Latest news with #nuclearweapons
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Top Gun! British fighter jets will soon carry nuclear weapons for the first time ever as part of biggest defense expansion since the Cold War
British fighter jets will soon carry nuclear weapons for the first time as part of biggest defense expansion since the Cold War. Sir Keir Starmer is looking to purchase several fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons. The sensitive talks include Defence Secretary John Healey and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin who are looking to buy US fighter jets capable of launching gravity bombs with lower power than conventional nuclear weapons. The decision is backed by the prime minister and talks with the Pentagon are under way according to The Times. The news comes as Sir Keir is readying himself to launch a strategic defence review on Monday from a dockyard. He is expected to expand the UK's nuclear deterrence and its contribution to NATO but will not commit to specific capabilities. Mr Healey has insisted the Government will reach its target of hiking defence spending to three per cent GDP by 2034. It comes after the Government previously set out a goal to reach the target during the next Parliament, after meeting its promise of increasing spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by April 2027. However the Defence Secretary has promised a 'certain decade of rising defence spending', according to The Times, and said there was 'no doubt' the UK would meet its target. Mr Healey told the newspaper: 'It allows us to plan for the long term. It allows us to deal with the pressures.' The Government is looking at the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK armed forces as part of its strategic defence review (SDR). It will explore 'deliverable and affordable' solutions 'within the resources available to defence within the trajectory of 2.5 per cent'. Earlier this year, Sir Keir announced the targets, where he said 'increasing the resilience' of Britain was 'vital' 'in an ever more dangerous world.' 'In an ever more dangerous world, increasing the resilience of our country so we can protect the British people, resist future shocks and bolster British interests, is vital,' he said The new defence money will be found by reducing UK overseas aid from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of GNI (gross national income), according to the Government. This move was one , which prompted then-international development minister Anneliese Dodds to resign. 'You have maintained that you want to continue support for Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine; for vaccination; for climate; and for rules-based systems,' she told the Prime Minister. 'Yet it will be impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cut.' NATO heads of government are set to meet in The Hague, in the Netherlands, next month. Addressing the alliance's parliamentary assembly in Dayton, USA this month, NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte said he assumed The Hague would agree 'on a high defence spend target' of 5 per cent. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'This Government has announced the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the end of the Cold War - 2.5 per cent by 2027 and 3 per cent in the next parliament when fiscal and economic conditions allow, including an extra £5 billion this financial year. 'The SDR will rightly set the vision for how that uplift will be spent, including new capabilities to put us at the leading edge of innovation in Nato, investment in our people and making defence an engine for growth across the UK - making Britain more secure at home and strong abroad.'
Washington Post
3 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Iran boosts enriched uranium stockpile, as Trump pushes negotiations
Iran has dramatically increased the amount of near-weapons grade enriched uranium it possesses, according to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency circulated Saturday to member states in preparation for the agency's June board meeting. Since the last IAEA assessment in February, Iran has produced almost 300 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent — only a step away from the 90 percent needed to fuel a nuclear weapon — bringing its total stockpile to about 900 pounds, according to people familiar with the confidential new report who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss its contents.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Iran reiterates nuclear weapons ‘unacceptable' as US talks continue
TEHRAN, May 31 — Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said today that Iran considers nuclear weapons 'unacceptable,' reaffirming the country's longstanding position amid delicate negotiations with the United States. TEHRAN, May 31 — Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that Iran considers nuclear weapons 'unacceptable,' reaffirming the country's longstanding position amid delicate negotiations with the United States. Western governments have long suspected Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability to counter the widely suspected but undeclared arsenal of its arch-foe, Israel. 'If the issue is nuclear weapons, yes, we too consider this type of weapon unacceptable,' Araghchi, Iran's lead negotiator in the talks, said in a televised speech. 'We agree with them on this issue.' Araghchi's remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump said Iran 'cannot have a nuclear weapon', while expressing hope of striking a deal soon. On Thursday, Araghchi hit out at what he called 'media speculation' that the two sides were close to an agreement, saying he was 'not sure if' a deal is 'imminent'. Iran has held five rounds of talks with the United States in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. No date or venue has yet been announced for the next round but Araghchi said Wednesday he expected an announcement from mediator Oman in the 'next few days'. The two governments are at odds over Iran's uranium enrichment programme, which Washington has said must cease, but which Tehran insists is its right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Very good talks Nonetheless, Trump said Wednesday that 'we're having some very good talks with Iran', adding that he had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against striking its nuclear facilities as it would not be 'appropriate right now'. Israel has repeatedly threatened military action, after pummelling Iranian air defences during two exchanges of fire last year. Trump has not ruled out military action but said he wants space to make a deal first, and has also said that Israel, and not the United States, would take the lead in any such strikes. Trump adopted a 'maximum pressure' policy against Tehran after abandoning the 2015 agreement and reimposed the sweeping sanctions which the deal had lifted in return for UN-monitored restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities. Iran continued to honour the agreement for a year, but then began rolling back its own compliance with its terms. Iran has since built up the largest stockpile of highly enriched uranium of any state without a nuclear arsenal. The uranium is enriched to 60 percent, still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead but far beyond the 3.67 percent limit set by the 2015 agreement. In recent days, Tehran has said that if a deal is reached, it may consider allowing US inspectors to join the teams from the UN nuclear watchdog monitoring compliance with its terms. Nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said Iran 'will reconsider accepting American inspectors through the (International Atomic Energy) Agency' if 'an agreement is reached and Iran's demands are taken into account'. — AFP TEHRAN, May 31 — Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that Iran considers nuclear weapons 'unacceptable,' reaffirming the country's longstanding position amid delicate negotiations with the United States. Western governments have long suspected Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability to counter the widely suspected but undeclared arsenal of its arch-foe, Israel. 'If the issue is nuclear weapons, yes, we too consider this type of weapon unacceptable,' Araghchi, Iran's lead negotiator in the talks, said in a televised speech. 'We agree with them on this issue.' Araghchi's remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump said Iran 'cannot have a nuclear weapon', while expressing hope of striking a deal soon. On Thursday, Araghchi hit out at what he called 'media speculation' that the two sides were close to an agreement, saying he was 'not sure if' a deal is 'imminent'. Iran has held five rounds of talks with the United States in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. No date or venue has yet been announced for the next round but Araghchi said Wednesday he expected an announcement from mediator Oman in the 'next few days'. The two governments are at odds over Iran's uranium enrichment programme, which Washington has said must cease, but which Tehran insists is its right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Very good talks Nonetheless, Trump said Wednesday that 'we're having some very good talks with Iran', adding that he had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against striking its nuclear facilities as it would not be 'appropriate right now'. Israel has repeatedly threatened military action, after pummelling Iranian air defences during two exchanges of fire last year. Trump has not ruled out military action but said he wants space to make a deal first, and has also said that Israel, and not the United States, would take the lead in any such strikes. Trump adopted a 'maximum pressure' policy against Tehran after abandoning the 2015 agreement and reimposed the sweeping sanctions which the deal had lifted in return for UN-monitored restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities. Iran continued to honour the agreement for a year, but then began rolling back its own compliance with its terms. Iran has since built up the largest stockpile of highly enriched uranium of any state without a nuclear arsenal. The uranium is enriched to 60 percent, still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead but far beyond the 3.67 percent limit set by the 2015 agreement. In recent days, Tehran has said that if a deal is reached, it may consider allowing US inspectors to join the teams from the UN nuclear watchdog monitoring compliance with its terms. Nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said Iran 'will reconsider accepting American inspectors through the (International Atomic Energy) Agency' if 'an agreement is reached and Iran's demands are taken into account'. — AFP Western governments have long suspected Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability to counter the widely suspected but undeclared arsenal of its arch-foe, Israel. 'If the issue is nuclear weapons, yes, we too consider this type of weapon unacceptable,' Araghchi, Iran's lead negotiator in the talks, said in a televised speech. 'We agree with them on this issue.' Araghchi's remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump said Iran 'cannot have a nuclear weapon', while expressing hope of striking a deal soon. On Thursday, Araghchi hit out at what he called 'media speculation' that the two sides were close to an agreement, saying he was 'not sure if' a deal is 'imminent'. Iran has held five rounds of talks with the United States in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. No date or venue has yet been announced for the next round but Araghchi said Wednesday he expected an announcement from mediator Oman in the 'next few days'. The two governments are at odds over Iran's uranium enrichment programme, which Washington has said must cease, but which Tehran insists is its right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Very good talks Nonetheless, Trump said Wednesday that 'we're having some very good talks with Iran', adding that he had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against striking its nuclear facilities as it would not be 'appropriate right now'. Israel has repeatedly threatened military action, after pummelling Iranian air defences during two exchanges of fire last year. Trump has not ruled out military action but said he wants space to make a deal first, and has also said that Israel, and not the United States, would take the lead in any such strikes. Trump adopted a 'maximum pressure' policy against Tehran after abandoning the 2015 agreement and reimposed the sweeping sanctions which the deal had lifted in return for UN-monitored restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities. Iran continued to honour the agreement for a year, but then began rolling back its own compliance with its terms. Iran has since built up the largest stockpile of highly enriched uranium of any state without a nuclear arsenal. The uranium is enriched to 60 percent, still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead but far beyond the 3.67 percent limit set by the 2015 agreement. In recent days, Tehran has said that if a deal is reached, it may consider allowing US inspectors to join the teams from the UN nuclear watchdog monitoring compliance with its terms. Nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said Iran 'will reconsider accepting American inspectors through the (International Atomic Energy) Agency' if 'an agreement is reached and Iran's demands are taken into account'. — AFP
Arab News
6 days ago
- General
- Arab News
On 27th anniversary of acquiring nukes, Pakistan reaffirms pledge of defensive use only
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is celebrating Youm-e-Takbeer today, Wednesday, to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the day it acquired nuclear weapons, reaffirming its pledge to use the capability for defensive purposes only. Pakistan began a program to obtain nuclear weapons after the 1971 war which led to the division of the country and the creation of Bangladesh, then East Pakistan. The army sees its nuclear weapons as essential to offset the conventional superiority of its much bigger neighbor, India. India sees its own nuclear weapons as a deterrent against Pakistan and China, which defeated it in a border war in 1962. Pakistan tested nuclear weapons in May 1998, shortly after India announced it had done so. 'Youm-e-Takbeer commemorates the momentous occasion in 1998 when Pakistan emerged as a nuclear power— restoring the strategic balance in South Asia and asserting its sovereign right to self-defense,' the army said in a statement. 'This historic achievement epitomizes the nation's resolve, unity, and unwavering pursuit of a dignified and peaceful existence. 'The Armed Forces of Pakistan reiterate their unflinching resolve to defend the motherland against all threats across the full spectrum of conflict. As responsible custodians of the nation's strategic assets, we reaffirm that our nuclear capability remains solely for defensive purposes and stands as a guarantor of peace.' The military added that the day underscored Pakistan's 'steadfast commitment' to preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity and affirmed its doctrine of credible minimum deterrence, rooted in the principle of maintaining peace and strategic stability in the region. Both India and Pakistan faced international sanctions as a result of testing nukes in 1998, although India has since won effective recognition as a nuclear power following an accord negotiated with the United States. Neither Pakistan, nor India, have signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists estimates Pakistan's arsenal at about 170 warheads. These can be delivered by aircraft, or by missiles, which both countries have been developing and testing. The nuclear program is controlled by the army and run by the Strategic Plans Division. Pakistan and India's nuclear capabilities make any conflict between them especially dangerous and raise global alarm, as happened earlier this month when they launched missiles and drones deep into each other's territories and exchanged gunfire on their de facto border, the Line of Control, until a ceasefire was announced on May 10. Nearly 70 people combined were killed on both sides of the border. It was the worst conflict in decades between the neighbors. Pakistan has fought three full-scale wars with India, including two over the disputed Kashmir region.
CNA
27-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
North Korea says US 'Golden Dome' missile shield 'very dangerous'
SEOUL: North Korea has slammed United States President Donald Trump's "Golden Dome" missile shield plan as a "very dangerous" threat that aims to weaponise space, state media reported on Tuesday (May 27). Pyongyang's foreign ministry has issued a memorandum calling the system "a very dangerous 'threatening initiative' aimed at threatening the strategic security of the nuclear weapons states", the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Trump announced new details and initial funding for the missile shield system last week, calling it "very important for the success and even survival of our country". The initiative faces significant technical and political challenges, according to analysts, and could come at a hefty price tag. The memorandum by nuclear-armed North Korea accused the US of being "hell-bent on the moves to militarise outer space", KCNA said. "The US plan for building a new missile defence system is the root cause of sparking off global nuclear and space arms race by stimulating the security concerns of nuclear weapons states and turning the outer space into a potential nuclear war field," it added. Washington - Seoul's key security ally - has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine, in the region to deter the North. Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion. CHINA, RUSSIA MODERNISING WEAPONS China has similarly expressed strong concerns about Washington's Golden Dome plan, accusing the US of undermining global stability. Beijing is closing the gap with Washington when it comes to ballistic and hypersonic missile technology, while Moscow is modernising its intercontinental-range missile systems and developing advanced precision strike missiles, according to a 2022 Pentagon review. The Kremlin has said Trump's initiative would require consultations with Russia but was otherwise a "sovereign matter" for the US, softening its tone after also previously slamming the idea as destabilising. The plan's Golden Dome name stems from Israel's Iron Dome air defence system, which has intercepted thousands of short-range rockets and other projectiles since it went into operation in 2011. The US faces various missile threats from adversaries, but they differ significantly from the short-range weapons that Israel's Iron Dome is designed to counter.
