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The Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Iran moves to suspend inspections from nuclear watchdog after US and Israel attacks
IRAN'S PARLIAMENT HAS voted in favour of suspending the country's cooperation with the international watchdog agency that oversees nuclear energy. The vote to suspend the relationship with the UN-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a direct consequence of the Israeli and US bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities over the course of the last two weeks. Iran's national security council now has to approve the move for the suspension to go ahead. 'The International Atomic Energy Agency, which refused to even marginally condemn the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, put its international credibility up for auction,' Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said, according to state TV. 'The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran will suspend its cooperation with the IAEA until the security of the nuclear facilities is guaranteed.' Iranian MPs chanted 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel' after the vote, state TV reported. Iran had already voiced sharp criticism of the IAEA for not condemning Israel's attacks. Yesterday, following the implementation of a fragile ceasefire, IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said that 'resuming cooperation with the IAEA is key to a successful diplomatic agreement to finally resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear activities', while proposing to meet with Iran's foreign minister 'soon'. 'As I have repeatedly stated – before and during the conflict – nuclear facilities should never be attacked due to the very real risk of a serious radiological accident,' Grossi said. Advertisement A suspension of cooperation with the IAEA would bring an end to watchdog inspections of Iranian uranium enrichment facilities, which were targeted by US and Israeli strikes. A breaking off of relations with the IAEA would also present a major obstacle to any future negotiations between Iran and Western states over the future of its nuclear programme, beyond the damage already done to those prospects by the US joining Israel's attacks. While President Donald Trump had said the US bombing 'obliterated' three of Iran's nuclear sites, a leaked intelligence report has indicated the strikes only set the country's progress back by around six months. Israel's military said today that the programme had been delayed by 'several years'. Iran has not been shown to be developing nuclear weapons, despite claims by Israel, the White House and many European countries. A US intelligence report in March of this year concluded that Iran was not seeking to develop nuclear weapons. With reporting from AFP Need more clarity and context on what is happening in the Middle East? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Iran lawmakers back suspending cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
Iranian lawmakers voted Wednesday in favour of suspending cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, state TV said, after a 12-day war that saw Israeli and US strikes on nuclear facilities. "The International Atomic Energy Agency, which refused to even marginally condemn the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, put its international credibility up for auction," Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said according to state TV, announcing that "the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran will suspend its cooperation with the IAEA until the security of the nuclear facilities is guaranteed."
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Iran's Foreign Minister Meets Putin, His Deputy Says Tehran Won't Halt Nuclear Bid
Last Updated: Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi has stressed that Tehran's nuclear programme won't stop despite Israeli bombings on several nuclear facilities. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday and described the attacks by Israel and the US on its nuclear facilities as 'illegitimate" and a violation of international norms. Putin condemned the attacks on Iran and said that they have 'no basis or justification". He reiterated Moscow's support for Tehran. 'This is an absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran; it has no basis or justification. For our part, we are making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people," Putin said. Araghchi thanked Russia for supporting Iran and said that Tehran is defending its sovereignty. 'These aggressive actions by Israel and the US are completely illegitimate and violate international rules and international norms. We are defending our sovereignty and country, and our defence is legitimate," he said. As Iran affirmed its commitment to continuing the nuclear activities despite suffering heavy damage to the programme, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi refuted the idea of a halt to the pursuit, which also includes uranium enrichment. He stressed that Iran's nuclear programme will not be brought to a halt. His remarks came during an interview with Germany's ARD broadcaster on Sunday, a day before the meeting between its Foreign Minister Araghchi and Putin in Moscow today. Ravanchi dismissed demands from the US and other countries regarding a complete halt to Iran's nuclear programme and said, 'We are sincere members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. No one can tell us what we should and should not do as long as we remain within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty." He also said that Iran has pursued uranium enrichment for the 'peaceful" use of nuclear energy. The minister, however, did not speak on the damage to the nuclear sites in the bombardment by the US B2 bombers on Sunday. The US entered the ongoing war between Israel and Iran and attacked three nuclear sites in Iran – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Iran has maintained that it reserves the right to its options for reaction to the US air strikes. Earlier, Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran spokesman, Behrouz Kamalvandi, said that the nuclear industry has 'roots" in Iran and it 'cannot be destroyed". 'Of course, we have suffered damage, but this is not the first time that the industry has suffered damage," he said. The developments come after the US carried out airstrikes on three of Iran's nuclear sites on Sunday. President Trump said the strikes were meant to stop 'the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror." He warned Iran not to retaliate and called on it to work toward a peace agreement in its conflict with Israel. Speaking from the White House that night, Trump also warned that the US would strike more Iranian targets 'if peace does not come quickly." First Published: June 23, 2025, 18:42 IST
Gulf Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
VIDEO: US strikes 3 Iranian sites, joining Israeli air campaign
The US military struck three sites in Iran early on Sunday, inserting itself into Israel 's effort to decapitating the country's nuclear programme in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran's threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict. Iran's nuclear agency on Sunday confirmed attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz atomic sites, but is insisting its work will not be stopped. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran issued the statement after President Donald Trump announced the American attack on the facilities. "The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran assures the great Iranian nation that despite the evil conspiracies of its enemies, with the efforts of thousands of its revolutionary and motivated scientists and experts, it will not allow the development of this national industry, which is the result of the blood of nuclear martyrs, to be stopped,' it said in its statement. The decision to directly involve the US comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities. But US and Israeli officials have said that American stealth bombers and a 30,000-lb. bunker buster bomb they alone can carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily-fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear programme buried deep underground. President Donald Trump was the first to disclose the strikes. There was no immediate acknowledgment from the Iranian government. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that attacks targeted the country's Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites. The agency did not elaborate. The US is stepping up evacuation flights for American citizens from Israel to Europe and continuing to draw down its staff at diplomatic missions in Iraq as fears of Iranian retaliation again US interests in the Middle East grow. Even before those airstrikes were announced by President Donald Trump on Saturday evening in Washington, the US embassy in Jerusalem announced the start of evacuation flights for American civilians from Israel. In addition to the flights, a cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 American citizens, including several hundred Jewish youngsters who had been visiting Israel on an organized tour, arrived in Cyprus, according to the document. Donald Trump said he worked "as a team' with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the collaboration was "perhaps' like "no team has worked before.' This handout satellite image shows an overview of Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), in Fordo, Iran. AFP But Trump also noted that no military in the world except for that of the US could have pulled off the attack. President Donald Trump called Iran "the bully of the Middle East' and warned of additional attacks if it didn't make peace. "If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier,' Trump said at the White House after the bombings of Iran's nuclear facilities were announced earlier. Trump portrayed the strike as a response to a long-festering problem, even if the objective was to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The Washington-based Arms Control Association, which focuses on nuclear nonproliferation, said the attack was an "irresponsible departure from Trump's pursuit of diplomacy and increases the risk of a nuclear-armed Iran.' "The US military strikes on Iranian nuclear targets, including the deeply fortified, underground Fordo uranium enrichment complex, may temporarily set back Iran's nuclear program, but in the long term, military action is likely to push Iran to determine nuclear weapons are necessary for deterrence and that Washington is not interested in diplomacy,' it warned. A police tape blocks off an area near the White House, following US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, in Washington, DC, U.S., on Saturday. Reuters Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported early Sunday that attacks also targeted the country's Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites. IRNA quoted Akbar Salehi, Isfahan's deputy governor in charge of security affairs, saying there had been attacks around the sites. He did not elaborate. Another official confirmed an attack targeting Iran's underground Fordo nuclear site. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency early Sunday acknowledged an attack on the country's Fordo nuclear site. Quoting a statement from Iran's Qom province, IRNA said: "A few hours ago, when Qom air defenses were activated and hostile targets were identified, part of the Fordo nuclear site was attacked by enemies.' The IRNA report did not elaborate. Iran's semiofficial Tasnim news agency, believed to be close to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, quoted a provincial official in Qom that air defense did recently fire in an attack believed to target the area around the Fordo facility, but offered no other information. The semiofficial Fars news agency, also close to the Guard, quoted another official saying air defenses opened fire near Isfahan and explosions had been heard. Fars also quoted the same official in Qom province, saying air defenses fired around Fordo. President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi arrives at Baghdad International Airport. File/Reuters President Abdel Fattah El Sissi of Egypt has expressed his government's "complete rejection' of Israel's campaign against Iran, calling for a negotiated solution to the conflict. El Sissi's comments came in a phone call Saturday with Iranian President Masoud Pezezhkin, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. The statement said El Sissi voiced Egypt's "complete rejection of the ongoing Israeli escalation against Iran,' as a threat to the Middle East's security and stability. The Egyptian leader called for an immediate ceasefire to resume negotiations with the aim of reaching a "sustainable, peaceful solution to this crisis.'
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
US does not seek war, says Pentagon after bombing Iran's nuclear sites
Mr Hegseth said it is important to note the US strikes did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people, a veiled effort to indicate to Tehran they do not want retaliation on American targets in the region. 'This mission was not and has not been about regime change,' Mr Hegseth added. Mr Caine said the goal of the operation – destroying nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan – had been achieved. US President Donald Trump earlier claimed the facilities had been 'completely and fully obliterated'. 'Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,' Mr Caine said. The operation inserted the United States into Israel's war aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear programme, though the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran insisted the programme will not be stopped. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned the US attacks, while foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned diplomacy is no longer an option. 'This aggression showed that the United States is the primary instigator of the Zionist regime's hostile actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran,' Mr Pezeshkian said on Sunday. 'Although they initially tried to deny their role, after our armed forces' decisive and deterrent response and the Zionist regime's clear incapacity, they were inevitably forced to enter the field themselves.' Mr Araghchi meanwhile declared that while the 'door to diplomacy' should always be open, 'this is not the case right now'. Joint Chiefs chairman Dan Caine addressed the media at the Pentagon (Alex Brandon/AP) He added: 'The warmongering, lawless administration in Washington is solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far reaching implications of its act of aggression.' Satellite images taken on Sunday show damage to the mountainside at the underground site at Fordo. The images, by Planet Labs PBC, show the once-brown mountain now has parts turned grey and its contours appear slightly different than in previous images, suggesting a blast threw up debris around the site. That suggests the use of specialised American bunker-buster bombs on the facility. Light grey smoke also hung in the air. Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. It is not clear whether the US will continue attacking Iran alongside its ally Israel, which has been engaged in a nine-day war with Iran. Iran targeted Tel Aviv with missiles in the hours after the US attack (Oded Balilty/AP) Mr Trump acted without congressional authorisation, and he warned there will be additional strikes if Tehran retaliates against US forces. 'There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran,' he said. Iran's foreign ministry said Washington had 'betrayed diplomacy' with the military strikes, and that 'the US has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran'. Its statement added: 'The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to resist with full force against US military aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime, and to defend Iran's security and national interests.' Hours after the American attacks, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a barrage of 40 missiles at Israel, including its Khorramshahr-4, which can carry multiple warheads. Israeli authorities reported that more than 80 people suffered mostly minor injuries, though one multi-storey building in Tel Aviv was significantly damaged, with its entire facade torn away to expose the apartments inside. Houses across the street were almost completely destroyed. Following the Iranian barrage, Israel's military said it had 'swiftly neutralised' the Iranian missile launchers that had fired, and that it had begun a series of strikes towards military targets in western Iran. President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the White House following the air strikes (Carlos Barria/pool/AP) Iran has maintained its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only, and US intelligence agencies have assessed that Tehran is not actively pursuing a bomb. However, Mr Trump and Israeli leaders have argued Iran could quickly assemble a nuclear weapon, making it an imminent threat. The decision to directly involve the US in the war comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel that significantly degraded Iran's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, and damaged its nuclear enrichment facilities. But US and Israeli officials have said American B-2 stealth bombers and the 30,000-pound bunker-buster bomb that only they have been configured to carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear programme buried deep underground. Mr Trump appears to have made the calculation – at the prodding of Israeli officials and many Republicans – that Israel's operation had softened the ground and presented a perhaps unparalleled opportunity to set back Iran's nuclear programme, perhaps permanently. 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan,' Mr Trump said in a post on social media. 'All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordo. All planes are safely on their way home.' Mr Trump later added: 'This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!' Israel announced on Sunday that it had closed its airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the US attacks. US officials said the attack used bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant, while submarines launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles. The decision to attack was a risky one for Mr Trump, who won the White House partially on the promise of keeping America out of costly foreign conflicts and scoffed at the value of American interventionism. But he has vowed he will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and he had initially hoped the threat of force would bring the country's leaders to give up its nuclear programme peacefully.
