Iran suspends cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
Iran has repeatedly insisted that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes. The IAEA has said that while it had no evidence that Iran was building a weapon, the country was stockpiling around 882 pounds of highly enriched uranium, which could enable the government to build 10 bombs.
It is unclear how badly the strikes damaged Iran's nuclear program. President Trump insisted it was 'obliterated,' while Rafael Grossi, the IAEA director general, said Iran could begin enriching uranium again in a 'matter of months.'
One of the IAEA's main purposes is to monitor the nuclear activity of countries that have signed on to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and to try to prevent the building of nuclear weapons. Iran is a party to the treaty. Israel, which is widely believed to have nuclear weapons but has never confirmed it, is not.
Advertisement
The IAEA said that it was aware of the reports that Iran was suspending its cooperation and that it was waiting for further official information.
Iran's hawkish parliament passed the law last week. But it had not been clear whether President Masoud Pezeshkian, considered a political moderate, would put the law into effect or try to block it.
There has been widespread outrage in the Iranian government since the IAEA issued a declaration last month that Iran was not complying with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations. The agency released its findings the day before Israel launched its June 13 attack. Iranian officials argue the censure gave Israel political cover for its strikes.
Iranian officials also criticized Grossi for saying there was no evidence of a systematic effort to build nuclear weapons only after Israel began its strikes.
Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, called on Germany, France, and Britain to reimpose sanctions on Iran in response to the new law under a provision in the 2015 deal that limited the country's uranium enrichment.
The deal was agreed to by the Obama administration, the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council, the European Union, and Germany. Trump pulled the United States out during his first term, but European countries have continued to adhere to it.
Under a so-called 'snap back' provision in the agreement, sanctions can be reimposed if Iran is found to have violated the nuclear provisions.
'There's justification for snap back. But I don't think we're there yet,' said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House in London. 'Iran is trying to calibrate the escalation. It doesn't have too many cards to play, but this is the first opening salvo.'
Advertisement
Germany's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Martin Giese, called the new law a 'disastrous signal.'
'Iran's cooperation with the IAEA is essential for a diplomatic solution,' he told reporters Wednesday, urging Iran to reverse course.
Iranian lawmakers have stipulated two conditions for resuming cooperation, according to Iranian state media: that the safety of its nuclear program and scientists is secured, and an acknowledgment of what it says is its right under international law to enrich uranium.
Whether those conditions have been met would be decided by Iran's Supreme National Security Council, which shapes the country's security and foreign policy.
During the war, Iranian lawmakers also threatened to pass a law that would withdraw Iran from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The agreement requires transparency over its nuclear program, and a commitment not to build a nuclear bomb.
By focusing on its relationship with the nuclear watchdog, Iranian officials appear to have put that threat aside.
Trump has said that negotiations over Iran's nuclear program could resume as soon as this week, but Iran's foreign minister said they could start only if the United States guaranteed that it would not attack the country during talks. 'In order for us to decide to reengage, we will have to first ensure that America will not revert back to targeting us in a military attack during the negotiations,' the minister, Abbas Araghchi, told CBS News.
Under its agreement with Iran, the IAEA is supposed to inspect the nuclear facilities that Iran has publicly declared, including those at Natanz and Fordo, which the United States bombed. Israeli officials say there may be secret nuclear sites that Iran has not disclosed.
Advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Europe and China agree to take action on climate change during tense summit
China and the EU have issued a joint call to action on climate change during a tense bilateral summit in Beijing riven with major disagreements over trade and the war in Ukraine. The two economic giants issued a joint statement urging more emissions cuts and greater use of green technology and affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as calling for strong action at the upcoming Cop30 climate summit in Brazil. 'In the fluid and turbulent international situation today, it is crucial that all countries, notably the major economies, maintain policy continuity and stability and step up efforts to address climate change,' the joint statement said. The climate agreement was a silver lining on a stormy day when European leaders demanded a more balanced relationship with Beijing in talks with President Xi Jinping. They highlighted trade in their opening remarks, calling for concrete progress to address Europe's yawning trade deficit with China. 'As our co-operation has deepened, so have the imbalances,' European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. 'We have reached an inflection point. Rebalancing our bilateral relation is essential. Because to be sustainable, relations need to be mutually beneficial.' Expectations had been low before the talks, initially supposed to last two days but scaled back to one. They come amid financial uncertainty around the world, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the threat of US tariffs. Neither the EU nor China is likely to budge on key issues. European Council president Antonio Costa called on China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine — a long-running plea from European leaders which is likely to fall again on deaf ears. Mr Xi called for deeper co-operation between China and Europe to provide stability in an increasingly complex world. Both sides should set aside differences and seek common ground, he said, a phrase he often uses in relationships like the one with the EU. Beijing is willing to strengthen co-ordination on climate and make greater contributions to addressing climate change, he said, but he pushed back against EU restrictions on Chinese exports. 'We hope the EU will keep its trade and investment markets open, refrain from using restrictive economic and trade tools and provide a good business environment for Chinese companies to invest and develop in Europe,' he said, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Besides trade and the Ukraine war, Ms von der Leyen and Mr Costa were expected to raise concerns about Chinese cyberattacks and espionage, its restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals and its human rights record in Tibet, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The EU, meanwhile, has concerns about a looming trade battle with the US. Beijing's stance has hardened on the EU, despite a few olive branches, like the suspension of sanctions on European legislators who criticised Beijing's human rights record in Xinjiang province, where it is accused of a widespread campaign of repression against the Uyghurs. Like the US, the 27-nation EU bloc runs a massive trade deficit with China — around 300 billion euros (£260 billion) last year. It relies heavily on China for critical minerals and the magnets made from them for cars and appliances. The EU has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to support its car makers by balancing out Beijing's heavy subsidies. China would like those tariffs revoked. The rapid growth in China's market share in Europe has sparked concern that Chinese cars will eventually threaten the EU's ability to produce its own green technology to combat climate change. Business groups and unions also fear that the jobs of 2.5 million car industry workers could be put in jeopardy, as well those of 10.3 million more people whose employment depends indirectly on EV production.
The Hill
24 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump's new model to support Ukraine is a win-win
From the start, Ukraine's defense against Russia's full-scale invasion has been underpinned by a robust commitment from its Western partners. The Biden administration's pledge to support Ukraine 'as long as it takes' promised a sustained flow of military and financial aid directly from Washington. This 'direct donor' model was key to Ukraine's initial resilience, providing essential weaponry from U.S. stockpiles. Biden's approach primarily involved direct transfers from U.S. weapons inventories, prioritizing speed and ensuring that Ukraine received vital equipment quickly to counter Russian aggression. The American government provided extensive amounts of equipment, from air-defense missiles to artillery rounds and armored vehicles, directly to Kyiv. Now, under President Trump, the paradigm is shifting. The U.S. is transitioning from a direct donor to a 'strategic supplier,' where European allies purchase American weapons for Ukraine at their own expense. While this reorientation marks a significant change, it is far from the worst-case scenario for Ukraine. Instead, it represents a pragmatic and potentially more sustainable evolution of transatlantic burden-sharing, securing critical capabilities for Ukraine while invigorating the U.S. defense industrial base and recalibrating the nature of allied support. Support is still 'as long as it takes' but also 'at the others' expense.' This marks a departure from the traditional post-World War II donor-recipient model, particularly within the NATO alliance, towards a more transactional 'America First' approach. Future U.S. engagement in global security will likely be contingent upon tangible economic benefits and direct cost-sharing from allies. Such a shift could lead to a more predictable, albeit less altruistic, framework for security cooperation, where allies are compelled to demonstrate their commitment through direct financial contributions. This policy reorientation accelerates European strategic autonomy. While the immediate effect is Europe paying for U.S. weapons, the long-term implication is a forced impetus for greater European defense integration and self-sufficiency. European nations have already been increasing their defense spending and proactively planning for a future with less guaranteed U.S. aid. This new model, by making U.S. weapons available for purchase, encourages Europe to develop its own robust procurement mechanisms and potentially expand its own defense industrial base. Ukraine's most pressing and enduring need remains robust air defense against Russia's escalating missile and drone attacks. The U.S.-made Patriot air-defense system is critical, as it is one of the few systems capable of intercepting high-speed ballistic missiles. These systems are vital for protecting civilian infrastructure and population centers, which have been subjected to relentless Russian bombardment. A critical strategic reality for Ukraine is that not all American weapons are equally replaceable by European alternatives. While Europe is ramping up its own artillery production, the Patriot system's unique counter-ballistic missile capability makes it a requirement that only the U.S. can provide at scale. Europe, at the same time, has demonstrated a clear willingness and increasing capacity to shoulder a greater share of the burden. The European Union has already provided €165 billion in financial assistance and has launched an €800 billion Defense Readiness Plan. Frozen Russian sovereign assets may be used to finance what Ukraine needs. The shift to a foreign military sales model is explicitly intended to invigorate the U.S. defense industrial base. By integrating 'exportability features' into defense systems during the design phase, the U.S. seeks to advance its competitiveness abroad and potentially lower unit costs for both America and its allies. While the foreign military sales process has historically been slow and plagued by delivery backlogs, the new model offers a potential solution. Consistent, large-scale orders from European allies could provide the long-term contract certainty that the U.S. defense industry requires to invest significantly in surge capacity and overcome challenges. This transforms what was previously a 'drain' on American stockpiles, requiring replenishment at taxpayer expense, into a sustained stimulus for U.S. manufacturing, aligning with 'America First' economic principles. This shift is not merely about burden-sharing; it is about recapitalizing and modernizing the U.S. defense industrial base. While immediate fixes for current shortages remain challenging, this strategic reorientation creates a more sustainable industrial ecosystem. Trump's recent rhetoric marks a notable change from his earlier stance, which often appeared conciliatory toward Vladimir Putin. He has recognized that Russia, not Ukraine, is the core problem in negotiations, even threatening tariffs and sanctions on Russia and its trading partners if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days. The reality that Putin is not amenable to a quick 'deal' is now clear. There is now a crucial political opening for continued support to Ukraine, even if the funding mechanism changes. The narrative that Trump desires Ukraine's fall has been refuted. Instead, Trump is committed to ending the war on terms that align with his administration's interests. This represents a significant psychological advantage for Ukraine, as it lessens the fear of a complete U.S. abandonment.
The Hill
24 minutes ago
- The Hill
Columbia to pay $221M to restore funding cut by Trump administration
Columbia University said Wednesday it has agreed to pay the Trump administration $221 million to restore federal funding that was stripped following a probe into antisemitism on the campus. The school, according to the settlement, will pay a $200 million settlement to the federal government over a three-year period and $21 million to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). 'This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,' Acting University President Claire Shipman said in a statement. 'The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track,' she added. The interim president said the Trump administration deal will allow the school to maintain its academic independence after losing $400 million in grant funding earlier this year. In June, a judge dismissed a lawsuit led by Columbia's faculty, ruling that only the school had grounds to sue the government for revoking its funds. 'Columbia's longstanding research partnership with the federal government is vital to advancing our nation's progress in key areas of science, technology, and medicine,' Board of Trustees Co-Chairs David Greenwald and Jeh Johnson said in a statement on the matter. 'We are proud of the role we play in advancing this public service and preparing the next generations of students to meet complex challenges around the world,' they added. President Trump announced the agreement on Tuesday night in a Truth Social post celebrating the win for his administration. 'It's a great honor to have been involved, and I want to thank and congratulate Secretary Linda McMahon, and all those who worked with us on this important deal,' he wrote. 'I also want to thank and commend Columbia University for agreeing to do what is right. I look forward to watching them have a great future in our Country, maybe greater than ever before!' He warned earlier in the post that other schools could face similar measures to motivate the erasure of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which the administration has deemed discriminatory. 'Columbia has also committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies, admitting students based ONLY on MERIT, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students on campus,' he wrote in the post. 'Numerous other Higher Education Institutions that have hurt so many, and been so unfair and unjust, and have wrongly spent federal money, much of it from our government, are upcoming,' the president added.
