Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stressed that Tehran must abide by the nuclear proliferation treaty it signed up to.
“Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state which is enriching uranium at this very, very high level – very close to weapons grade,” he told The National.
“I'm not saying they have a nuclear weapon, I'm saying this is sensitive. And when you're doing that … you abide by the rules,” he said.
Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state which is enriching uranium at this very, very high level - very close to weapons-grade
Rafael Grossi,
IAEA director general
The IAEA’s latest report found Iran has increased the rate at which it is producing near weapons-grade uranium, reversing a slowdown that started in mid-2023.
Mr Grossi said Iran's push for high-grade uranium comes at a time of huge tension in the Middle East, with the war in Gaza fuelling hostility towards Israel and its allies.
Daily barrages of missiles and drones fired by the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen have created an international shipping and security crisis in the Red Sea.
Mr Grossi said dialogue remains open with Iran, which has claimed its programme is for civilian use – even amid sabre-rattling against Israel and other adversaries.
“A snapshot shows a programme which is galloping ahead, moving ahead with ambitious goals. We have nothing against that. But we say the visibility of the international inspectorate, the IAEA, must be commensurate with those activities.”
Western powers say otherwise – that Tehran wants nuclear weapons to threaten its enemies.
Even if Iran's nuclear programme is intended for civilian use, Mr Grossi said, it is not abiding by its obligations.
“Iran is party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, they should abide by this commitment,” he said.
“Iran should do much more than it's doing.”
Mr Grossi said Tehran continues to bar certain inspectors from its facilities, based on nationality.
“This of course is contrary to the spirit of our work,” he said. “This is very, very counterproductive.”
Saudi Arabia's nuclear sprint
Turning to the Middle East's nuclear future, Mr Grossi said Saudi Arabia is on the verge of a sprint to produce civilian nuclear power.
“This will be of course a game changer in terms of the energy landscape of the world and of the Gulf. It's very wise that as a country, just as the United Arab Emirates did a few years ago, they now look at diversification,” he said.
Mr Grossi, who visited Riyadh last month, said the government is in the process and building up the human workforce and the expertise it will need.
“They are on the verge of receiving their first research reactor, built by an Argentine company, which will be a tool for training their engineers, their nuclear physicists.
“They are interested to move fast, just like the UAE did.”
Mr Grossi said the UAE remains a strong example of a nation that can make civilian nuclear energy a part of its energy mix in a very short space of time.
“One of the criticisms that has been addressed to the nuclear industry has been that it's too slow and too expensive. Well, what we see at Barakah is a clear demonstration that it needn't be.
“I've been in nuclear diplomacy and nuclear work for more than 30 years and can tell you that is it very rare to see a project where you go from zero to being a fine nuclear producer within a decade, which has been amazing.”
At Cop28 in Dubai last month, conversations around nuclear energy took centre stage.
The need to develop nuclear energy, at a time when fossil fuels will be gradually phased out, was part of the final text that all countries agreed on.
“It's a return to realism,” Mr Grossi said.
“Cops were places where the word 'nuclear' was taboo. And now at the end of the conference, you have a final document that says nuclear should be accelerated. So I think the world should take notice, there will be important outcomes and consequences [from Cop28].”
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil