Middle East

Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant temporarily closed – state TV

Editorial Bureau June 20, 2021

DUBAI (UAE) – Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant has been temporarily shut down for technical overhaul, Iranian state TV said on Sunday. “It has been temporarily shutdown since yesterday for technical overhaul which will continue for a few days,” an official told state TV.

Middle East

Iran signs up presidential candidates, Raisi expected to run

Editorial Bureau May 11, 2021

DUBAI (UAE) – Candidates started signing up on Tuesday for Iran’s June 18 presidential polls, with the clerical establishment looking forward to a high turnout in the vote. It is seen as a referendum on the way Islamic Republic’s political and economic crises has been dealt with. As per news agencies close to the hardliners, […]

Middle East

Iran scraps number of centrifuges enriching uranium to 60% purity: IAEA report

Editorial Bureau April 22, 2021

VIENNA (AUSTRIA) – Iran has brought down the number of centrifuges enriching uranium to up to 60% purity at an above-ground plant at Natanz to one cluster from two, a report by the UN nuclear watchdog seen by Reuters indicated on Thursday. Iran announced the shift to 60%, a big step towards weapons-grade from the […]

Middle East

Iran witnesses progress in Vienna talks, cautions against excessive demands

Editorial Bureau April 20, 2021

DUBAI (UAE) -Iran’s chief negotiator said on Tuesday talks to save the 2015 nuclear accord were in progress, and in the right direction, in spite of difficulties but warned Tehran would stop the negotiations if faced with “unreasonable demands” or time wasting. Iran and world powers have made headway in the Vienna talks though much […]

Middle East

Efforts to repair relations between rivals, Saudi and Iran hold talks

Editorial Bureau April 18, 2021

In a bid to repair relations between the two regional rivals, four years after they cut off diplomatic ties, senior Saudi and Iranian officials have held direct talks. Iraq’s prime minister visited Saudi Arabia late last month. The report comes as Washington and Tehran try to revive a 2015 nuclear accord to which Riyadh had […]

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 Sunday’s blast that the Islamic Republic has […]

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, […]