Latest news with #IAEABoardofGovernors
Saba Yemen
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
IAEA: No evidence of Iranian Military Nuclear Program, our reports do not justify military action
Vienna - Saba: Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi affirmed on Friday that the agency's reports cannot be used as a pretext for launching military action against Iran, explaining that military decisions are made on political, not technical, grounds. Grossi said in statements to US media outlets, "There is no evidence of an Iranian military nuclear program, and the agency's reports cannot justify military action against Iran." He added, "The latest report on inspection activities in Iran does not contain substantive new information and does not show any current evidence of an organized Iranian program to manufacture or produce nuclear weapons." Grossi pointed out that "in the early 2000s, some activities related to nuclear weapons production were recorded, but they no longer exist." He stated that "talking about the time it might take Iran to develop a nuclear weapon if it decided to do so is currently unrealistic and speculative." Grossi's statements come amid ongoing Israeli aggression against Iran since dawn last Friday, which has assassinated dozens of military leaders, scientists, and civilians, and targeted Iranian civilian, military, and nuclear facilities. This comes after the IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution accusing Tehran of violating the Non-Proliferation Treaty and failing to cooperate on issues related to undeclared nuclear activities and materials dating back to before 2000. Iran had previously denied these accusations, asserting that the allegations are old and that it had not concealed any nuclear activities. On Thursday, Tehran accused Grossi of complicity and providing the Zionist entity with a pretext for its aggression against the country. In a post on X platform, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei accused IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi of "complicity and covering up the truth" through a "biased report." Baghaei said that Grossi "hid the truth through his biased report," noting that the report was based on unfounded allegations made by the United States and the European Troika (France, Germany, and Italy), resulting in an inappropriate decision. In a subsequent statement on Friday, the IAEA Director General confirmed that the Zionist attacks on nuclear facilities in Iran have caused a significant deterioration in security and safety levels. Grossi explained that the agency has been monitoring the situation since the beginning of the Zionist attacks on Iran, noting that the attack on the Bushehr facility could lead to serious environmental damage, as it contains nuclear material, and could have catastrophic consequences for the population of Tehran. He said that the attacks affected the electrical infrastructure at the Natanz facility, and that four buildings at the Isfahan site were damaged, in addition to direct damage to a centrifuge building. Grossi stressed that Iran's uranium stockpile remains under safeguards, and that the agency is ready to resume inspections as soon as security conditions improve. He expressed concern about the possibility of a radioactive leak if the escalation continues. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Sky News AU
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
IAEA board finds Iran in breach of nuclear obligations
Australian National University Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies Research Scholar Ian Parmeter says the International Atomic Energy Agency claims Iran has not been 'compliant' with nuclear obligations. 'The IAEA Board of Governors just two days ago, but it is really very serious, it basically said that for the first time in 20 years, Iran was not compliant with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,' Mr Parmeter told Sky News Australia. 'That could possibly be seen as the trigger for Israel for the prime minister to decide to launch the attacks.'
Saba Yemen
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Baghaei: Allegations of Iran's failure to fulfill its nuclear obligations indication of ill-intentioned intentions of resolution's drafters
Tehran – Saba: Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei denounced on Thursday the exploitation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by the three European countries (Britain, France, and Germany) and the United States against Iran. In a press statement carried by the Iranian News Agency (IRNA), Baghaei said that the allegation of Iran's failure to fulfill its obligations regarding the nuclear program in itself demonstrates the lack of credibility and ill-intentions of the resolution's drafters, as even the IAEA Director General's excellent political report did not raise such allegations. Baghaei strongly condemned the use of the IAEA Board of Governors by the three European countries and the United States as a tool to raise doubts about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program. He categorically rejected the allegations contained in the IAEA Board of Governors resolution, which was approved Thursday afternoon at the joint proposal of France, Britain, Germany, and the United States and based on the IAEA Director General's political report. Baghaei considered this an unjustified, and unfair measure designed and implemented with the aim of pressuring Iran to deprive the Iranian people of their legitimate rights and interests in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman held the drafters of this resolution responsible for the consequences and repercussions of this unjustified and destructive measure. He emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the context of ensuring and protecting the interests of the Iranian people and their rights to benefit from peaceful nuclear energy, will take the necessary measures to respond to this measure. He considered the allegation of Iran's failure to comply with its obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements to be baseless and fabricated. He said, "This in itself demonstrates the lack of credibility and ill-intentioned intentions of the drafters of the resolution, as even the IAEA Director General's highly political report did not raise such allegations." Baghaei expressed his regret for the biased performance of the IAEA Director General regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, recalling the direct responsibility that the Director General bears for undermining the IAEA's professional credibility. Baghaei called on the IAEA Director General to adhere to his duties and obligations in accordance with the IAEA's Statute and avoid political behavior. He expressed his appreciation to China, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Belarus, who, in a joint statement, took responsible and legal positions in rejecting the aforementioned resolution. Baghaei also thanked all countries that abstained from voting on the resolution, demonstrating their opposition to the use of the Board of Governors by four Western countries as a tool. He emphasized the Iranian people's determination to protect their rights and interests based on the UN Charter and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution on Thursday alleging Iran's non-compliance with its nuclear safeguards obligations for the first time in nearly 20 years. In response, the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran condemned the IAEA Board of Governors' resolution in a joint statement. The statement noted that "this resolution accuses Tehran of failing to comply with its safeguards obligations, without mentioning its ongoing and extensive cooperation with the IAEA." The statement stated that this resolution reiterates the politically motivated allegations of the Israeli enemy regime, based on fabricated documents, claiming that Iran has not cooperated fully and promptly with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 2019 regarding "undisclosed nuclear materials and activities at several locations." The statement explained that this resolution indicates that the IAEA's failure to provide assurances regarding the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program may fall within the jurisdiction of the UN Security Council. It noted that "this is the same agenda pursued by the Zionist regime after signing the nuclear agreement in 2015, attempting to secure the Iranian nuclear program and revive the closed issue known as "possible military dimensions" (PMD), thus paving the way for returning the Iranian file to the UN Security Council." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
CNBC
12-06-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
Trump wanted an Iran deal fast. Now he may get military confrontation
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Oil prices spiked overnight on geopolitical concerns, as U.S. President Donald Trump struck a sharply more negative tone over the progress of nuclear talks with Iran and announced the withdrawal of some American personnel from the Middle East. "They [U.S. military personnel] are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place and we will see what happens... We have given notice to move out," he told reporters on Wednesday. The Pentagon has ordered the withdrawal of troops and non-essential staff from embassies in Baghdad, Kuwait and Bahrain. Speaking on a podcast with the New York Post, Trump accused Tehran of "delaying", calling it a "shame." "I'm less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago. Something happened to them," he said of Iranian representatives. The president earlier warned that the U.S. or Israel could carry out airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities if negotiations failed. He added that his administration would not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. In response, Iran's defense minister expressed hope for the talks, but warned of military retaliation if things were to go south. "It won't come to that, and the talks will yield results. But if they don't, and the conflict is imposed upon us, the enemy's losses will undoubtedly be greater than ours," the minister told Iranian press. "In that case, America will have to leave the region, because all of its bases are within our reach. We have access to them, and without hesitation, we will target all of them in the host countries." On Thursday, the IAEA Board of Governors — the UN's nuclear watchdog — passed a resolution declaring Iran in non-compliance with its nuclear safeguards obligations for the first time in nearly 20 years. The developments mark a stark shift after several rounds of mostly indirect U.S.-Iran talks that were previously described as "positive" and "respectful." Tehran has accused Washington of not being serious in its engagement and not respecting Iran's right to enrich uranium for what it insists are peaceful purposes. As it stands, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman on Sunday for further discussions. Both the Trump administration and Iran say they want a deal. For Trump, this would deliver a political and diplomatic win that the previous Biden administration failed to achieve. For Iran, it would mean desperately needed relief from sanctions that have crippled its economy. The number one hold up? Domestic uranium enrichment in Iran, which can be used to generate nuclear energy for peaceful purposes — or build a bomb. After initially showing flexibility on Iran being able to enrich uranium at lower levels for nuclear power generation, Trump has changed his tune, saying anything beyond zero enrichment in the country is unacceptable. That's a hard deal-breaker for Tehran, which demands its right to a civilian nuclear energy program. Iran maintains that right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which it joined in 1970, and which allows non-nuclear weapon states to build peaceful nuclear energy programs. But concerns abound over Iran's actual intentions. Under the 2015 Obama-era Iranian nuclear deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran committed to capping levels of 3.67% enriched uranium at 300 kilograms — enough to sustain a civilian nuclear power program. But Iran's uranium enrichment has reached 60% purity, according to the IAEA — a dramatically higher level that is a short technical step from the weapons-grade purity level of 90%. "A country enriching at 60% is a very serious thing. Only countries making bombs are reaching this level," IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in 2021. So what happens next, and how high is the risk of a military conflict between the U.S or Israel, and Iran, a country of 93 million people that is nearly four times the size of Iraq? Israel appears ready to attack Iran, according to reports citing U.S. and European officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pressed Trump to allow strikes, while the American president said in late May that he had warned Netanyahu against attacking Iran, while negotiations with Washington were under way. Tensions have escalated since then. Multiple analysts speaking to CNBC say a military confrontation is still likely to be averted — for now. Some suggest that the recent partial evacuation orders are part of the choreography of pressure ahead of the upcoming U.S.-Iran talks. Despite Trump publicly saying any Iranian domestic enrichment at all represents a red line, a number of options have been floated that would provide a sort of "compromise" for Tehran. Those include the U.S. proposal that Iran join a regional nuclear consortium that would allow it to continue enriching uranium at low levels while committing to zero enrichment at some point in the future, and that would see it mothball — but not dismantle — its nuclear facilities. But the U.S. proposal "is more a series of ideas than a concrete plan, and for the moment looks unworkable," Gregory Brew, senior Iran and energy analyst at Eurasia Group, wrote in a note this week. "Even if Iran is allowed to enrich on an interim basis, it will not accept an arrangement that does not safeguard this right in perpetuity." In addition, the Iranians "are also quite irritated that the U.S. has not engaged substantively with the issue of sanctions relief," Brew said. "They are asking for clarification on that issue; the Iranians of course are chiefly interested in a deal that brings sanctions relief for their economy." The fact that Iran has openly threatened to directly strike U.S. assets in the region if attacked is tremendously significant, according to Trita Parsi, executive vice president at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. That's in large part because the missiles Iran deployed to strike Israel last October "actually were quite efficient," Parsi told CNBC's "Access Middle East" on Thursday. "If there is a confrontation, and if the Iranians make true on their threats to target American bases, this is going to end up becoming a very, very devastating confrontation," Parsi said. "And supporters of Trump from his own base are very worried that he will be jeopardizing his entire presidency over this issue, when in reality, there is a diplomatic deal in reach."
Hindustan Times
08-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
No relief on sanctions in US nuclear deal proposal, says Iran
Iran's parliament speaker said on Sunday that the latest US proposal for a nuclear deal does not include the lifting of sanctions, state media reported as negotiations appeared to have hit a roadblock. The two foes have held five rounds of Omani-mediated talks since April, seeking to replace a landmark agreement between Tehran and world powers that set restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, before US President Donald Trump abandoned the accord in 2018 during his first term. In a video aired on Iranian state TV, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that "the US plan does not even mention the lifting of sanctions". He called it a sign of dishonesty, accusing the Americans of seeking to impose a "unilateral" agreement that Tehran would not accept. "The delusional US president should know better and change his approach if he is really looking for a deal," Ghalibaf said. On May 31, after the fifth round of talks, Iran said it had received "elements" of a US proposal, with officials later taking issue with "ambiguities" in the draft text. The US and its Western allies have long accused the Islamic republic of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a charge Iran has consistently denied, insisting that its atomic programme was solely for peaceful purposes. Key issues in the negotiations have been the removal of biting economic sanctions and uranium enrichment. Tehran says it has the right to enrich uranium under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while the Trump administration has called any Iranian enrichment a "red line". Trump, who has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions on Iran since taking office in January, has repeatedly said it will not be allowed any uranium enrichment under a potential deal. On Tuesday, Iran's top negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said the country "will not ask anyone for permission to continue enriching uranium". According to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state in the world that enriches uranium up to 60 percent -- close to the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected the latest US proposal and said enrichment was "key" to Iran's nuclear programme. The IAEA Board of Governors is scheduled to meet in Vienna starting Monday and discuss Iran's nuclear activities. On Sunday the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran warned it could reduce its level of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog if it adopts a resolution against it. "Certainly, the IAEA should not expect the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue its broad and friendly cooperation," the Iranian agency's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi told state TV. Araghchi on Friday accused European powers of "opting for malign action against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors", warning on X that "Iran will react strongly against any violation of its rights". A quarterly report from the IAEA issued last week cited a "general lack of cooperation" from Iran and raised concerns over undeclared nuclear material. Tehran has rejected the report as politically motivated and based on "forged documents" it said had been provided by its arch foe Israel.
