Iranian parliament reportedly approves closing Hormuz Strait: Media
Iranian parliament has approved the closing of Hormuz Strait, Reuters reports citing the Press TV adding that the top security body is required to finalize a decision on this measure.
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Leaders
25 minutes ago
- Leaders
Iran Retains Some of Its Nuclear Capabilities after US Strikes: Reports
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief, Rafael Grossi, suggested that Iran will be able to produce enriched uranium within months, after Israel and the US struck its nuclear capabilities and facilities. Moreover, an analysis by the New York Times revealed that some of Iran's nuclear capabilities remain intact, which means Tehran may have the ability to continue working toward a nuclear weapon. However, the US administration rejected these findings. Producing Enriched Uranium In an interview with CBS News on Saturday, Grossi said that Tehran will restore its ability to produce enriched uranium within months despite the 'very serious level of damage' caused by the US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities. 'The capacities they have are there. They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that,' he said. The UN nuclear watchdog chief explained that Iran's nuclear capabilities incurred severe damage, but not total damage. He added that Tehran still has 'the industrial and technological capacities' to start the enrichment process again. Furthermore, Grossi pointed out that Iran's highly enriched uranium, estimated at 400 kilograms, could have been moved elsewhere before the Israeli and US attacks. 'We don't know where this material could be' during the 12-day war. 'So some could have been destroyed as part of the attack, but some could have been moved. So there has to be at some point a clarification,' he added. US and Israeli Assessments Grossi's assessments contradicted those of the US and Israeli officials. The US President, Donald Trump, insisted that the US strikes against Iranian nuclear sites had set Tehran's nuclear program back 'decades,' adding that Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been 'completely and totally obliterated' in the US strikes. Trump also ruled out the possibility of moving nuclear stockpile before the US attack. During an interview with Fox News, the US President said: 'It's a very hard thing to do plus we didn't give much notice. They didn't move anything,' he asserted. Meanwhile, the Israeli military Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, said that 'Iran is no longer a nuclear threshold state,' the Times of Israel reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. He also said that Iran's nuclear program 'has been set back for years' following the elimination of Tehran's nuclear scientists and strikes on key nuclear facilities. Iran-Israel Conflict On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran to eliminate its nuclear program and prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon. As a result, both countries exchanged intensified aerial and missile attacks for 12 days. Then on June 22, the US intervened in the conflict by striking three nuclear facilities in Iran, namely Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, using bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that the extent of damage to Iran's nuclear sites is 'serious,' without revealing details. After the US strikes, the Iranian parliament approved a bill to suspend Tehran's cooperation with the IAEA, emphasizing that 'Iran's peaceful nuclear program will move forward at a faster pace.' The bill, also approved by the Iranian Guardian Council and is pending the president's ratification, will prevent UN inspectors from having any access to Iran's uranium enrichment facilities. A day before the Israeli strikes on Iran, the IAEA declared Iran in breach of its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years. Iran called the resolution 'political' and vowed countermeasures, including establishing a new enrichment facility and replacing old centrifuges for advanced ones at Fordo. Iran's Nuclear Capabilities Some of Iran's nuclear capabilities remain intact after the Israeli and US strikes, New York Times revealed in an analysis on Friday. It said despite the assassination of 14 Iranian nuclear scientists, Tehran still has another tier of scientists with the necessary expertise to continue their predecessors' work. Moreover, Iran's mining capabilities were left untouched as two uranium mines were not targeted in the attacks. The NYT report also pointed to secret enrichment facilities, which Iran has been building underground for advanced, next-generation centrifuges. It also suggested that Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium had been moved before the attacks, citing a preliminary classified US intelligence report. On his part, Trump announced on Wednesday that American and Iranian officials will hold talks next week on Iran's nuclear program, a day after announcing a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel. 'I'll tell you what, we're going to talk with them next week, with Iran. We may sign an agreement, I don't know,' he said. The US President insisted that Tehran was 'not going to have a bomb and they're not going to enrich' uranium. 'We won't let that happen. Number one, militarily we won't,' he noted. Short link : Post Views: 7
Asharq Al-Awsat
31 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran's Judiciary Says at Least 71 Killed in Israel's Attack on Tehran's Notorious Evin Prison
At least 71 people were killed in Israel's attack on Tehran's Evin prison, a notorious facility where many political prisoners and dissidents have been held, Iran's judiciary said on Sunday. Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir posted on the office's official Mizan news agency website that those killed on Monday included staff, soldiers, prisoners and members of visiting families. It was not possible to independently verify the claim. The June 23 attack, the day before the ceasefire between Israel and Iran took hold, hit several prison buildings and prompted concerns from rights groups about the safety of the inmates. Jahangir did not break down the casualty figures but said the attack had hit the prison's infirmary, engineering building, judicial affairs and visitation hall, where visiting family members were killed and injured. On the day of the attack, New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran criticized Israel for striking the prison, seen as a symbol of the Iranian regime's repression of any opposition, saying it violated the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets. At the same time, the group said Iran was legally obligated to protect the prisoners held in Evin, and slammed authorities in Tehran for their 'failure to evacuate, provide medical assistance or inform families' following the attack. Jahangir said some of those injured were treated on site, while others were sent to hospitals. Iran had not previously announced any death figures, though on Saturday confirmed that top prosecutor Ali Ghanaatkar — whose prosecution of dissidents, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, led to widespread criticism by human rights groups — had been killed in the attack. He was one of about 60 people for whom a massive public funeral procession was held on Saturday in Tehran, and he was to be buried at a shrine in Qom on Sunday. Israel attacked Iran on June 13 in a bid to destroy the country's nuclear program. Over 12 days before a ceasefire was declared, Israel claimed it killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists, while hitting eight nuclear-related facilities and more than 720 military infrastructure sites. More than 1,000 people were killed, including at least 417 civilians, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group. In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, but those that got through caused damage in many areas and killed 28 people.
Asharq Al-Awsat
32 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia Welcomes US-Brokered Rwanda-Congo Peace Agreement
Saudi Arabia welcomed on Saturday the signing of the peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was facilitated by the United States. The Kingdom hoped the agreement will fulfill the aspirations of the two peoples for development and prosperity and that it will benefit regional and international security and peace, said the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry appreciated the diplomatic efforts and constructive role played by the United States and Qatar in this regard.
