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The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Iran's parliament takes up Bill to end ties with IAEA
The Iranian parliament started discussing a Bill that would pave the way for suspending Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis), announced on Monday (June 23, 2025). The announcement was welcomed by the members of the Majlis even as the IAEA convened an emergency meeting of its Board of Governors in Vienna where Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the global nuclear watchdog is ready to bring this military conflict 'to an end'. Israel-Iran conflict LIVE Updates on June 23, 2025 'We in the Islamic Consultative Assembly are seeking to approve a bill that would suspend Iran's cooperation with the IAEA until we have objective guarantees of the professional behaviour (of the agency). In accordance with the religious decree of the Supreme Leader, Iran has no plans for non-peaceful activities. However, the world clearly saw that the Atomic Energy Agency has not fulfilled any of its obligations and has become a political tool,' said Speaker Qalibaf. The announcement came on the day when the IAEA convened an emergency meeting of its Board of Governors in Vienna to discuss Sunday's (June 22, 2025) U.S. attack on the nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan that prompted Iran to criticise the IAEA and credentials of the western powers who had engaged Iran in negotiations over its nuclear energy plans. Iran started pointing out the perceived failures of the IAEA soon after the Arak Heavy Water Reactor was attacked by Israel on June 19. Israel said the attack on the unfinished nuclear plant was carried out to prevent 'nuclear weapons development'. IAEA issued a statement after the attack saying that the bombing on the facility did not lead to leakage of radioactive material. Foreign Minister of Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi demanded stern diplomatic action and enforcement of the U.N. Security Council's Resolution 487 that was adopted unanimously on 19 June 1981, in response to Israel's attack on the Osirak nuclear reactor of Iraq on 7 June 1981. 'The language of that resolution is unambiguous: any military attack on nuclear facilities is an assault on the entire IAEA safeguards regime and ultimately the NPT,' said Mr Araghchi. Meanwhile, the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities drew criticism from Mohamed ElBaradei, the former Director General of the IAEA, who authored a report titled 'Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Council Resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran' in 2010. That report had suggested that there was 'no evidence' that Iran was trying to develop a nuclear weapon. In a detailed statement issued over the weekend, Mr. ElBaradei described the Israel-U.S. campaign against Iran as reminiscent of the 2003 'catastrophic war on Iraq' and said, the war 'is taking place against the backdrop of a total paralysis of the Security Council and obscene double standards by those who trumpet a rule based system.' In his remarks at the IAEA's Board of Governors Meeting in Vienna, Mr. Grossi cautioned against 'nuclear accident' and said, 'We are in the midst of a serious conflict. But there is still a path for diplomacy. We must take it, or the global non-proliferation regime could crumble and fall.' 'There is a common denominator: we do not want to see a nuclear accident; we do not want to see more nuclear weapon states in the world. The IAEA is ready to play its part to bring this military confrontation to an end,' Mr. Grossi said.
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UNSC condemns strikes on Iran nuclear sites but avoids naming US - Region
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has condemned airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites as a 'grave threat' to global peace, but stopped short of naming the United States as responsible. In a statement released following an emergency session requested by Iran, the Council said it 'condemns in the strongest terms the attacks against peaceful nuclear sites and facilities under the IAEA safeguards in the Islamic Republic of Iran,' calling the strikes a serious threat to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (AEA) oversight system. The condemnation follows US airstrikes on Iran's Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities amid escalating tensions triggered by the Israel–Iran war. It is the Security Council's third meeting since Israel launched attacks on Iranian territory on 13 June. Citing Article 2(4) of the UN Charter — which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state — the Council also recalled Resolution 487, adopted in 1981 after Israel bombed Iraq's Osirak reactor in a pre-emptive strike to prevent the development of nuclear weapons. The statement called for an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' and urged all parties to avoid further escalation. It also reiterated the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and reminded all sides of their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. On the nuclear issue, the Council urged a diplomatic solution 'acceptable to all parties' that would guarantee the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of both multilateral and unilateral sanctions. The UN secretary general has been tasked with reporting back within seven days on developments and implementation of the Council's demands. The Council said it would remain 'actively seized' of the matter. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iran Says Nuclear Treaty Being Used to Start Wars Not Prevent Them
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Iran's envoy to the United Nations has said that the treaty serving as the linchpin for curbing the spread of nuclear weapons has been used to spark conflict rather than promote peace following strikes from the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic. In a statement delivered Sunday to the U.N. Security Council and shared with Newsweek, Iranian Permanent Representative to the U.N. Amir Saeid Iravani said the "pattern is evident" in observing what he viewed to be the exploitation and misuse of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). "The NPT, a cornerstone of the non-proliferation regime, has been manipulated into a political weapon," Iravani said. "Instead of guaranteeing parties' legitimate rights to peaceful nuclear energy, it has been exploited as a pretext for aggression and unlawful action that jeopardize the supreme interests of my country." Iran, which Iravani described as "a responsible party to the UN Charter and the NPT and a non-nuclear weapon state," has always denied seeking nuclear weapons. Israel and the U.S. have challenged this premise, citing Iran's decision to significantly ramp up uranium enrichment beyond levels required for peaceful purposes. Iravani took aim at the U.S. as "a permanent member of this Council, the depository of the NPT, and the only state that has ever used nuclear weapons," as well as Israel, as "an outlaw nuclear-armed regime that refuses to join the NPT despite Security Council Resolution 487." He warned that, in the wake of these attacks and past Israeli strikes against nuclear sites elsewhere in the Middle East, "there is no assurance that other NPT members will not face similar aggression." Iranian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters on June 22 in New York City. Iranian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters on June 22 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/AFP/Getty Images The remarks came a day after President Donald Trump ordered an unprecedented series of U.S. strikes late Saturday against three key Iranian nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Fordow and Natanz. For more than a week prior, Israel had been launching sweeping raids targeting sites and personnel ties to Iran's nuclear program and military, drawing retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks. Iravani's comments also came as Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, revealed Sunday that lawmakers were weighing Tehran's withdrawal from the NPT in response to the attacks conducted by the U.S. and Israel. To date, the only NPT accessor state to have withdrawn from the treaty is North Korea, which did so in 2003, citing concerns over an impending U.S. preemptive strike. Pyongyang went on to conduct its first nuclear weapons test in 2006, while Tehran has yet to indicate any shift in its official stance against obtaining such weapons. Just two months after North Korea announced its exit from the NPT, the U.S. led an invasion of Iraq on the pretext of stopping the country from obtaining weapons of mass destruction. Such a program was never uncovered, however, drawing backlash against then-President George W. Bush's administration that permeates today and has been voiced by Trump as well. A day before Trump would go on to order the strikes against Iran, the U.S. leader responded to a reporter's comparisons of the two scenarios. "There were no weapons of mass destruction [in Iraq]. I never thought there were," Trump said at the time. "And that was somewhat pre-nuclear. It was the nuclear age but nothing like it is today. And it looked like I'm right about the material that they've gathered already. It's a tremendous amount of material and I think within a matter of weeks or certainly within a matter of months they were going to be able to have a nuclear weapon. We can't let that happen." "I was very much opposed to Iraq. I said it loud and clear. But I was a civilian, but I guess I got a lot of publicity. But I was very much opposed to the Iraq War," he added. "And I actually did say, 'Don't go in, don't go in, don't go in,' but I said, 'If you're going to go in, keep the oil.' But they didn't do that." Iravani referenced in his remarks Sunday what he called past U.S. administration's "illegal invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan" as well as the "catastrophic intervention in Libya," as evidence that Washington "has ignored the UN Charter, shattered entire societies, and destabilized the region for decades." Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi agreed in December 2003, months into the U.S. war in Iraq, to disarm his country's weapons of mass destruction program in exchange for sanctions relief and better ties with Washington. He was ultimately toppled and killed in 2011 amid a rebellion backed by NATO and then-President Barack Obama. Obama, who later referred to the U.S. role in Libya as the greatest regret of his presidency, went on to establish a landmark deal with Iran, through which Tehran agreed to strict limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. The deal won the backing of other major powers, but was ultimately scrapped in 2018 by Trump, prompting Tehran to begin enriching at levels exceeding those necessary for peaceful purposes. After then-President Joe Biden failed to negotiate with Iran a mutual return to the accord, Trump expressed interest in establishing a new agreement with Tehran upon coming to office a second time in January. Delegations from both sides engaged in five rounds of talks, with a sixth round scheduled for last Sunday. That meeting was ultimately canceled after Israel began conducting direct attacks across Iran, and Iranian officials have expressed they would no longer be interested in talks following the U.S. intervention on Saturday. Israeli Permanent Representative to the U.N. Danny Danon accused Iran on Sunday of having "used the negotiating table as camouflage, a delay tactic, a way to buy time while building missiles and enriching uranium." The Iranian Armed Forces and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued to trade attacks on Sunday. Trump has yet to outline specific demands for the Islamic Republic, simply warning that further U.S. military action may be on the table "if peace does not come quickly." On Sunday, he appeared to open the door for more comprehensive measures against Iran, including overthrowing the government, despite administration officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth maintaining regime change was not the goal of the White House's strikes. "It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,'" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, "but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!"
Al-Ahram Weekly
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UN Security Council condemns US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites but avoids naming Washington - Region
The United Nations Security Council has condemned US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran, warning they pose a 'grave threat' to international peace and security and undermine the global nuclear safeguards regime – but stopped short of naming the United States. In a statement issued after an emergency session requested by Iran, the Council said it 'condemns in the strongest terms the attacks against peaceful nuclear sites and facilities under the IAEA safeguards in the Islamic Republic of Iran,' calling them a serious threat to the International Atomic Energy Agency's oversight system. The move follows US bombings of Iran's Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites amid rising regional tensions over the Israel–Iran war. It marks the Council's third meeting since Israel launched strikes on Iranian territory on 13 June. The Council cited Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. It also recalled Resolution 487, adopted in 1981 after Israel bombed Iraq's Osirak reactor, claiming the strike was a pre-emptive move to prevent Iraq from developing nuclear weapons. It called for an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' and urged all parties to avoid further escalation. The Council also stressed the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and reminded all sides of their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. On the nuclear issue, it urged a diplomatic agreement 'acceptable to all parties' that guarantees the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of multilateral and unilateral sanctions. The UN secretary general has been asked to report back within seven days on implementation and developments on the ground. The Council said it would remain 'actively seized' of the matter. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Saba Yemen
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Iran's UN envoy meets Guterres, affirms his country's right to legitimate defense against Zionist aggression
New York - Saba: Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Saeed Iravani, met on Friday with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. According to Mehr News Agency, Guterres expressed concern over the escalating situation and called for an immediate ceasefire. He stressed the importance of avoiding attacks on civilians and nuclear facilities, and emphasized the urgent need to resume nuclear negotiations. He warned against the expansion of the conflict and the possible involvement of new actors, stating that the war must not escalate into an international confrontation. During the meeting, Ambassador Iravani reaffirmed the Islamic Republic of Iran's principled stance, emphasizing that Iran was not the initiator of the war, but rather the victim of blatant aggression by the Zionist entity. He referred to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, stating that Iran's defensive measures constitute an exercise of its legitimate right to self-defense. He added that as long as the Security Council fails to fulfill its responsibility to halt the aggression, Iran will continue to assert this right. Ambassador Iravani called on the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council to act in accordance with their responsibilities under the UN Charter. He also pointed to repeated attacks by the Zionist entity on Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, which are under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He described these actions as a flagrant violation of international law and recalled that the Security Council had previously condemned such attacks under Resolution 487. Iravani stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran expects this resolution to be applied impartially in the current case and to be placed on the agenda of both the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
