Iran has responded to reports from the UN’s nuclear body over concerns Tehran is stonewalling on access to sites that may have been part of an old, secret nuclear weapons programme.
In a nine-page response Iran said it had received the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report with “deep regret and disappointment” and reiterated its list of grievances with the watchdog’s inspections regime.
Since last year, the IAEA has been grappling with Iran’s decision to renege on its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and has admonished the country over its failure to answer questions about past nuclear activities at three sites.
Iran has also denied inspectors access to two of the three sites linked to what US intelligence agencies and the IAEA believe was a clandestine nuclear programme that was discontinued in 2003.
Information gleaned from an archive of Israeli-obtained intelligence on Iran’s past nuclear activity has given the UN watchdog further insight into the Islamic republic’s previous activities before 2015.
Iran has, in particular, taken issue with the IAEA’s use of foreign intelligence to inform its findings. Its response outlines that it believes the information to be “fabricated”.
The report issued to member states detailed suspected activities and materials including “the possible presence … of natural uranium in the form of a metal disc” at a site that “underwent extensive sanitisation and levelling in 2003 and 2004,” a term that means it was scrubbed of nuclear material.
The report also described “the possible use and storage of nuclear material at another location specified by the agency where outdoor, conventional explosive testing may have taken place in 2003, including in relation to testing of shielding in preparation for the use of neutron detectors”.
While one of the three sites underwent “sanitising”, another “underwent significant changes … including the demolition of most buildings” and at the other the IAEA reported “activities consistent with efforts to sanitise part of the location” from July 2019 onwards.
Though the agency has sought to investigate Iran’s activities prior to 2015, the Islamic republic has, since July 2019, steadily broken the terms of the nuclear deal.
The US withdrawal from the agreement, whereby Tehran agreed to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions in exchange for relief on economic sanctions, lies at the heart of escalating regional tensions.
The US quit the deal in 2018 saying Iran was failing to live up to the spirit of the agreement by carrying out ballistic missile tests and backing proxies in a number of regional conflicts.
The remaining signatories, China, France, Russia, the UK, and Germany, have attempted to salvage the deal but in the intervening months relations between the US and Iran have continued to deteriorate.
US President Donald Trump has sought to impose a campaign of "maximum pressure" against Iran after his predecessor, Barack Obama, pursued a policy of relative rapprochement.
Since withdrawing the US from a nuclear deal in May 2018, Washington has repeatedly hit Iran with sweeping sanctions.
The two sides appeared to retreat from the brink of direct conflict several times in the past two years with the tensions reaching their highest point in January of this year with the US killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Suleimani.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
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Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team
Several girls started playing football at age four
They describe sport as their passion
The girls don’t dwell on their condition
They just say they may need to work a little harder than others
When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters
The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams
Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Brighton 1
Gross (50' pen)
Tottenham 1
Kane (48)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
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Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to avoid crypto fraud
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