Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks at a press conference at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna. EPA
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks at a press conference at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna. EPA
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks at a press conference at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna. EPA
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks at a press conference at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna. EPA

IAEA vote urges Iran to come clean about nuclear programme


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The UN's nuclear watchdog passed a resolution on Thursday calling on Iran to provide details of its nuclear activities to address fears of a secret weapons programme.

The vote came a day after the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency renewed his call for Tehran to allow inspections at nuclear sites attacked by Israel and the US in June.

Since the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, agency inspectors have not been granted access to the sites that were struck, said Rafael Grossi, director general of the IAEA, on Wednesday.

Thursday's resolution “urges Iran to comply fully and without delay with its legal obligations … and to extend full and prompt co-operation to the IAEA, including by providing information and access that the agency requests”.

It was put forward by France, the UK, Germany and the US, and was passed with 19 votes. Russia, China and Niger opposed the resolution.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday said Tehran will “only co-operate regarding nuclear facilities that have not been affected [by the attacks], in compliance with IAEA regulations”.

On June 13, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, targeting nuclear and military sites, as well as military leaders. The US joined the war by bombing three nuclear sites, directed by President Donald Trump, two days before he announced a ceasefire had been agreed.

Mr Trump has claimed the strikes obliterated Iran's nuclear programme, but the true extent of the damage remains unclear. The attacks also put an end to several rounds of negotiations between Tehran and Washington that were aimed at reaching a deal that would place curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

Mr Grossi acknowledged “a line was crossed” by the Israeli and US attacks on sites that had been subject to years of near-daily IAEA inspections. However, he said the military action did not absolve Iran from fulfilling its obligations under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran has repeatedly said that it has no plans to build nuclear weapons.

Mr Araghchi said on Sunday that Iran is no longer enriching uranium.

“There is no undeclared nuclear enrichment in Iran,” Mr Araghchi said during a forum in Tehran. He added that “all of our facilities are under the safeguards and monitoring” of the IAEA.

“There is no enrichment right now because our facilities have been attacked,” he stated.

Asked what it would take for Iran to continue negotiations with the US, Mr Araghchi said there was “no chance for dialogue” in the face of Washington's “maximalist and excessive demands”.

He said the US administration's approach does not suggest they are ready for “equal, fair negotiations to reach mutual interests.”

The lowdown

Rating: 4/5

Race results:

1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min

2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec

3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

Meydan Racecourse racecard:

6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes Listed (PA) | Dh175,000 1,900m

7.05pm: Maiden for 2-year-old fillies (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m

7.40pm: The Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh265,000 1,600m

8.15pm: Maiden for 2-year-old colts (TB) Dh165,000 1,600m

8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh265,000 2,000m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m

10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,600m.

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Updated: November 20, 2025, 12:33 PM