Latest news with #AmirIravani
Saba Yemen
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Iran Rejects US Allegations Against It Regarding Yemen and Red Sea
New York – Saba: The Islamic Republic of Iran announced its rejection of the United States' false allegations and accusations against Iran regarding the Red Sea and Yemen. In a letter addressed to the President of the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, Ambassador Amir Iravani, the letter affirmed that "the Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to all its international obligations and relevant Security Council resolutions, and continues to support the comprehensive Yemeni-led peaceful political process." Whatsapp Telegram Email more of (International)
AFP
25-06-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Video shows Russian submarines firing at Ukraine, not an Iranian missile attack on Israel
'Breaking news: Iran could carry out nuclear test today - local press,' reads the Facebook post published on June 13, 2025. 'In addition, after several waves of missile strikes from the outside, the Israeli army allowed the citizens to leave the shelters, but recommended them to stay nearby.' 'Iran's foreign minister said Tehran was negotiating with the United States, but Israeli strikes had forced the country to 'leave the diplomatic route',' the post continues. 'Video 1 - Missile fired from an Iranian submarine. Video 2 - Fire in the financial center of Tel-Aviv (sic).' Image Screenshot of the false Facebook post taken on June 19, 2025 The video attached to the post shows missiles being launched from the sea at night and has a Euronews logo in the top right corner. The video went viral on social media after Israel fired missiles at Iranian nuclear and military facilities on June 13, 2025, killing several top officials and prompting a counterattack by Iran (archived here and here). Sirens sounded across Israel as smoke rose in Tel Aviv, the largest city in central Israel, shortly after residents were told to head to shelters. The Israeli military said at least two waves of Iranian missiles were launched. At the same time, Tehran announced that it targeted 'dozens of targets' and 'military bases and infrastructure', including a hospital (archived here and here). During a Security Council meeting, the Islamic Republic of Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Iravani, announced that the Israeli strikes on Iran killed 78 people, including senior military commanders, and injured more than 320 others (archived here). However, the video does not show a recent Iranian missile strike on Israel. Russian missile strike A reverse image search of the keyframes of the video revealed it was published by Euronews on March 26, 2022 (archived here). AFP was credited for the footage. According to the report, the video showed Russian missiles being launched from the Black Sea towards Ukraine. The Russian defence ministry reportedly said the missiles fired targeted some Ukrainian armed forces infrastructure bases in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine, adding that the Kalibr missiles destroyed a weapons and ammunition depot in the Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv, on March 25, 2022. Image Screenshot of the 2022 Euronews report taken on June 24, 2025 Other news outlets (here and here) published the same footage, also crediting AFP and citing Russia's defence ministry (archived here and here). AFP's caption with the video confirmed Russia launched a 'salvo' of Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea 'at Ukrainian Armed Forces infrastructure in Zhytomyr region of Ukraine'. AFP has fact-checked more mis/disinformation on the Iran-Israel war here.
Saba Yemen
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Iran complains Grossi at UN over stances at nuclear peaceful program
New York - Saba: Iran filed a complaint against the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, in a letter to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council on Saturday. Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Iravani, said in the complaint letter: "The public statements made by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, prior to the recent aggression launched by the Israeli regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran, constitute a flagrant and grave violation of the principle of impartiality stipulated in his responsibilities." He added: "Such statements are completely inconsistent with the legal duties and obligations stipulated in the IAEA Statute." Irwani emphasized that what is of particular legal significance is the reaction of the IAEA Director General during the press conference following the start of the Board of Governors meeting on June 9. In the face of Israel's public threats against Iran's safeguarded nuclear facilities, Grossi merely referred to what he described as Israel's alleged "concerns," which he considered worthy of consideration. He deliberately ignored the explicit legal prohibition under international law and IAEA General Conference resolutions, which explicitly prohibit any threat or use of force against nuclear facilities intended for peaceful purposes. He considered this deliberate disregard to be a clear failure to adhere to the binding legal principles within the Director General's mandate. He pointed out that the Director General's behavior following the Israeli aggression clearly and repeatedly demonstrates his inability to adhere to the requirements of neutrality, objectivity, and professionalism, qualities required of him by his position. He explained: "In the statement delivered by the Director General on June 16, 2025, during the Board of Governors meeting, he did not identify the Israeli entity as a party responsible for this aggression, nor did he issue any condemnation of the illegal targeting of safeguarded nuclear facilities, despite public Israeli statements that these attacks would continue "as long as necessary." The Iranian delegate emphasized that such failure to establish responsibility and refrain from condemnation constitutes a violation of the Agency's commitment to upholding the comprehensive safeguards system and undermines the fundamental foundations of the global non-proliferation regime. Irawani considered the Director General's continued silence and inaction in the face of these violations, which are inconsistent with the IAEA's responsibilities and obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions, to be complicit in failing to act in the face of attacks unprecedented in the Agency's history. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
The National
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
IAEA warns of 'serious consequences' if Israel attacks Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant
An Israeli strike on Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant could have 'most serious' consequences, the head of the UN's atomic watchdog warned on Friday, raising concern over possible regional escalation. 'It is an operating nuclear power plant and as such it hosts thousands of kilograms of nuclear material,' International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council. 'Countries of the region have reached out directly to me to express their concerns. I want to make it absolutely and completely clear: In case of an attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant, a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment.' Mr Grossi warned that, should Israel target the power lines supplying electricity to the plant, the consequences could be 'severe' within and beyond the boundaries of Iran. Residents may be required to take iodine tablets and could face food and water shortages. He spoke a day after an Israeli military official said a representative's statement saying a strike had been carried out on Bushehr, Iran's only nuclear power plant, was a 'mistake'. He said he could neither confirm nor deny that the Russian-built Bushehr plant, located on the Gulf coast, had been hit. Iran's UN ambassador Amir Iravani accused Israel of attacking civilians and urged the Security Council to respond. 'If the Council fails to act now, it will send a message that international law and resolution apply selectively,' he said. He also voiced concern over 'credible reports that the United States … may be joining this war ', warning that such involvement would violate the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and threaten global security. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on Iran to uphold and 'respect' its commitments under the NPT and reiterated Tehran's previous statements that it is not seeking nuclear weapons. Israel's ambassador lashed out at Iran's envoy for requesting an emergency Security Council session. 'How dare you? How dare you write five letters in the last week? Come before this council demand the session and ask the international community for sympathy?' Danny Danon said. 'How dare you ask the international community to protect you from the consequences of your own genocidal agenda? Have you no shame? 'Iran has already enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels. It cannot be denied. We saw the reports. It has built deep underground facilities designed to survive bunker-busting bombs. It has advanced missile delivery systems, and it has lied to the IAEA and the world at every step.' He described Israel as 'holding the line between civilisation and genocidal jihadist imperialism'. 'Iran doesn't just want to destroy Israel, it wants to remake the world order, one missile, one terror proxy, one destroyed hospital at a time,' Mr Danon said. Russia, which has citizens working at Bushehr, said the internationalisation of the Israel-Iran conflict should be avoided. Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's UN envoy, called for immediate de-escalation and urged the council to avoid 'another devastating' war that would have unpredictable repercussions for the entire region and world. 'Not a single of the member states of this body is under more stringent oversight and scrutiny. Iran has been strictly complying with its obligations under the NPT,' he said. 'Today, the US, yet again, together with the UK, France and Germany, is attempting to persuade all parties to believe the groundless fabrications about plans allegedly harboured by Tehran to gain possession of nuclear weapons.' The US has long believed that Iran has been working on developing a nuclear weapon – something Tehran denies. US President Donald Trump has reiterated that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Concern is high that the US will soon join the conflict and strike Iran. But the US ambassador said it is 'not too late' for Iran 'to do the right thing'. 'President Trump has been clear in recent days that Iran's leadership must completely abandon its nuclear enrichment programme and all aspirations of acquiring a nuclear weapon,' said acting US ambassador Dorothy Shea. 'We can no longer ignore that Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All it needs is a decision from their supreme leader [ Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ].' China, meanwhile, called for an immediate ceasefire, saying Israel's actions violate international law and international norms, threaten Iran's sovereignty and security, and undermine regional peace. China's UN Ambassador Fu Cong warned that the situation must not be allowed to spiral into an 'unknown abyss'. Kuwait, speaking on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned Israeli attacks on Iran and its nuclear facilities, warning they posed 'dangerous repercussions' for regional security and stability. 'They are a blatant violation of the principles of international law and the UN Charter, and they thwart international efforts to achieve peace and de-escalation,' Faisal Al Enezi, charge d'affaires at Kuwait's mission to the UN told the Council. He added that the GCC is intensifying diplomatic efforts at the highest levels to prevent further escalation, emphasising that diplomacy and dialogue remain the 'only choice and alternative' to confrontation and escalation. Mr Al Enezi warned that continued deterioration of the situation could have 'catastrophic consequences', fuelling broader regional tensions and closing the door on a peaceful resolution.
The National
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Donald Trump says Israel and Iran will reach an agreement 'soon'
US President Donald Trump has called on Israel and Iran to reach an agreement, suggesting that undisclosed talks were under way and predicting peace between the two countries soon. 'We will have peace, soon, between Israel and Iran,' Mr Trump said in a social media post on Sunday. 'Many calls and meetings now taking place,' he said. 'I do a lot and never get credit for anything, but that's OK, the people understand. Make the Middle East great again.' The White House did not provide more details on the nature of the discussions. Mr Trump also said that Washington could still become involved in the escalating conflict while emphasising that Washington was 'not at this moment' engaged in military action. 'It's possible we could get involved,' Mr Trump said in an interview with ABC News. He told Tehran that any attack on the US would trigger a military response of unprecedented force, while distancing Washington from Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and intelligence sites. Writing on social media, Mr Trump said the US 'had nothing to do with the attack on Iran tonight', referring to Israel's military operations against Tehran. He acknowledged prior knowledge of the strikes. Iran's UN envoy Amir Iravani accused the US on Friday during an emergency session of the Security Council of providing full political and intelligence support to Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, calling the attacks a 'declaration of war'. 'We will not forget that our people lost their lives as a result of the Israeli attacks with American weapons. These actions amount to a declaration of war,' he said. Mr Trump said that if the US were to be 'attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US armed forces will come down on you at levels never seen before'. 'We can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel and end this bloody conflict,' he added. A round of US-Iran nuclear talks that was due to be held in Oman on Sunday was cancelled. He also expressed openness to Russian President Vladimir Putin acting as a mediator between the two Middle East foes, Mr Trump said, 'He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it.' A round of US-Iran nuclear talks that was due to be held in Oman on Sunday was cancelled. The Middle East teetered on the brink on Friday after the Israeli military launched Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear and military sites. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation was launched to 'roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival'. 'This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,' he said on Friday. Israel said its strikes have killed senior generals and also leading scientists and experts involved in Iran's nuclear programme. During his first term as President, Mr Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, dismantling an agreement brokered three years earlier under his predecessor Barack Obama and reimposing sanctions.
