Latest news with #IAEA
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China's Wang Yi calls for ‘new international agreement' on Iran after US, Israeli attacks
China's top diplomat Wang Yi has called for a 'new international agreement' on Iran while accusing the United States and Israel of destabilising the Middle East through military actions on Iranian nuclear facilities. Speaking at a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris on Friday, Wang also voiced deep concerns about escalating tensions in the region and warned of the looming spectre of a 'nuclear disaster'. His remarks came as Beijing, a key ally of an increasingly isolated Tehran, intensified its criticism of the US and Israel following last month's pre-emptive strikes on Iranian personnel and nuclear facilities. China has also continued to style itself as a responsible power and key mediator. Wang, who is currently on a European tour , reaffirmed that China valued Iran's repeated pledges not to develop nuclear weapons, while also respecting its right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. 'On this basis, relevant parties should accelerate negotiations towards a new international agreement to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, and place Iran's nuclear activities fully under the strict supervision and safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),' he said without further elaboration, according to China's foreign ministry. 'The road to peace lies beneath our feet, and history will judge each party's sincerity.'
Gulf Today
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Trump says Iran has not agreed to inspections, give up enrichment
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran had not agreed to inspections of its nuclear programme or to give up enriching uranium. He told reporters aboard Air Force One that he believed Tehran's nuclear program had been set back permanently although Iran could restart it at a different location. Trump said he would discuss Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits the White House on Monday. "I would say it's set back permanently," Trump said as he travelled to New Jersey after an Independence Day celebration at the White House. "I would think they'd have to start at a different location. And if they did start, it would be a problem." Trump said he would not allow Tehran to resume its nuclear programme, adding that Iran did want to meet with him. The UN nuclear watchdog said on Friday it had pulled its last remaining inspectors from Iran as a standoff deepens over their return to the country's nuclear facilities bombed by the United States and Israel. An overview of the Fordow uranium enrichment facility, south of the capital Tehran. AFP The US and Israel say Iran was enriching uranium to build nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Israel launched its first military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites in a 12-day war with the Islamic Republic three weeks ago. The International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors have not been able to inspect Iran's facilities since then, even though IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said that is his top priority. Iran's parliament has passed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA until the safety of its nuclear facilities can be guaranteed. While the IAEA says Iran has not yet formally informed it of any suspension, it is unclear when the agency's inspectors will be able to return to Iran. Iran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bombings by issuing a damning report on May 31 that led to a resolution by the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations. The US and Israeli military strikes either destroyed or badly damaged Iran's three uranium enrichment sites. But it was less clear what has happened to much of Iran's nine tons of enriched uranium, especially the more than 400kg (880 pounds) enriched to up to 60% purity, a short step from weapons grade. Reuters
TimesLIVE
5 hours ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Trump says Iran has not agreed to inspections, give up enrichment
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran had not agreed to inspections of its nuclear programme or to give up enriching uranium. He told reporters aboard Air Force One that he believed Tehran's nuclear programme had been set back permanently though Iran could restart it at a different location. Trump said he would discuss Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits the White House on Monday. 'I would say it's set back permanently,' Trump said as he travelled to New Jersey after an Independence Day celebration at the White House. 'I would think they'd have to start at a different location. And if they did start, it would be a problem.' Trump said he would not allow Tehran to resume its nuclear programme, adding that Iran did want to meet him. The UN nuclear watchdog said on Friday it had pulled its last remaining inspectors from Iran as a standoff deepens over their return to the country's nuclear facilities bombed by the US and Israel. The US and Israel say Iran was enriching uranium to build nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. Israel launched its first military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites in a 12-day war with the Islamic Republic three weeks ago. The International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors have not been able to inspect Iran's facilities since then, even though IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said that is his top priority. Iran's parliament has passed a law suspending co-operation with the IAEA until the safety of its nuclear facilities can be guaranteed. While the IAEA says Iran has not yet formally informed it of any suspension, it is unclear when the agency's inspectors will be able to return to Iran. Iran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bombings by issuing a damning report on May 31 that led to a resolution by the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations. The US and Israeli military strikes either destroyed or badly damaged Iran's three uranium enrichment sites. But it was less clear what has happened to much of Iran's nine tonnes of enriched uranium, especially the more than 400kg enriched to up to 60% purity, a short step from weapons grade.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Think Trump ‘obliterated' Iran's nuclear programme? Don't be so sure
Two weeks after the United States launched air strikes on three of Iran's key nuclear sites, mounting evidence is puncturing President Donald Trump 's boasts that the facilities were ' obliterated '. Advertisement From the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog to leading American non-proliferation experts, scepticism is growing over Washington's assertions that the strikes set back Tehran's nuclear weapons ambitions 'by years'. Trump 'appears to have already lost interest', according to Barbara Slavin, a distinguished Middle East fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Centre think tank – apparently believing that a public declaration of victory renders negotiations with Iran unnecessary. But nuclear experts agree: no one outside Iran can say with any certainty what has become of the country's 900lb (409kg) stockpile of 60 per cent-enriched uranium. While this enrichment level falls one step short of weapons-grade, it is – by the UN's reckoning – enough to produce as many as nine nuclear warheads were Tehran to take that final leap. Instead of halting Iran's progress, the US and Israeli attacks have triggered a retaliatory ban on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, cutting off the UN Security Council's oversight of the country's nuclear sites and, crucially, its cache of highly enriched uranium (HEU). Advertisement Before the strikes, the IAEA had what it described as a 'comprehensive' picture of Iran's HEU reserves and the centrifuges spinning to enrich uranium. But now, as Director General Rafael Grossi told US news network CBS last Sunday, 'there is nothing'.
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Trump says Iran has not agreed to inspections, give up enrichment
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on board Air Force One, en route to New Jersey. (AP pic) WASHINGTON : US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran had not agreed to inspections of its nuclear programme or to give up enriching uranium. He told reporters aboard Air Force One that he believed Tehran's nuclear programme had been set back permanently, although Iran could restart it at a different location. Trump said he would discuss Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits the White House on Monday. 'I would say it's set back permanently,' Trump said as he travelled to New Jersey after an Independence Day celebration at the White House. 'I would think they'd have to start at a different location. And if they did start, it would be a problem.' Trump said he would not allow Tehran to resume its nuclear programme, adding that Iran did want to meet with him. The UN nuclear watchdog said on Friday it had pulled its last remaining inspectors from Iran as a standoff deepens over their return to the country's nuclear facilities bombed by the US and Israel. The US and Israel say Iran was enriching uranium to build nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. Israel launched its first military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites in a 12-day war with the Islamic Republic three weeks ago. The International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors have not been able to inspect Iran's facilities since then, even though IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said that is his top priority. Iran's parliament has passed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA until the safety of its nuclear facilities can be guaranteed. While the IAEA says Iran has not yet formally informed it of any suspension, it is unclear when the agency's inspectors will be able to return to Iran. Iran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bombings by issuing a damning report on May 31 that led to a resolution by the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations. The US and Israeli military strikes either destroyed or badly damaged Iran's three uranium enrichment sites. But it was less clear what had happened to much of Iran's nine tonnes of enriched uranium, especially the more than 400kg enriched to up to 60% purity, a short step from weapons grade.
