Latest news with #uranium
Al Arabiya
6 hours ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
White House says sent ‘acceptable' nuclear deal proposal to Iran: US media
The United Sates sent Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal that the White House says is 'acceptable' and in its 'best interest' to accept, US media reported on Saturday. It came shortly after a UN report said the Islamic Republic had stepped up production of highly enriched uranium. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was presented with 'elements of a US proposal' by his Omani counterpart during his visit to Tehran on Saturday. 'Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it,' said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the New York Times reported. The proposal was described as a series of bullet points rather than a full draft, according to the New York Times, citing officials familiar with the diplomatic exchanges. It calls on Iran to stop all enrichment of uranium and proposes creating a regional grouping to produce nuclear power, which would include Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, as well as the United States. 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 President Donald Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. Araghchi had said Saturday that Iran considers nuclear weapons 'unacceptable.' His remarks came a day after Trump said Iran 'cannot have a nuclear weapon,' while expressing hope of striking a deal soon. According to the seen by AFP, Iran has sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent, close to the roughly 90 percent level needed for atomic weapons.
Washington Post
6 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
After report about Iran's increasing uranium stockpiles, Iranian FM stresses Iran's cooperation
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Iranian Foreign Minister spoke by phone with the director of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency early Sunday morning after a report from the agency said Iran is further increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Writing on Telegram, Abbas Araghchi said he stressed Iran's 'continuous cooperation' in his conversation with Rafael Mariano Grossi , the head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA did not immediately return a request for comment about the phone call.
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
After report about Iran's increasing uranium stockpiles, Iranian FM stresses Iran's cooperation
The Iranian Foreign Minister spoke by phone with the director of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency early Sunday morning after a report from the agency said Iran is further increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Writing on Telegram, Abbas Araghchi said he stressed Iran's 'continuous cooperation' in his conversation with Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA did not immediately return a request for comment about the phone call. The confidential IAEA report, which was seen by the Associated Press on Saturday, raised a stern warning, saying that Iran is now 'the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material' — something the agency said was of 'serious concern.' Araghchi emphasized to Grossi that all of Iran's nuclear activities are within the framework of agreements and being monitored by the IAEA. The IAEA said in a separate report that Iran's cooperation with the agency has been 'less than satisfactory' when it comes to uranium traces discovered by IAEA inspectors at several locations in Iran that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites. Araghchi also asked Grossi to ensure 'that certain parties do not exploit the agency for political agendas against the Iranian people.' European nations could take further steps against Iran based on the comprehensive report, leading to a potential escalation in tensions between Iran and the West. Iran's deputy foreign minister on Sunday published a detailed response, rejecting many of the report's findings. Kazem Gharibabadi noted that out of the IAEA's 682 inspections of 32 states, 493 were carried out in Iran alone. 'So long as a country's nuclear activities are under the IAEA's monitoring, there is no cause for concern,' he said. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran is neither pursuing nuclear weapons nor does it possess any undeclared nuclear materials or activities.' The IAEA report said that as of May 17, Iran has amassed 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%. That's an increase of almost 50% since the IAEA's last report in February. The 60% enriched material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The phone conversation between Araghchi and Grossi came hours after Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who is mediating the U.S.-Iran talks, visited Tehran on Saturday to present the latest U.S. proposal for ongoing talks. The U.S.-Iran talks are attempting to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic, which have strained relations for almost 50 years. The fifth round of talks between the U.S. and Iran concluded in Rome last week with 'some but not conclusive progress,' al-Busaidi said at the time.
Malay Mail
8 hours ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Iran warns of retaliation if European powers exploit UN nuclear report
TEHRAN, June 1 — Iran today warned it would retaliate if European powers exploit a UN report showing it has stepped up production of highly enriched uranium. In a phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi to stop 'parties from exploiting' the agency for political ends, according to a statement, referring to the United Kingdom, France and Germany, who have warned they could reimpose sanctions if Iran's nuclear programme threatens the continent's security. — AFP
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
Iran has secretly amassed enough near weapons-grade uranium for nine atom bombs, UN warns
Iran has secretly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels and could soon have enough to make atomic weapons, the UN's nuclear watchdog has warned. Tehran has now become the only non-nuclear-weapon state to have produced such material, according to a confidential report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The regime has amassed 408.6kg of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, which is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. That's an increase of 133.8kg -- almost 50 per cent -- since IAEA's last report in February. Theoretically, some 42kg of 90 per cent enriched uranium is enough to produce one atomic bomb. This means if Tehran manages to enrich its current stockpile to weapons-grade levels, it would be sufficient to make at least nine atom bombs. The UN report also estimates that Iran's overall stockpile of enriched uranium stood at 9,247.6kg -- an increase of 953.2kg since February. It comes as Tehran and Washington have been holding several rounds of talks over a possible nuclear deal that US President Donald Trump is trying to reach. Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. But Rafael Grossi, the Director General for the IAEA, warned the world that the regime is 'not far away' from completing a successful nuclear test aimed at military use. US intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program -- but is in a position to produce a nuclear weapon if it wishes to. Israel accused Iran of being determined to acquire nuclear weapons after the UN report was shared with member states. The report was a 'clear warning sign' that 'Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons program', a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. It said IAEA's report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years -- the purpose of Iran's nuclear program is not peaceful. 'Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever,' it added. The Sun previously revealed chilling satellite pictures showing Iran's sprawling secret nuclear site codenamed 'Rainbow'. Sources inside Iran uncovered how the base is being used to develop nuclear-capable missiles with a 3200km range - able to strike US bases in the Middle East. Despite US Vice President JD Vance insisting talks between the US and Iran on the 'right pathway', Tehran has secretly been greatly expanding its nuclear empire. A powerful nuclear blast from Iran could have disastrous consequences for the Middle East -- and beyond -- thanks to the capability of the warheads. This week, senior Iranian officials dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the US. They said that any agreement must fully lift sanctions and allow the country's nuclear program to continue. The comments came a day after Mr Trump said he had told Mr Netanyahu to hold off on striking Iran to give the US administration more time to push for a new deal with Tehran. Mr Trump said on Friday that he still thinks a deal could be completed in the not-too-distant future. 'They don't want to be blown up. They would rather make a deal,' he said. 'It would be a great thing if we could have a deal without bombs being dropped all over the Middle East.' Tehran was slapped with a chilling deadline to either hold direct talks and sign a new nuclear agreement or potentially face military action. But Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei strongly refused to agree to Mr Trump's demands, saying that Iran will not engage in any direct negotiations with the US. The snub saw a furious Mr Trump rip into the regime and threaten to strike Iran. Mr Trump said he would slap Tehran with further sanctions under his administration's maximum pressure policy to cripple its economy. 'If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing,' Mr Trump told NBC. 'It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.' The war of words came as the US amassed at least five B-2 strategic bombers on the British island of Diego Garcia -- all aimed at Iran. Iran is more than 3700km from where the bombers are stationed -- but the B-2s have a massive 11,100-mile (17,900km) range. The heavy bombers can obliterate targets with their huge 25-tonne bomb payload per jet. It had been thought the five B-2 Spirit bombers were aimed at Yemen and the Houthi terror group after Mr Trump launched strikes against them two weeks ago.
