Middle East

Natanz nuclear site blast: Iran state TV identifies man behind blast

Editorial Bureau April 17, 2021

Iran’s state television identified a man it said was behind a recent explosion and power outage at its main Natanz nuclear plant. “Reza Karimi, the perpetrator of this sabotage… has been identified” by Iran’s intelligence ministry, state TV said. It said the suspect had fled Iran before last

Middle East

Iran enforces 10-day shutdown amid fourth wave of coronavirus pandemic

Editorial Bureau April 10, 2021

TEHRAN (IRAN) – Iran enforced a 10-day lockdown across most of the country on Saturday to contain a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, state media reported. The lockdown affects 23 of the country’s 31 provinces, health ministry spokesman Alireza Raisi said. Businesses, schools, theatres and sports facilities have been forced to shut and gatherings […]

Middle East

Chinese envoy says Iran talks to restart next week

Editorial Bureau April 9, 2021

VIENNA (AUSTRIA) – China’s envoy to the Iran nuclear talks said on Friday as all sides agree to meet again next week to conduct more intensive work to bring Tehran and Washington back into agreement with the 2015 nuclear deal. Wang Qun, China’s ambassador to the UN atomic watchdog, while speaking to reporters after a […]

Middle East Uncategorized

World powers, Iran conduct ‘constructive’ talks on renewing nuclear deal

Editorial Bureau April 7, 2021

VIENNA (AUSTRIA) -Iran and world powers held what they described as “constructive” talks on Tuesday and agreed to form working groups to discuss the sanctions Washington might lift and the nuclear curbs Tehran might observe as they try to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. While longtime foes the United States and Iran say they do […]

USA

US, E3 allies respond to Iran provocations with studied calm

Editorial Bureau February 25, 2021

WASHINGTON/PARIS (US/FRANCE) – A week after the US offered to hold talks with Iran about reviving the nuclear deal struck in 2015, Tehran has curbed UN monitoring, threatened to enhance uranium enrichment and its alleged proxies have twice targeted Iraqi bases with US troops. On the other hand, the US and its allies – Britain, […]

Middle East

Iran says it will stop snap IAEA inspections if nuclear deal terms not adhered to

Editorial Bureau February 15, 2021

DUBAI (UAE) – Iran said on Monday it will block snap inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog from next week if other parties to the 2015 nuclear deal do not fulfil their obligations, a challenge to US President Joe Biden’s hope of reviving the accord. “If others do not fulfil their obligations by February 21, […]

Middle East

Iran’s top diplomat calls for return to nuclear deal with Biden

Editorial Bureau February 7, 2021

DUBAI (UAE) – Iran’s foreign minister pushed for Washington to take fast action to return to the 2015 nuclear accord. He pointed out that legislation passed by parliament has prompted the government to toughen its nuclear stance if US sanctions are not relaxed by February 21. Mohammad Javad Zarif also referred to elections in Iran […]

Middle East

Israel’s top general says its military is reviving operational plans against Iran

Editorial Bureau January 27, 2021

JERUSALEM (ISRAEL) – Israel’s top general said on Tuesday that its military was reviving its operational plans against Iran. He added that any means of US making a return to a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran would be “wrong.” The remarks are an apparent signal to US President Joe Biden to tread cautiously in any […]

Middle East

Ball is in US court, says Rouhani about nuclear dispute

Editorial Bureau January 20, 2021

DUBAI (UAE) – President Hassan Rouhani of Iran on Wednesday urged the new administration of the US to return to a 2015 nuclear pact and lift curbs on Tehran. He also hailed the end of “tyrant” President Donald Trump’s era. President-elect Joe Biden, who assumes office on Wednesday, has stated that the US would rejoin […]

Europe

Iran is enhancing nuclear weapons capacity: France’s Le Drian

Editorial Bureau January 17, 2021

PARIS (FRANCE) – The French foreign minister said on Saturday that Iran is building up its nuclear weapons capacity and it is the need of the hour for Tehran and Washington to return to the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran has been expediting its breaches of the nuclear pact and earlier this month, it started forging […]