Latest news with #NuclearNon-ProliferationTreaty
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iran Reacts to Trump's 'Stupid' Comment
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran's foreign minister said his country will never submit to the language of threat and intimidation after President Donald Trump ridiculed its continued pursuit of uranium enrichment following U.S. airstrikes on key nuclear sites in June. "Our enrichment facilities are severely damaged, but our DETERMINATION IS NOT," Abbas Araghchi said in a statement published on X, formerly Twitter. Trump has described Tehran's talk of renewing its nuclear enrichment program as "stupid." Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment. Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine watches a test video of the ordnance used in the attack on Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on June... Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine watches a test video of the ordnance used in the attack on Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2025. More Kevin Wolf/AP Photo Why It Matters Araghchi's remarks come as Tehran has doubled down on uranium enrichment—despite U.S. and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities—reviving a central flash point in decades of U.S.-Iran tensions. Iran is in discussions with the U.K., France and Germany—collectively known as the E3—hoping to avoid triggering a "snapback" mechanism that would reimpose U.N. sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear accord. The "snapback" of sanctions would isolate Iran further, risk collapse of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and possibly accelerate regional instability. What To Know "No one in their right mind would abandon the fruits of tremendous investment in homegrown and peaceful technology which is saving lives—and simply because [bullying] foreigners demand it," Araghchi said in a statement published on X. Emphasizing that nuclear enrichment is vital for Iran, Araghchi said that over a million Iranians rely on medical radioisotopes produced by the Tehran Research Reactor—which requires 20 percent enriched uranium originally supplied by the United States. Regarding the U.S. and its allies' concerns about Iran's nuclear enrichment program being diverted from the peaceful purposes Iran claims to pursue, Araghchi said that only "a negotiated solution" may succeed. On June 22, U.S. strikes hit Iran's nuclear sites after a 12-day Israeli offensive. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on the American air base at Al-Udeid in Qatar, calling it a direct response to U.S. aggression. What People Are Saying Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X: "All should know that we Iranians have NOT BOUGHT our PEACEFUL nuclear program; we have BUILT IT WITH BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS. The technology and know-how that our FORMIDABLE human resources have developed CANNOT be destroyed by bombings." President Donald Trump said while in Scotland Sunday: "They still talk about enrichment. Who would do that? You just come out of something that's so bad, and they talk about, we want to continue enrichment. How stupid can you be to say that?" What Happens Next Araghchi is warning that if hostile actions against it continue, Iran will retaliate more forcefully and openly than before.
Roya News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
UN watchdog to visit Iran as Tehran enforces new inspection restrictions
Iran will host a visit from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog within the next two weeks, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced Monday. The announcement follows remarks by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who recently said Tehran is ready to resume technical discussions with the agency. Baghaei stated that Iran will present a new framework for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, based on a recently enacted law passed by parliament. Under the law, any future inspections of Iran's nuclear sites by the IAEA must be approved by the country's Supreme National Security Council. The move comes amid heightened tensions following last month's "Israeli" and US airstrikes aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear program. The IAEA has repeatedly insisted it must be allowed to resume inspections, expressing concern over Iran's stockpile of roughly 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium. Iran maintains its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and continues to deny any ambition to develop nuclear weapons. Baghaei emphasized that Iran, as a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has the right to enrich uranium. He also reiterated Iran's position that it may resume indirect talks with the United States if it serves the country's national interest. However, he confirmed that no new round of negotiations is currently planned. Five rounds of indirect talks hosted by Oman were suspended following the recent 12-day conflict between Iran and "Israel". Tensions with the IAEA intensified after Grossi stated there was no evidence of a systematic Iranian effort to build a nuclear weapon. Iran has since accused the agency of being slow to respond and politically biased, claiming it provided justification for "Israeli" attacks. 'The agency betrayed the non-proliferation system and became a partner in the unjust war against Iran,' Baghaei said, referring to recent IAEA reports that Tehran claims were used as a pretext for military aggression.
Gulf Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
UN Watchdog Chief Believes Inspectors Will Return To Iran
Iranian diplomats have concluded talks with their European counterparts from Germany, the UK, and France on Friday to revive nuclear negotiations, amid warnings from the three European nations that they may activate the 'snapback' UN sanctions mechanism outlined in the defunct 2015 nuclear agreement. The Istanbul-hosted meeting lasted about four hours and marks the first such engagement since Israel's mid-June strikes on Iran, which triggered a 12-day conflict, at the end of which the US intervened on Israel's side and bombed three key nuclear facilities. Throughout the June war, top Iranian military commanders, nuclear experts, and hundreds of civilians were killed. Iran has said its nuclear sites were 'destroyed' but still maintains the capability and 'right' to enrich uranium for its domestic nuclear energy program. Following Friday's talks, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who attended alongside senior diplomat Majid Takht-Ravanchi, described the discussions with the European powers as 'serious, frank, and detailed'. The talks were focused on sanctions relief and nuclear concerns, which each side expressed willingness to continue the discussions. Despite Iran recently booting IAEA nuclear inspectors from the country, the UN nuclear watchdog remains optimistic of the return of a monitoring regimen: The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog is optimistic that inspectors will be able to return to Iran later this year, he said on Friday. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters that it was important to start discussing with Tehran the modalities of restarting visits. 'We need to agree on where to go, how to do it. We need to listen to Iran in terms of what they consider should be the precautions to be taken,' he said. Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has once again warned that if 'snapback' sanctions are reinstated, Iran would respond with punitive countermeasures, including the possibility of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT requires non-nuclear states to keep their nuclear activities strictly for peaceful, civilian use. Notably, Israel, which is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons – possibly dozens or over one hundred – has not signed the treaty, and Tehran has long blasted this international hypocrisy. Under the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, Tehran committed to restricting its nuclear program to civilian purposes in return for the lifting of UN sanctions but the historic agreement included a 'snapback' provision allowing for the reimposition of those sanctions if Iran is found to be in violation of the agreement. But after Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA in April 2018, Iran has been saying essentially 'what deal?' …and that Washington can no longer be trusted. Also read: Kabul Edges Toward Disaster As It Becomes First Modern Capital City To Run Out Of Water
Hans India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Iran, European countries resume nuclear talks in Istanbul
Tehran: Nuclear talks between Iran and the three European countries of France, Britain and Germany, collectively known as the E3, began in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday. The Iranian delegation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told the official news agency IRNA that the talks would be an opportunity for the three European countries to rectify their attitude towards Iran and test their approach to the country's nuclear program, Xinhua news agency reported. Speaking previously at a weekly press conference, Baghaei said the talks would focus on the removal of sanctions and issues related to Tehran's "peaceful" nuclear programme, noting that Iran would present its demands seriously at the upcoming meeting. Since September last year, Iran and the E3 have held six rounds of talks on a range of issues, including Tehran's nuclear programme and the removal of sanctions. The latest round took place in Istanbul in mid-May. Earlier today, Araghchi reiterated Tehran's commitment to uranium enrichment ahead of resumption of talks with the European nations. He also mentioned that Iran would continue its peaceful nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment, stressing the country's inalienable rights under the international law. On June 13, Israel launched a massive airstrike targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites in the Operation named "Rising Lion." A week after, the US carried out strikes at three nuclear sites of Iran, a move Tehran said is a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The US and Israel have repeatedly expressed opposition to Iran's peaceful nuclear enrichment activities. However, Iran has defended its sovereign right in conducting nuclear enrichment for peaceful and civilian purposes. Araghchi expressed Iran's readiness to advance its nuclear programme within a logical and reasonable framework, aiming to build trust with concerned nations. However, he stressed that such trust must be two-way with respect given to Iran's rights to peaceful nuclear energy, including enrichment, the Iranian news agency reported.
Canada News.Net
6 days ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Tehran open to talks, but rules out direct US negotiations
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that Tehran will not abandon its uranium enrichment program, even after suffering significant damage to its nuclear facilities during last month's Israel-Iran conflict. Speaking to Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier, Araghchi emphasized that the enrichment program remains a symbol of scientific achievement and national pride. "It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe," Araghchi said. "But, obviously, we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride." Before hostilities broke out, Iran and the United States had engaged in five rounds of indirect nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman. Despite progress, talks stalled over the permissible level of uranium enrichment Iran would be allowed under a revived agreement. The U.S. and Israel have warned that Iran was nearing weapons-grade enrichment levels. At the same time, Tehran has consistently insisted that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian energy and medical purposes. The recent war, which began when Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13, lasted 12 days and drew in the United States. U.S. forces joined Israel in targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, causing extensive damage. A ceasefire was agreed upon in late June. Araghchi confirmed that Iranian experts were still assessing the full extent of the destruction but did not indicate abandoning the enrichment program, which he described as deeply tied to Iran's sovereignty. He also addressed speculation about Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's health, assuring that the 85-year-old leader was in "good health." Araghchi reiterated Iran's openness to diplomacy with Washington, although he ruled out direct negotiations "for the time being." Iran remains a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which allows for civilian nuclear programs under international inspection. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated there is "no credible indication" that Iran currently has an active, coordinated nuclear weapons effort. In contrast, Israel, widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, is not a party to the NPT. Israel has defended its strikes, asserting that its military campaign was intended to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. It maintains that Tehran's ambitions pose an existential threat to regional and global security. The future of nuclear diplomacy between Iran and the U.S. remains uncertain amid the geopolitical fallout of the recent conflict and growing tensions in the region.
