The US on Wednesday told Iran that a revived nuclear deal would not let it off the hook over its failure to co-operate with UN inspectors or provide explanations for undeclared atomic activity.
At a governors’ meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency that saw western diplomats walk out when Russia took the microphone, US envoy Louis Bono scolded Iran for obstructing the work of UN inspectors.
Although negotiators say a deal is in sight after long-running talks on limiting Iran’s nuclear activities, Mr Bono said an agreement on that front “does not, cannot and will not absolve Iran” of its wider non-proliferation duties.
“On too many occasions in the past”, the Iranian leadership “has failed to deliver on promises to co-operate”, he said at the meeting in Vienna.
“Iran’s failure to provide required clarifications is seriously affecting the ability of the agency to provide assurance of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.”
The IAEA is concerned about three locations where it says Iran has failed to explain the presence of nuclear material and accuses Tehran of harassing its inspectors and winding down surveillance envisaged by the deal with world powers.
But hopes were raised of progress on that issue after IAEA chief Rafael Grossi visited Tehran last weekend and came back with a deal to exchange more information on the sites.
Those discussions are running in parallel to the talks, also in Vienna, on restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 deal that has gradually lost its potency since the US withdrew in 2018.
The aim of the talks is to bring Iran back in line with limits on its uranium enrichment and use of other sensitive technology, which in 2015 it agreed to observe in exchange for sanctions relief.
Diplomats have described the talks on a revived deal as entering an endgame and moving beyond technical discussions to the moment where political leaders must make a final call.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threw up a potential obstruction as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded assurances from Washington that sanctions on Moscow over the war would not impede its bilateral ties with Iran.
However, the US said on Tuesday that Russia remained engaged in the talks and had its own interests in preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
And Mikhail Ulyanov, the Russian delegate in Vienna, sought to play down those concerns on Wednesday by describing claims his team was taking centre stage in discussions as misinformation.
“This is flattering but nonsense. I’d like to see how anyone could dominate negotiations with participation of Iran and the US,” Mr Ulyanov said.
Russia’s intervention in the IAEA governors’ meeting was interrupted when EU delegates led a diplomatic walkout in protest at the invasion of Ukraine.
It followed a similar symbolic protest by diplomats at a human rights summit in Geneva last week, who walked out when Mr Lavrov took the stage.
Representatives of the EU delegation in Vienna said Wednesday’s protest resulted from “unacceptable remarks” and disinformation regarding the war in Ukraine.
That invasion has thrown up separate headaches for the IAEA after Russian troops occupied the site of an operational nuclear power plant and of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
The agency said on Wednesday that Ukraine had informed it of a power loss at Chernobyl but that it saw no “critical impact on safety” because of this.
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
THREE
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
Results
2.30pm: Expo 2020 Dubai – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Barakka, Ray Dawson (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
3.05pm: Now Or Never – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: One Idea, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
3.40pm: This Is Our Time – Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Perfect Balance, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Visit Expo 2020 – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Kaheall, Richard Mullen, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.50pm: The World In One Place – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1.900m; Winner: Castlebar, Adrie de Vries, Helal Al Alawi
5.25pm: Vision – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
6pm: Al Wasl Plaza – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Jadwal, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
