09

Sep

New North Korea law outlines nuclear arms use, including preemptive strikes

SEOUL, Sept 9 (Reuters) - North Korea has officially enshrined the right to use preemptive nuclear strikes to protect itself in a new law that leader Kim Jong Un said makes its nuclear status "irreversible" and bars denuclearisation talks, state media reported on Friday. The move comes as observers say North Korea appears to be preparing to resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017, after historic summits with then-U.S. president Donald Trump and other world leaders in 2018 failed to persuade Kim to abandon his weapons development. The North's rubber-stamp parliament, the Supreme People's Assembly, passed the legislation on Thursday…

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06

Sep

Germany keeps two nuclear reactors on standby to weather gas crisis

Germany plans to keep two of its three remaining nuclear power stations on standby, beyond a year-end deadline to ditch the fuel, to ensure enough electricity supply through the winter during a gas crunch. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement on Monday the move did not mean Berlin was reneging on its long-standing promise to exit nuclear energy by the end of 2022. Habeck said a stress test by power grid operators had shown there could be hours of crisis in electricity supply over the winter given tightness in the European energy market. "It remains very improbable…

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02

Aug

Russia puzzled by Biden proposal to replace nuclear arms treaty

A Russian foreign ministry source expressed puzzlement on Monday about a proposal from U.S. President Joe Biden to negotiate a new nuclear arms control framework to replace the New START Treaty when it expires in 2026. Biden said in a statement on Monday that his administration was ready to "expeditiously" negotiate a new framework but that Russia should demonstrate that it is ready to resume work on nuclear arms control with the United States. "Is this a serious statement or has the White House website been hacked?" a Russian foreign ministry source told Reuters. "If this is still a serious intention, with whom exactly do they…

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01

Aug

Iran nuclear chief: We have technical means to produce atom bomb, no intention of doing so

DUBAI, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Iran has the technical capability to produce an atomic bomb but has no intention of doing so, Mohammad Eslami, head of the country's atomic energy organisation, said on Monday, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. Eslami reiterated comments made by Kamal Kharrazi, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in July. Kharrazi's remarks amounted to a rare suggestion that the Islamic Republic might have an interest in nuclear weapons, which it has long denied seeking.  Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami (R) and Rafael Grossi (L), head of the International Atomic…

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06

Jul

EU parliament backs labelling gas and nuclear investments as green

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Parliament on Wednesday backed EU rules labelling investments in gas and nuclear power plants as climate-friendly, throwing out an attempt to block the law that has exposed deep rifts between countries over how to fight climate change. The vote paves the way for the European Union proposal to pass into law, unless 20 of the bloc's 27 member states decide to oppose the move, which is seen as very unlikely. The new rules will add gas and nuclear power plants to the EU "taxonomy" rulebook from 2023, enabling investors to label and market investments in them…

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20

Mar

EU boosting stockpile of iodine pills and nuclear protective gear

Brussels has accelerated plans designed to improve the EU’s health response in case of a nuclear incident following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, according to EU officials. The European commission is seeking to encourage EU members to stockpile iodine pills, protective suits and other medicine. It is also working on ways to deal with possible chemical and biological attacks after the US warned that Russia could use such weapons in Ukraine. A commission spokesman said: “The commission is working to ensure it enhances preparedness in the area of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear threats (CRBN) generally, and this predates the war in…

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08

Mar

N.Korea could return to ICBM, nuclear tests this year-U.S. intelligence report

North Korea's missile launches could be groundwork for a return to intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear bomb tests this year for the first time since 2017, the U.S. Directorate of National Intelligence (DNI) said in its annual Worldwide Threat Assessment released on Monday. On Tuesday, U.S.-based analysts said commercial satellite imagery shows construction at North Korea's nuclear testing site for the first time since it was closed in 2018. International experts have also reported that North Korea's main nuclear reactor facility at Yongbyon appears to be in full swing, potentially creating additional fuel for nuclear weapons. The DNI report, dated…

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05

Mar

Rush for iodine in Central Europe over nuclear fears

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin's comments that Moscow's nuclear deterrent is on high alert have unleashed a wave of anxiety in Central Europe, with people rushing to buy iodine which they believe may protect them from radiation. From Poland to Bulgaria, people living in the former Soviet-era satellite states have also jammed passport offices, topped up their fuel tanks and prepared to leave at a moment's notice. Others enquired about joining the military. "In the past six days Bulgarian pharmacies have sold as much [iodine] as they sell for a year," said Nikolay Kostov, chair of the Pharmacies…

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18

Jan

Belgium can extend life of nuclear reactors if it acts soon, watchdog says

Belgium's nuclear regulator gave a provisional green light on Monday to extend the life of two of the country's nuclear power reactors and urged the government to make a final decision on the issue in the first quarter of 2022. Belgium's seven-party coalition has been wrestling for months over the topic. The Greens are adamant a 2003 law setting out a nuclear exit by 2025 be respected, but the French-speaking liberals favour extending the life of the two newest reactors. Belgium's two nuclear plants, with seven reactors in total, are operated by French utility Engie and account for almost half…

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28

Dec

Israel open to ‘good’ Iran nuclear deal, but wants tougher Vienna terms

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday that Israel would not automatically oppose a nuclear deal with Iran but world powers must take a firmer position. "We are not the bear who said 'no'," Bennett said in an interview with Israel's Army Radio, referring to a popular naysaying character from children's literature. Israel prefers a more result-oriented approach, he said. "For sure there can be a good agreement. For sure. We know the parameters. Is that expected to happen now in the current dynamics? No. Because there needs to be a much firmer position," he said. "Iran is negotiating with…

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15

Oct

Iran not ready to resume Vienna talks, wants to discuss texts first -EU official

Iran is not ready to return to talks with world powers over its nuclear programme yet and its new negotiating team wants to discuss the texts that will be put forward when it meets with the EU in Brussels in the next few weeks, a senior EU official said on Friday. EU political director Enrique Mora, the chief coordinator for the talks, was in Tehran on Thursday to meet members of Iran's nuclear negotiating team, four months after discussions broke off between Iran and world powers. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has so far refused to resume indirect talks with the…

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11

Oct

Abdul Qadeer Khan, father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb and centre of proliferation scandal, dies

KARACHI, Pakistan, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Abdul Qadeer Khan, lionised at home as the father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb despite admitting he was at the centre of a nuclear proliferation ring, died on Sunday at age 85. The nuclear scientist was admitted to Khan Research Laboratories Hospital on Aug. 26 after testing positive for COVID-19 and was later moved to a military hospital in Rawalpindi, said the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan. "He was loved by our nation bec(ause) of his critical contribution in making us a nuclear weapon state," Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Twitter. "For the people of Pakistan he was a national icon."…

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22

Sep

Iran wants resumption of nuclear talks that leads to lifting U.S. sanctions -Raisi

DUBAI, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Iran wants a resumption of nuclear talks with world powers to lead to the removal of U.S. sanctions, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told the annual U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday in a pre-recorded address. "The Islamic Republic considers the useful talks whose ultimate outcome is the lifting of all oppressive (U.S.) sanctions," Raisi said in his address. Hardline cleric Raisi, who is under personal U.S. sanctions over allegations of human rights abuses in his past as a judge, said the U.S. sanctions, imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018, "were crimes against humanity during…

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13

Sep

Iran to allow IAEA to service nuclear monitoring cameras after talks

DUBAI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Iran has agreed to let the U.N.'s atomic watchdog service monitoring cameras at Iranian nuclear sites, both sides said, after talks held on Sunday to try to ease a standoff between Tehran and the West. The U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency had accused Iran last week of stonewalling an investigation into past activities and jeopardising monitoring work, possibly complicating efforts to resume negotiations on the Iran nuclear deal. The IAEA had said there had been no progress getting urgent access to monitoring equipment needed to let the agency continue to keep track of parts of…

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13

Sep

North Korea tests first ‘strategic’ cruise missile with possible nuclear capability

SEOUL, Sept 13 (Reuters) - North Korea carried out successful tests of a new long-range cruise missile over the weekend, state media said on Monday, seen by analysts as possibly the country's first such weapon with a nuclear capability. The missiles are "a strategic weapon of great significance" and flew 1,500 km (930 miles) before hitting their targets and falling into the country's territorial waters during the tests on Saturday and Sunday, KCNA said. The latest test highlighted steady progress in Pyongyang's weapons programme https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-southkorea-analys-idUSKBN2BM0G8 amid a gridlock over talks aimed at dismantling the North's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in return for U.S. sanctions relief. The talks have stalled since 2019. North Korea's cruise missiles usually generate less interest than ballistic missiles because…

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27

Jul

France says Iran endangers compromising chance for nuclear deal

France's foreign ministry said on Monday that Iran was endangering the chance of concluding an accord with world powers over reviving its 2015 nuclear deal if it did not return to the negotiating table soon. "If it continues on this path, not only will it continue to delay when an agreement to lift sanctions can be reached, but it risks jeopardising the very possibility of concluding the Vienna talks and restoring the JCPOA," or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll told reporters in a daily briefing. Earlier this Summer, the United States accused Tehran of an…

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07

Jul

Iran takes steps to make enriched uranium metal; U.S., Europe powers dismayed

Iran has begun the process of producing enriched uranium metal, the U.N. atomic watchdog said, a move that could help it develop a nuclear weapon and that three European powers said threatened talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Iran's steps, which were disclosed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and which Tehran said aimed to develop fuel for a research reactor, also drew criticism from the United States, which called them an "unfortunate step backwards." U.S. and European officials made clear that Iran's decision would complicate, and potentially torpedo, indirect U.S.-Iranian talks seeking to bring both nations back…

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01

Jun

Iran fails to explain uranium traces found at several sites -IAEA report

Iran has failed to explain traces of uranium found at several undeclared sites, a report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog showed on Monday, possibly setting up a fresh diplomatic clash between Tehran and the West that could derail wider nuclear talks. Three months ago Britain, France and Germany scrapped a U.S.-backed plan for the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors to criticise Iran for failing to fully explain the origin of the particles; the three backed off as IAEA chief Rafael Grossi announced fresh talks with Iran. "After many months, Iran has not provided the necessary explanation for the presence of the nuclear material particles at…

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26

Apr

Iran talks in Vienna to resume on Tuesday

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Talks in Vienna aimed at reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear accord will resume on Tuesday, the European Union said on Monday, the latest of several rounds of talks to bring the United States back into the deal and to convince Tehran to end its breaches. Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia have been meeting in Vienna to agree steps that would be needed if the agreement, which was abandoned by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018, is to be revived. "Participants will continue their discussions in view of a possible return of the United States…

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21

Apr

Much more work needed in Iran nuclear talks despite progress, EU says

Iran and world powers have made headway in talks to save the 2015 nuclear accord, although much more work is needed, a senior European Union official said, with meetings to resume next week after consultations in their respective capitals. "Progress made over the last two weeks," European External Action Service Deputy Secretary General Enrique Mora said on Twitter. "But much more hard work needed. Third expert group was created to address sequencing issues." The talks, aimed at bringing Iran and the United States back into compliance with the nuclear deal will pick up again next week based on progress achieved…

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17

Apr

Biden says Iranian enrichment to 60% unhelpful, but glad about talks

April 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday called Iran's enrichment of uranium to 60% purity unhelpful but said he is pleased Tehran is still in indirect talks with Washington about both countries resuming compliance with the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. Iran on Friday said it had begun enriching uranium to 60%, its highest level ever and a step closer to the 90% that is weapons grade, at its Natanz plant, where an explosion occurred earlier this week that Tehran blamed on Israel. "We do not support and do not think it's at all helpful that Iran is…

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17

Apr

Iran nuclear chief says 60% enrichment has started at Natanz site

April 16 (Reuters) - Iran has begun 60% uranium enrichment at its Natanz plant, its higher ever level, the country's nuclear chief said on Friday, days after an explosion at the site that Tehran blamed on Israel. Iran had in recent months already raised enrichment to 20% purity, a level where uranium is considered to be highly enriched and a significant step towards weapons-grade. Some 90% is needed for bomb-grade material. A 2015 deal with world powers to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions in return for the lifting of sanctions had capped the level of purity at 3.67%. Iran denies…

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03

Apr

Iran’s foreign ministry rejects ‘step-by-step’ lifting of sanctions – Press TV

Iran's foreign ministry rejects any "step-by-step" lifting of sanctions imposed against it, Press TV reported on Saturday. "The definitive policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is the lifting of all U.S. sanctions," the state broadcaster's website quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying. U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter said on Friday that the focus of talks next week in Vienna on reviving the nuclear deal that Iran signed with world powers in 2015 will focus on "the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take in order to return to compliance" with that agreement.  Dubai - Reuters

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17

Mar

Britain to expand nuclear warhead stockpile by over 40% as global threats rise

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will grow its nuclear warhead stockpile by more than 40% to ensure its security in a more risky global environment and as it faces new technological threats, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday. The country had previously been reducing its nuclear weapons stockpile, and in 2010, the government set a cap of 180 warheads for the mid-2020 period. Johnson scrapped the earlier limit and said the number would now rise to a maximum of 260. In its security and defence review, Britain said it faced risks from nuclear-armed states, emerging nuclear states and state-sponsored nuclear…

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01

Feb

Iran tests new satellite launcher – state media

DUBAI, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Iran said on Monday it had successfully tested a satellite launcher to help achieve its "most powerful rocket engine", in a move likely to trigger protests from the United States and stoke tensions over Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes. The United States, Iran’s long time foe, fears such long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also be used to launch nuclear warheads. Tehran denies the U.S. accusation. The spokesman for Iran's Defence Ministry's aerospace operation, Ahmad Hosseini told state TV that "the test helped Iran to achieve its most powerful rocket engine…

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27

Jan

Russia says nuclear arms pact extension with U.S. agreed on Moscow’s terms -RIA

MOSCOW, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Russia and the United States agreed to extend the New START nuclear arms control treaty on Moscow's terms, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday, the RIA news agency reported. The Kremlin on Tuesday said the two countries had struck a deal to extend the pact, signed in 2010 and set to expire next month, which limits the numbers of strategic nuclear warheads, missiles and bombers that Russia and the United States can deploy. (Reporting by Anton Kolodyazhnyy; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Tom Hogue)

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17

Jan

Iran’s Zarif tells France: Avoid ‘absurd nonsense’ about Tehran’s nuclear work

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday dismissed a claim by France that Tehran was in the process of building up its nuclear weapons, calling it "absurd nonsense". French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche published on Saturday, said Iran was building up its nuclear weapons' capacity and it was urgent that Tehran and Washington return to a 2015 nuclear agreement. "Dear colleague: You kick-started your cabinet career with arms sales to Saudi war criminals. Avoid absurd nonsense about Iran," Zarif said in a Twitter post, in which he…

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13

Aug

North Korea nuclear reactor site threatened by recent flooding

Satellite imagery suggests recent flooding in North Korea may have damaged pump houses connected to the country's main nuclear facility, a U.S.-based think-tank said on Thursday. Analysts at 38 North, a website that monitors North Korea, said commercial satellite imagery from August 6-11 showed how vulnerable the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center's nuclear reactor cooling systems are to extreme weather events. The Korean peninsula has been hammered by one of the longest rainy spells in recent history, with floods and landslides causing damage and deaths in both North and South Korea. Located on the bank of the Kuryong River about…

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01

Aug

UAE begins start-up operations at its first nuclear power plant

The United Arab Emirates has begun start-up operations in the initial unit of its first nuclear power plant, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) said on Saturday. The Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi, a major oil producer, is being built by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). The plant was originally due to open in 2017 but start-up of its first reactor was repeatedly delayed. ENEC said its subsidiary Nawah Energy Company "has successfully started up Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, located in the Al Dhafrah Region of Abu Dhabi." The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed…

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06

Jul

Iran admits fire at Natanz nuclear facility caused significant damage

  A fire that broke out at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility on Thursday has caused significant damage that could slow the development of advanced centrifuges, an Iranian nuclear official said. Iran's top security body said on Friday that the cause of an incident and fire at the site had been determined and would be announced later. Some Iranian officials have said it may have been caused by cyber sabotage and one warned that Tehran would retaliate against any country carrying out such attacks. "The incident could slow down the development and production of advanced centrifuges in the medium term ...…

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30

Jun

France’s oldest nuclear plant shuts down after 43 years

France has decommissioned the second and last reactor of the nuclear power station plant at Fessenheim, in the east of the country, three years after its estimated 40 year life span. EDF, the country's power company said that the second reactor was shut down four months after the first, and explained that the site's dismantlement will take years. This decision was welcomed by a number of anti-nuclear campaigners not only in the country but also in neighbouring Switzerland and Germany, who for years hard warned of risks, as exposed by the catastrophic meltdown at Fukushima, Japan in 2011. France24 explained…

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26

Jun

EU countries agree their green transition fund will not pay for move to nuclear or fossil gas

European Union countries agreed that the bloc's flagship fund to wean regions off fossil fuels should not finance nuclear or natural gas projects, despite calls from some Eastern countries for gas to be eligible for EU funding. The European Commission, the EU's executive, wants to set up a 40 billion euro Just Transition Fund, comprised of 30 billion euros from an EU coronavirus recovery fund and 10 billion euros from its budget for 2021-27. The fund aims to encourage a shift from high-carbon industries that would help coal miners to retrain and find new low-carbon jobs, and support regions whose economies depend on…

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15

Jun

South Africa consults with industry on nuclear power plans

South Africa’s energy ministry began consultations with industry on preparations for a proposed 2,500 megawatt (MW) nuclear power plant building programme, which has faced opposition from environmental campaigners. South Africa wants to supplement its power capacity because of problems at state utility Eskom’s fleet of coal-fired power plants, some of which will be decommissioned over the next two decades. The energy ministry aims to use the consultation process - known as a Request for Information - to get some idea of the cost, possible ownership structures, cost recovery, the end-user cost and sustainability of the nuclear programme, it said in…

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09

Jun

U.S. sanctions imposed on Iranian shipping network over proliferation take effect

U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran's shipping network took effect on Monday, months after they were announced in December following accusations of supporting proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement on Monday warned commercial and maritime industries, governments and others that they risked U.S. sanctions if they did business with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its Shanghai-based subsidiary, E-Sail Shipping Company. The State Department had announced the designations in December but allowed a delay for them to take effect, giving time for exporters of humanitarian goods to Iran to…

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11

Feb

North Korea breached UN sanctions – report

North Korea continued to enhance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs last year in breach of United Nations sanctions, according to a confidential U.N. report seen by Reuters on Monday. The country also illicitly imported refined petroleum and exported some $370 million worth of coal with the help of Chinese barges, the report added. The 67-page report to the U.N. Security Council North Korea sanctions committee, which is due to be made public next month, comes as the United States tries to revive stalled denuclearization talks with North Korea. "In 2019, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) did not halt…

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10

Jan

France warns Iran could have nuclear weapon within one to two years

Iran could have nuclear weapons in one to two years if the country carries on violating the 2015 nuclear accord, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday. “If they continue with unravelling the Vienna agreement, then yes, within a fairly short period of time, between one and two years, they could have access to a nuclear weapon, which is not an option”, Le Drian said on RTL radio. EU foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to seek ways to guide the United States and Iran away from confrontation, knowing that a miscalculation on either side…

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06

Nov

Iran begins injecting uranium gas into centrifuges at Fordo

Iran began inserting uranium gas into centrifuges at the Fordo nuclear facility, state television announced Wednesday, marking its latest step away from the nuclear deal. Iranian state media said uranium hexafluoride gas was injected into advanced centrifuges at the Fordo nuclear facility Wednesday, a day after Iran announced the move. It said inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency were on hand. As part of the 2015 accord with world powers limiting its nuclear program, Iran was barred from enriching uranium at Fordo, which was converted to a research center.   Via Times of Israel

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06

Oct

No success in U.S.-North Korea nuclear talks

Working-level nuclear talks between North Korea and the United States have broken off, North Korea’s chief negotiator said. “The negotiations have not fulfilled our expectation and finally broke off,” the North’s chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Myong Gil, told reporters through an interpreter outside the country’s embassy in Stockholm in Sweden. On the other hand, the US denied that its day of nuclear talks with North Korea ended in failure, insisting that "good discussions" were had. The North Korean delegation arrived in Stockholm on Thursday for the working-level denuclearisation talks. North Korea said on Wednesday it had successfully test-fired a new…

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10

Sep

North Korea willing to restart nuclear talks with the US

North Korea said on Monday it was willing to restart nuclear talks with the United States in late September, but warned that chances of a deal could end unless Washington takes a fresh approach. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed in a June 30 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to reopen working-level talks stalled since their failed February summit in Hanoi, but this has yet to happen in spite of repeated appeals from Washington. In a statement carried by North Korea’s official KCNA news agency, the deputy foreign minister, Choe Son-hui, said Pyongyang was willing to have “comprehensive…

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05

Sep

Erdogan says it’s unacceptable that Turkey can’t have nuclear weapons, warns may open gates for migrants to Europe

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Turkey may have to open the route for migrants into Europe if Ankara does not receive enough international support to deal with Syrian refugees. In a speech in Ankara, Erdogan also said Turkey was determined to create a “safe zone” in northeast Syria in partnership with the United States by the end of September but was prepared to act alone if necessary. Earlier, Erdogan said it was unacceptable for nuclear-armed states to forbid Ankara from obtaining its own nuclear weapons, but did not say whether Turkey had plans to obtain them. "Some countries…

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05

Sep

Iran takes a further step away from nuclear deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that the country would soon begin researching and developing improved centrifuges to speed up the process of enriching uranium. "I, as of now, announce the third step," Rouhani said on state television late on Wednesday, just as the United States announced that it was imposing sanctions against an oil shipping network with ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. "All limitations on our research and development will be lifted on Friday," Rouhani said. The long-signalled move marks Iran's third breach of the international deal it signed in 2015, under which it agreed to limit its nuclear program in…

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23

Aug

Russia medical workers fear ‘radioactive’ contamination

Russian medics who treated radiation victims after a military explosion in the Arctic had no protection and now fear they were irradiated themselves as they were not informed that the patients put under their care were exposed to radioactive contamination Two of the medics in Arkhangelsk spoke to BBC Russian about the victims' evacuation, on condition of anonymity. Five nuclear engineers died on 8 August when an "isotope-fuel" engine blew up at the Nyonoksa test range, officials said. Six other people were injured. President Vladimir Putin said the test involved a new weapon system. Officials gave few details about the…

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15

Aug

Russian nuclear-capable TU-160 bombers deployed near US border

Russia announced it had flown two nuclear-capable TU-160 bombers to a far eastern Russian region opposite Alaska as part of a training exercise that state media said showed Moscow's ability to park nuclear arms on the United States' doorstep. The Tupolev TU-160 strategic bomber, nicknamed the White Swan in Russia and Blackjack by NATO, is a supersonic Soviet-era aircraft capable of carrying up to 12 short-range nuclear missiles and of flying 12,000 km non-stop without refueling. The flight comes amid heightened tensions over arms control between Moscow and Washington. The United States withdrew from a landmark nuclear missile pact with…

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08

Jul

UPDATED: Europe has 60 days to save Iranian nuclear deal

Iran on Monday said that the last chance for saving its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers will pass after a 60-day deadline. The warning was issued by Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi who told reporters that Iran won't offer any further "deadlines" to save the deal by September. Mousavi said Iran is still open to negotiations with its European partners and expressed the hope they would "take steps forward" toward implementing their commitments. The previous day, Iranian officials said the country would take further steps toward the "reduction" of its compliance with the accord after the deadline. Iran…

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03

Jul

Joint Statement by France, Germany, the UK, and the High Representative of the European Union on Iran 

Joint statement by Foreign Ministers Jean-Yves Le Drian of France, Heiko Maas of Germany and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt of of the United Kingdom and High Representative Federica Mogherini: "The Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, the UK, and the High Representative are extremely concerned at Iran’s announcement that it has exceeded the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA ) stockpile limit for low enriched uranium. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed this information. We have been consistent and clear that our commitment to the nuclear deal depends on full compliance by Iran. We regret this decision by Iran, which…

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09

May

Another missile launch by North Korea

North Korea have fired a series of projectiles from an area known to be used by the military, South Korea's military have said. According to Yonhap, which quoted a South Korean military release, the projectiles were fired from Sino-ri, an area situated northwest of Pyongyang. A missile operating base is located in the Sino-ri area, and houses medium-range Nodong missiles. The unidentified projectiles fired on Thursday travelled eastwards, but it is not clear where they eventually landed. It's the second time in a week that North Korea has apparently conducted a launch. The latest reported escalation came just a day…

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15

Apr

Nuclear fuel removal from Fukushima power plant begins

The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima power plant on Monday began the delicate operation of removing atomic fuel from inside a building housing one of the reactors that melted down in 2011. This represents the first time the Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) has pulled out fuel from inside a highly contaminated building containing the melted-down reactor, and comes four years behind schedule. The operation was done using remote-controlled equipment due to high radiation levels. TEPCO estimates it will take two years to remove 566 units of nuclear fuel, most of which are already spent. For the time being, engineers…

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15

Mar

North Korea considering dropping nuclear talks with US and restarting missile launches

North Korea is considering dropping nuclear talks with the US and restarting missile launches and nuclear tests just weeks after Donald Trump walked out of denuclearisation talks with Kim Jong Un. The Financial Times reports that North Korea’s vice foreign minister Choe Son Hui told a news conference in Pyongyang that the US lost a golden opportunity to resolve the nuclear issue at the Hanoi summit between the two leaders, according to reports by the Associated Press and Russia’s Tass news agency. She added that North Korea would soon decide whether to continue talks with the US and maintain a…

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