaining parties to the accord to reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran that are due to expire in the autumn. They include arms embargoes, asset freezes and restrictions on Iran's missile and nuclear programmes. The US cannot use the mechanism because President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 agreement in his first term. The E3 have until mid-September to decide whether or not to use the snapback mechanism, which must be triggered 30 days before the UN sanctions are set to expire on October 18. But the apparent lack of progress in Friday's talks further tightens the window of opportunity for a negotiated solution. Iranian officials have claimed repeatedly that European nations do not have the right to reimpose UN sanctions because they breached commitments under the 2015 deal and adopted what Tehran saw as pro-Israeli stances during the war in June. "We explained our principled positions, including on the so-called snapback mechanism," Mr Gharibabadi said in his statement on Friday. Last Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told foreign ministers from the E3 that they have no grounds to reactivate UN sanctions after they threatened to do so unless there is progress in nuclear talks. If the snapback process is not used and UN embargoes expire in October, Iran could in theory advance its nuclear programme without international restrictions, although remaining US sanctions would probably still complicate any such efforts. Clock ticking on sanctions Analysts and diplomats have said European powers could offer Iran an extension to the deadline. That could allow time for negotiations between Tehran and Washington to reach a replacement deal to the 2015 accord, imposing limits on Iran's nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief. Such a move would probably come in exchange for commitments from Iran to co-operate with international nuclear inspectors and re-engage in talks with the US. "A snapback extension remains a difficult means to an even more difficult end – securing new US-Iran negotiations and a new nuclear deal," Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in an analysis on the mechanism this week. "But Europeans need to be fully invested in this process." But Iranian officials have voiced scepticism over an extension. 'We oppose it,' Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told state media on Friday, before the talks with the E3. The talks in Istanbul were an opportunity for European countries 'to make up for their previous unconstructive approaches that have tarnished Europe's credibility', he added. At the same time, ministers in Iran have voiced willingness to return to talks with Washington, but want guarantees that the US and Israel will not attack the country again while diplomacy is continuing. Iran and the US held five rounds of negotiations in Rome and Oman this year, before a sixth round was cancelled when Israel attacked Iran in June. The talks had also faltered over Iran's rights to uranium enrichment, which Tehran wants to continue, with possible limits. The US position hardened during the talks and Washington wants to deny Iran any nuclear enrichment capacity under a deal. Tehran has also agreed to host a technical team from the UN nuclear watchdog to discuss future co-operation. The development came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian this month ended co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and said it could only be restored if the agency addressed Tehran's concerns over perceived bias. Future work with the agency will be co-ordinated by Iran's Supreme National Security Council, whose decisions are only effective once approved by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for strictly peaceful purposes and denies seeking to develop a bomb. But uranium enrichment levels of up to 60 per cent, far exceeding the needs of civilian purposes, have raised suspicions in the West that Iran wants to build a weapon. Speaking in Tehran before Friday's talks, Mr Araghchi said his country's position would be made 'completely clear". "The Islamic Republic of Iran, while advancing its peaceful nuclear programme, has always been ready to adopt confidence-building measures," he added. 'Especially after the recent war, it is important for [the E3] to understand that the Islamic Republic of Iran's position remains unshakable, and that our uranium enrichment will continue,' the Tasnim news agency quoted Mr Araghchi as saying.
CNA
25-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Iran, European powers hold first direct nuclear talks since airstrikes as UN deadline nears
ISTANBUL: Iran and European powers held 'serious, frank, and detailed' talks on Friday (Jul 25) over Tehran's nuclear programme, as both sides seek to avoid a lapse of UN sanctions that could be automatically reimposed in October. The meeting in Istanbul marked the first direct contact between Iranian officials and Western diplomats since last month's Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran. It lasted about four hours at Iran's consulate and was attended by representatives from the European Union and the E3 group: France, Britain, and Germany. IRAN AND EUROPE EXCHANGE PROPOSALS Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said both sides presented specific ideas relating to nuclear inspections and sanctions relief. 'While seriously criticising their stances regarding the recent war of aggression against our people, we explained our principled positions, including on the so-called snapback mechanism,' he said. 'It was agreed that consultations on this matter will continue.' The E3 nations, along with China and Russia, remain parties to the 2015 nuclear deal from which the United States withdrew in 2018. That agreement had lifted international sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities. SANCTIONS DEADLINE LOOMING The talks focused on the expiry of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which underpins the 2015 nuclear deal and is due to lapse on Oct 18. If no action is taken by then, all UN sanctions on Iran will be lifted. However, the E3 could trigger the 'snapback' mechanism at least 30 days before that date, reimposing sanctions on sectors including energy, banking, and defence. To allow time for this process, European diplomats have set the end of August as a soft deadline to determine whether diplomacy with Iran can be revived. Officials say Tehran would need to make clear commitments, including eventual talks with Washington, renewed cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, and accounting for roughly 400 kg of near-weapons-grade uranium reportedly unaccounted for since last month's strikes. IRAN RESISTS PRESSURE TO EXTEND UN RESOLUTION Tehran has resisted the idea of extending Resolution 2231. A foreign ministry spokesperson called such suggestions 'meaningless and baseless' prior to the Istanbul meeting. Nevertheless, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi expressed cautious optimism. Speaking in Singapore, he said inspection visits could resume this year if technical arrangements are made. 'We need to agree on where to go, how to do it. We need to listen to Iran in terms of what they consider should be the precautions to be taken,' Grossi said. US STRIKES AND NUCLEAR FACILITIES The United States carried out five rounds of talks with Iran prior to June's military action, which President Donald Trump said had 'obliterated' Iran's alleged nuclear weapons ambitions. While Tehran maintains its programme is strictly civilian, NBC News has reported that a US intelligence review concluded that only one of the three targeted sites was heavily damaged, while the other two suffered less extensive harm. Iran has consistently denied it seeks to build a nuclear weapon.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Europeans and Iran meet in Istanbul as sanctions loom over nuclear deadlock
Iranian and European diplomats met on Friday in Istanbul in the latest drive to unpick the deadlock over Tehran's nuclear programme. Representatives from the UK, France and Germany, known as the E3 nations, gathered at the Iranian consulate for the first talks since Iran's 12-day war with Israel in June, which involved US bombers striking nuclear-related facilities. The talks, which ended after four hours, centred on the possibility of reimposing sanctions on Iran, that were lifted in 2015 in exchange for Iran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear programme. The return of sanctions, known as a 'snapback' mechanism, 'remains on the table', according to a European diplomat. 'A possible delay in triggering snapback has been floated to the Iranians on the condition that there is credible diplomatic engagement by Iran, that they resume full cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and that they address concerns about their highly-enriched uranium stockpile,' the diplomat said. European leaders have said sanctions will resume by the end of August if there is no progress on containing Iran's nuclear programme. Tehran, meanwhile, has said the US, which withdrew from the 2015 deal during President Donald Trump 's first term, needs to rebuild faith in its role in negotiations. Deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran's engagement was dependent on 'several key principles' that included 'rebuilding Iran's trust – as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States'. In a social media post on Thursday, he also said the talks should not be used 'as a platform for hidden agendas such as military action'. He said Iran's right to enrich uranium 'in line with its legitimate needs' should be respected and sanctions removed. Iran has repeatedly threatened to leave the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which commits it to refrain from developing nuclear weapons, if sanctions return. Mr Gharibabadi described Friday's talks as 'serious, frank and detailed'. On X, he said the two sides discussed lifting sanctions and the snapback mechanism while agreeing to further talks. 'Both sides came to the meeting with specific ideas,' he said. 'It was agreed that consultations on this matter will continue.' Friday's talks were held at the deputy ministerial level, with Iran sending Mr Gharibabadi and a fellow deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-e Ravanchi. A similar meeting was held in Istanbul in May. The UK, France and Germany were signatories to the 2015 deal, alongside the US, Russia and China. When the US withdrew in 2018, Mr Trump said the agreement was not tough enough. Under the original deal, neither Russia nor China can veto reimposed sanctions. Since the Israeli and US strikes on Iran, in which American B-52 bombers hit three nuclear sites, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the E3 of hypocrisy, saying they failed to uphold their obligations while supporting Israel's attacks. Against the backdrop of the conflict, during which Iran responded with missile attacks on Israel and a strike on a US base in Qatar, the road ahead remains uncertain. While European officials have said they want to avoid further conflict and are open to a negotiated solution, they have warned that time is running out. Tehran maintains it is open to diplomacy, though it recently suspended cooperation with the IAEA. A central concern for western powers was highlighted when the IAEA reported in May that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% – just below weapons-grade level – had grown to more than 400kg.
