The conflict between the U.S. & Iran has been the major global headline over the last week. Now the mystery around the U.I.A. plane crash in Tehran deepens. Did Iran mistakenly fire at the jet as the western intelligence agencies suspect? WION's Palki Sharma explains. #Gravitas #US #Iran #PlaneCrash #Boeing

Gravitas: Iran plane crash, Did Iran mistakenly fire at the Ukrainian jet?

176 people of 7 nationalities have been killed in the mysterious Iran plane crash. Did E.U. nations & IAEA fail Iran? Is the world normalising the recklessness of the U.S., especially with regard to Soleimani's killing. On #WionEdit Palki Sharma explains. #Iran #PlaneCrash #WION

Wion Edit: Iran plane crash, Politics over innocent lives?

This is not the first time a passenger jet has been shot down by a missile. History is full of similar examples of unsuspecting passengers becoming fodder for geopolitical conflicts. A compact compilation in this report. #Gravitas #US #Iran #PlaneCrash #Boeing

Gravitas: How airline passengers become targets of geopolitical conflicts

Videos, images, claims, counterclaims & conspiracy theories over Iran plane crash have heightened tensions in West Asia. As always, the clincher will be the incontrovertible evidence. This report pieces together all the available evidence on the Iran plane crash. #Gravitas #Boeing #US #Iran #PlaneCrash

Gravitas: Iran plane crash, What does the evidence say

Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi will be confirmed as the new director-general of the UN's nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday, with the growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme at the top of his in-tray.

Who is Rafael Grossi?&nbsp;

The veteran diplomat, who has been serving as Argentina's ambassador to the IAEA, will be the agency's first leader from Latin America.

Grossi previously held high-level posts at the agency between 2010 and 2013, bringing him into contact with Iranian officials at a time when international negotiations over Iran's nuclear activities were intensifying.

According to the former French ambassador to Iran Francois Nicoullaud, he will able to draw on "solid experience in proliferation matters".

"He is someone of a very high calibre who comes from an important country in the nuclear field," says Nicoullaud.

A current Vienna-based diplomat said Grossi was expected to bring "a lot of energy and innovation" to the post, with a particular focus on pushing gender parity within the agency and promoting the role of nuclear energy in fighting climate change.

Grossi will be taking over from Yukiya Amano, who died in July at the age of 72 having been in post since 2009.

While the US is thought to have lobbied in his favour, diplomats say Grossi has stressed his belief in the importance of the agency's impartiality.

Iran crisis looms

Grossi begins his tenure amid a growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme.

The IAEA is charged with monitoring the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which seems in danger of imminent collapse.

Diplomats from Iran and other remaining parties to the deal,&nbsp;the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia,&nbsp;will gather in Vienna on Friday to discuss ways forward for the crumbling deal.

Since May, Iran has taken a series of measures breaking limits on its nuclear activities laid down in the deal, including on the amount and the enrichment level of its uranium stockpile.

Iran insists it has the right to do this in retaliation for the US's withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and subsequent re-imposition of sanctions, which have placed a huge strain on the Iranian economy.

Iran has said another step away from the deal is likely in early January, with some speculation that it could announce that is increasing its uranium enrichment level yet further.

Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group says the point of collapse could be in a matter of weeks.

"The Iranians are simply running out of measures that are easy to reverse and non-controversial," he says.

Vaez adds that a fresh Iranian move to breach the deal could finally push the European signatories to trigger the so-called "dispute resolution mechanism" foreseen in the 2015 accord,&nbsp;and that in turn would lead to the automatic resumption of UN sanctions on Iran.

The return of those sanctions would mark the "death blow" of the agreement, according to Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association.

In such a scenario, says Vaez, "we will have a major non-proliferation crisis on our hands in the sense that the Russians and the Chinese have already declared they would not recognise the return of (sanctions)".

Some expect that in this scenario Iran would leave the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Undeclared site

There have been other points of friction between Iran and the IAEA in recent months.

The agency has been asking Iran to provide explanations for the presence of uranium particles at an undeclared site it took samples from in the spring.

While the IAEA has not named the site in question, diplomatic sources have previously said the agency asked Iran about a site in the Turquzabad district of Tehran, where Israel has alleged secret atomic activity in the past.

Added to this is an incident in October in which an IAEA inspector was briefly prevented from leaving Iran after triggering a security alarm.

She was allowed to return to Vienna but the IAEA has condemned her treatment as "not acceptable". One Vienna-based diplomat said that Tehran had received little support in the matter, "even from countries that normally do sympathise with Iran."

Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi will be confirmed as the new director-general of the UN's nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday, with the growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme at the top of his in-tray.

Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi will be confirmed as the new director-general of the UN's nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday, with the growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme at the top of his in-tray. Who is Rafael Grossi? The veteran diplomat, who has been serving as Argentina's ambassador to the IAEA, will be the agency's first leader from Latin America. Grossi previously held high-level posts at the agency between 2010 and 2013, bringing him into contact with Iranian officials at a time when international negotiations over Iran's nuclear activities were intensifying. According to the former French ambassador to Iran Francois Nicoullaud, he will able to draw on "solid experience in proliferation matters". "He is someone of a very high calibre who comes from an important country in the nuclear field," says Nicoullaud. A current Vienna-based diplomat said Grossi was expected to bring "a lot of energy and innovation" to the post, with a particular focus on pushing gender parity within the agency and promoting the role of nuclear energy in fighting climate change. Grossi will be taking over from Yukiya Amano, who died in July at the age of 72 having been in post since 2009. While the US is thought to have lobbied in his favour, diplomats say Grossi has stressed his belief in the importance of the agency's impartiality. Iran crisis looms Grossi begins his tenure amid a growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme. The IAEA is charged with monitoring the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which seems in danger of imminent collapse. Diplomats from Iran and other remaining parties to the deal, the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia, will gather in Vienna on Friday to discuss ways forward for the crumbling deal. Since May, Iran has taken a series of measures breaking limits on its nuclear activities laid down in the deal, including on the amount and the enrichment level of its uranium stockpile. Iran insists it has the right to do this in retaliation for the US's withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and subsequent re-imposition of sanctions, which have placed a huge strain on the Iranian economy. Iran has said another step away from the deal is likely in early January, with some speculation that it could announce that is increasing its uranium enrichment level yet further. Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group says the point of collapse could be in a matter of weeks. "The Iranians are simply running out of measures that are easy to reverse and non-controversial," he says. Vaez adds that a fresh Iranian move to breach the deal could finally push the European signatories to trigger the so-called "dispute resolution mechanism" foreseen in the 2015 accord, and that in turn would lead to the automatic resumption of UN sanctions on Iran. The return of those sanctions would mark the "death blow" of the agreement, according to Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association. In such a scenario, says Vaez, "we will have a major non-proliferation crisis on our hands in the sense that the Russians and the Chinese have already declared they would not recognise the return of (sanctions)". Some expect that in this scenario Iran would leave the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Undeclared site There have been other points of friction between Iran and the IAEA in recent months. The agency has been asking Iran to provide explanations for the presence of uranium particles at an undeclared site it took samples from in the spring. While the IAEA has not named the site in question, diplomatic sources have previously said the agency asked Iran about a site in the Turquzabad district of Tehran, where Israel has alleged secret atomic activity in the past. Added to this is an incident in October in which an IAEA inspector was briefly prevented from leaving Iran after triggering a security alarm. She was allowed to return to Vienna but the IAEA has condemned her treatment as "not acceptable". One Vienna-based diplomat said that Tehran had received little support in the matter, "even from countries that normally do sympathise with Iran."

Rafael Grossi to become new director-general of UN's nuclear watchdog IAEA amid Iran tensions

The UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday urged Iran to explain the presence of uranium particles at an undeclared site, as a landmark deal aimed at curbing Tehran's atomic activities threatens to collapse.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a report made public last week that its inspectors had "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uranium-particles-detected-at-undeclared-site-in-iran-iaea-report-261503">detected natural uranium particles</a> of anthropogenic origin at a location in Iran not declared to the agency".&nbsp;

The agency's acting head Cornel Feruta said IAEA and Iranian officials would meet in Tehran next week to discuss the matter, adding that the UN body had not received any additional information.&nbsp;

"The matter remains unresolved... It is essential that Iran works with the agency to resolve this matter promptly," he told IAEA member states at a meeting of the agency's board of governors.

A diplomatic source told AFP that the IAEA would send a high-ranking technical delegation to Iran next week.

The particles are understood to be the product of uranium which has been mined and undergone initial processing, but not enriched.

While the IAEA has not named the site in question, diplomatic sources have previously said the agency asked Iran about a site in the Turquzabad district of Tehran where Israel has alleged secret atomic activity in the past.

Sources say the IAEA took samples from the site in the spring and that Iran has been slow in providing answers to explain the test results.

The 2015 deal between Iran and world powers has been faltering since last year when the United States pulled out and started to reinstate punishing sanctions on Tehran, leaving the other signatories struggling to salvage the agreement.

Over the past few months, Iran has breached several parts of the deal it signed with the US as well as Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia, in which it committed to scaling back its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

But Britain, France and Germany have said they are extremely <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-accuses-europeans-of-hypocrisy-over-nuclear-deal-261577">concerned by Iran's actions</a> in stepping up its uranium enrichment and other breaches.

Enrichment is the process that produces fuel for nuclear power plants but also, in highly extended form, the fissile core for a warhead.

On Monday, the IAEA confirmed Iran's stock of heavy water for reactors has surpassed the 130-tonne limit set under the agreement.

Heavy water is not itself radioactive but is used in nuclear reactors to absorb neutrons from nuclear fission.

Heavy water reactors can be used to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons as an alternative to enriched uranium.

The IAEA has also said one of its inspectors was briefly prevented from leaving Iran, calling her treatment "not acceptable".

Iran has cancelled the inspector's accreditation, saying she triggered a security check at the entrance gate to the Natanz enrichment plant last month.

The IAEA has disputed the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-rejects-reports-of-iaea-finding-traces-of-uranium-at-unnamed-site-261172">Iranian account of the incident</a>, without going into details.

The UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday urged Iran to explain the presence of uranium particles at an undeclared site, as a landmark deal aimed at curbing Tehran's atomic activities threatens to collapse.

The UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday urged Iran to explain the presence of uranium particles at an undeclared site, as a landmark deal aimed at curbing Tehran's atomic activities threatens to collapse. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a report made public last week that its inspectors had "detected natural uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at a location in Iran not declared to the agency". The agency's acting head Cornel Feruta said IAEA and Iranian officials would meet in Tehran next week to discuss the matter, adding that the UN body had not received any additional information. "The matter remains unresolved... It is essential that Iran works with the agency to resolve this matter promptly," he told IAEA member states at a meeting of the agency's board of governors. A diplomatic source told AFP that the IAEA would send a high-ranking technical delegation to Iran next week. The particles are understood to be the product of uranium which has been mined and undergone initial processing, but not enriched. While the IAEA has not named the site in question, diplomatic sources have previously said the agency asked Iran about a site in the Turquzabad district of Tehran where Israel has alleged secret atomic activity in the past. Sources say the IAEA took samples from the site in the spring and that Iran has been slow in providing answers to explain the test results. The 2015 deal between Iran and world powers has been faltering since last year when the United States pulled out and started to reinstate punishing sanctions on Tehran, leaving the other signatories struggling to salvage the agreement. Over the past few months, Iran has breached several parts of the deal it signed with the US as well as Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia, in which it committed to scaling back its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. But Britain, France and Germany have said they are extremely concerned by Iran's actions in stepping up its uranium enrichment and other breaches. Enrichment is the process that produces fuel for nuclear power plants but also, in highly extended form, the fissile core for a warhead. On Monday, the IAEA confirmed Iran's stock of heavy water for reactors has surpassed the 130-tonne limit set under the agreement. Heavy water is not itself radioactive but is used in nuclear reactors to absorb neutrons from nuclear fission. Heavy water reactors can be used to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons as an alternative to enriched uranium. The IAEA has also said one of its inspectors was briefly prevented from leaving Iran, calling her treatment "not acceptable". Iran has cancelled the inspector's accreditation, saying she triggered a security check at the entrance gate to the Natanz enrichment plant last month. The IAEA has disputed the Iranian account of the incident, without going into details.

IAEA urges Iran to explain uranium particles at undeclared site

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-union-concerned-by-irans-nuclear-deal-breach-261502">Europe's threat</a> to trigger a mechanism that could reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran marks a significant breakdown in diplomacy to try to save the 2015 nuclear deal and could presage its death knell, diplomats say.

Britain, France and Germany have sought to salvage the pact, under which Iran undertook to curtail its uranium enrichment programme in return for relief from sanctions crippling its economy since the United States withdrew last year.

But the three European powers have failed to make good on the trade and investment dividends promised to Iran under the deal as they have been unable to shield Tehran from renewed US&nbsp;sanctions that have strangled its vital oil trade.

That has prompted Iran to renege step by step from its non-proliferation commitments under the deal.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uranium-particles-detected-at-undeclared-site-in-iran-iaea-report-261503">U.N. nuclear watchdog (IAEA)</a> confirmed on Monday that Iran had resumed enriching uranium in its underground Fordow plant and was rapidly accelerating enrichment with a variety of advanced centrifuge machines also banned by the deal.

The move has alarmed European powers that had previously dismissed Tehran's breaches, such as exceeding the cap on stockpiles of enriched uranium and on the fissile purity of enrichment, as insignificant and reversible.

Britain, France, and Germany raised the prospect of a restoration of international sanctions for the first time late on Monday after a meeting of foreign ministers in Paris, saying they were ready "to consider all mechanisms ... including the dispute resolution mechanism".

Under the terms of the 2015 deal, if any party believes another is not upholding their commitments they can refer the issue to a Joint Commission comprising Iran, Russia, China, the three European powers, and the European Union.

If the complaining party cannot resolve the matter at the Commission level, it could then notify the U.N. Security Council, which must vote within 30 days on a resolution on continuing Iran's sanctions relief.

If this is not adopted within that time span, sanctions that were in place under previous U.N. resolutions would be reimposed - known as a "snapback" - unless the Council decided otherwise.

"We don't want to pull out of the (deal) too soon, but equally we cannot sit back. The Russians and the Chinese are not going to trigger this, but us, as Europeans, will have to take a stance at some point," said a European diplomat.

"It is not if but when, unless Iran pulls back, but even then, they are gaining (nuclear) knowledge by spinning these centrifuges, so we have to react."

Enrichment is the main pathway towards producing fuel that detonates a nuclear bomb, though Iran has refined to a fissile purity of 4.5 per cent&nbsp;- roughly suitable for electricity generation - far below the bomb-grade threshold of 90 per cent.

European disquiet has been exacerbated by the detention of an IAEA inspector at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility at the end of October, contrary to stipulations in the deal that Iran must grant daily access to the site as requested.

Diplomats said a meeting of the parties to the accord would take place over the next week to discuss latest developments. However, they say, the Europeans are unlikely to trigger the mechanism before January when Iran is due to announce its next round of steps away from compliance with the deal.

"What we're now seeing is the dismantling of the JCPOA," said another diplomat, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the agreement is formally known.

"We haven't decided on launching the mechanism, because we need to be sure of how it will help us in trying to defuse tensions. The questions we're asking is when, how, and whether it benefits us to do it?"

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated on Tuesday that Iran had itself launched the complaint mechanism and it was ceasing to heed its deal commitments because the Europeans had failed to protect it from US&nbsp;sanctions.

The deal's objective was to extend the time Iran would need to accumulate enough fissile material for an atom bomb, if it sought one - something sometimes referred to as "breakout time" to about a year from 2-3 months.

"We're now entering a phase where Iran's actions have a serious impact on the breakout time," said another EU diplomat, adding that the window to bring Iran and the United States back to the negotiating table was very small now.

Europe's threat to trigger a mechanism that could reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran marks a significant breakdown in diplomacy to try to save the 2015 nuclear deal and could presage its death knell, diplomats say.

Europe's threat to trigger a mechanism that could reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran marks a significant breakdown in diplomacy to try to save the 2015 nuclear deal and could presage its death knell, diplomats say. Britain, France and Germany have sought to salvage the pact, under which Iran undertook to curtail its uranium enrichment programme in return for relief from sanctions crippling its economy since the United States withdrew last year. But the three European powers have failed to make good on the trade and investment dividends promised to Iran under the deal as they have been unable to shield Tehran from renewed US sanctions that have strangled its vital oil trade. That has prompted Iran to renege step by step from its non-proliferation commitments under the deal. The U.N. nuclear watchdog (IAEA) confirmed on Monday that Iran had resumed enriching uranium in its underground Fordow plant and was rapidly accelerating enrichment with a variety of advanced centrifuge machines also banned by the deal. The move has alarmed European powers that had previously dismissed Tehran's breaches, such as exceeding the cap on stockpiles of enriched uranium and on the fissile purity of enrichment, as insignificant and reversible. Britain, France, and Germany raised the prospect of a restoration of international sanctions for the first time late on Monday after a meeting of foreign ministers in Paris, saying they were ready "to consider all mechanisms ... including the dispute resolution mechanism". Under the terms of the 2015 deal, if any party believes another is not upholding their commitments they can refer the issue to a Joint Commission comprising Iran, Russia, China, the three European powers, and the European Union. If the complaining party cannot resolve the matter at the Commission level, it could then notify the U.N. Security Council, which must vote within 30 days on a resolution on continuing Iran's sanctions relief. If this is not adopted within that time span, sanctions that were in place under previous U.N. resolutions would be reimposed - known as a "snapback" - unless the Council decided otherwise. "We don't want to pull out of the (deal) too soon, but equally we cannot sit back. The Russians and the Chinese are not going to trigger this, but us, as Europeans, will have to take a stance at some point," said a European diplomat. "It is not if but when, unless Iran pulls back, but even then, they are gaining (nuclear) knowledge by spinning these centrifuges, so we have to react." Enrichment is the main pathway towards producing fuel that detonates a nuclear bomb, though Iran has refined to a fissile purity of 4.5 per cent - roughly suitable for electricity generation - far below the bomb-grade threshold of 90 per cent. European disquiet has been exacerbated by the detention of an IAEA inspector at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility at the end of October, contrary to stipulations in the deal that Iran must grant daily access to the site as requested. Diplomats said a meeting of the parties to the accord would take place over the next week to discuss latest developments. However, they say, the Europeans are unlikely to trigger the mechanism before January when Iran is due to announce its next round of steps away from compliance with the deal. "What we're now seeing is the dismantling of the JCPOA," said another diplomat, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the agreement is formally known. "We haven't decided on launching the mechanism, because we need to be sure of how it will help us in trying to defuse tensions. The questions we're asking is when, how, and whether it benefits us to do it?" Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated on Tuesday that Iran had itself launched the complaint mechanism and it was ceasing to heed its deal commitments because the Europeans had failed to protect it from US sanctions. The deal's objective was to extend the time Iran would need to accumulate enough fissile material for an atom bomb, if it sought one - something sometimes referred to as "breakout time" to about a year from 2-3 months. "We're now entering a phase where Iran's actions have a serious impact on the breakout time," said another EU diplomat, adding that the window to bring Iran and the United States back to the negotiating table was very small now.

European concerns raise prospect of renewed U.N. sanctions on Iran

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a report that it had&nbsp;detected uranium particles at an undeclared site in Iran&nbsp;in breach of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-slams-iran-intimidation-of-iaea-inspector-as-outrageous-260911">2015 nuclear deal</a>.

News agency AFP which accessed the&nbsp;report said&nbsp;that the Rouhani government's nuclear stockpile had reached the equivalent of 551 kilogrammes which was way more than 300-kilogramme limit laid down in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA).

"Since 9 November 2019, Iran has been conducting uranium enrichment at the plant," Reuters quoting the report said.

Iran had resumed enrichment at the Fordow plant on Thursday.

Last week, Iran had said it was enriching uranium to five per cent even though the nuclear deal signed in 2015 had set the limit to a 3.67 per cent limit.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-union-concerned-by-irans-nuclear-deal-breach-261502/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Based on our needs and what we have been ordered, we are currently producing five per cent," Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran spokesman said. Kamalvandi added that Iran had the &nbsp;"capacity to produce five per cent, twenty per cent, sixty per cent, or any percentage" of enriched uranium.

On July 1, Iran had said it had increased its stockpile of enriched uranium to beyond a 300-kilogramme maximum set by the deal, it later said the enrichment cap had been exceeded.

The report said the IAEA's inspectors had "detected natural uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at a location in Iran not declared to the agency," while adding that, "it was essential for Iran to continue interactions with the agency to resolve the matter as soon as possible."

On Sunday, Iran rejected the IAEA report that it had found traces of uranium at an Iranian site calling it a "trap".

"The Zionist regime and Israel are attempting to re-open ... this file," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

"We have announced that this is a trap," Mousavi said.

"Hopefully the IAEA will maintain its vigilance." &nbsp;

As the nuclear controversy brewed, Germany's foreign minister said Heiko Maas said Germany, Britain and France should be ready to consider starting moves to reinstate international sanctions on Iran over breaches of its 2015 nuclear deal.

"Iran must finally return to its commitments (under the 2015 accord)," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, adding,"otherwise we will reserve the right to use all mechanisms specified in the deal (for sanctions to be reimposed)."

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a report that it had detected uranium particles at an undeclared site in Iran in breach of the 2015 nuclear deal. News agency AFP which accessed the report said that the Rouhani government's nuclear stockpile had reached the equivalent of 551 kilogrammes which was way more than 300-kilogramme limit laid down in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA).

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a report that it had detected uranium particles at an undeclared site in Iran in breach of the 2015 nuclear deal. News agency AFP which accessed the report said that the Rouhani government's nuclear stockpile had reached the equivalent of 551 kilogrammes which was way more than 300-kilogramme limit laid down in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA). "Since 9 November 2019, Iran has been conducting uranium enrichment at the plant," Reuters quoting the report said. Iran had resumed enrichment at the Fordow plant on Thursday. Last week, Iran had said it was enriching uranium to five per cent even though the nuclear deal signed in 2015 had set the limit to a 3.67 per cent limit. Watch Video: "Based on our needs and what we have been ordered, we are currently producing five per cent," Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran spokesman said. Kamalvandi added that Iran had the "capacity to produce five per cent, twenty per cent, sixty per cent, or any percentage" of enriched uranium. On July 1, Iran had said it had increased its stockpile of enriched uranium to beyond a 300-kilogramme maximum set by the deal, it later said the enrichment cap had been exceeded. The report said the IAEA's inspectors had "detected natural uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at a location in Iran not declared to the agency," while adding that, "it was essential for Iran to continue interactions with the agency to resolve the matter as soon as possible." On Sunday, Iran rejected the IAEA report that it had found traces of uranium at an Iranian site calling it a "trap". "The Zionist regime and Israel are attempting to re-open ... this file," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said. "We have announced that this is a trap," Mousavi said. "Hopefully the IAEA will maintain its vigilance." As the nuclear controversy brewed, Germany's foreign minister said Heiko Maas said Germany, Britain and France should be ready to consider starting moves to reinstate international sanctions on Iran over breaches of its 2015 nuclear deal. "Iran must finally return to its commitments (under the 2015 accord)," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, adding,"otherwise we will reserve the right to use all mechanisms specified in the deal (for sanctions to be reimposed)."

Uranium particles detected at undeclared site in Iran: IAEA report

President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday Iran would regain access to the international arms market later next year if it stuck to its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and this would prove "a huge political success".

However, while a United Nations-imposed arms embargo on Iran is supposed to be lifted in October 2020, five years after the nuclear deal took effect, it is questionable whether that will transpire given the recent unravelling of the accord.

The United States withdrew from the deal in 2018, arguing it was flawed to Iran's advantage and has reimposed sanctions crippling Tehran's oil exports, prompting to retaliate by breaching the deal's limits on its nuclear capacity.

Iran has said its steps to reactivate uranium enrichment, a pathway to developing nuclear bombs, could be reversed if Washington rescinded sanctions and returned to the deal.

Rouhani held out the prospect of the deal being saved despite its rapid erosion and said a major dividend for Iran would be an end to the arms embargo next year.

"When the embargo...is lifted next year we can easily buy and sell weapons...This is one of those important impacts of this (nuclear) agreement,” Rouhani said, according to state TV.

"By remaining in the deal, we would reach a huge political, defensive and security goal (in 2020) ... It would be a huge political success."

But US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's administration has warned that a lifting of the arms embargo would let Iran acquire weapons that could fuel conflicts in the Middle East, where Tehran has been involved in proxy wars for decades.

"@HassanRouhani's best pitch for IRAN staying in the disastrous Iran deal is that it lets the Islamic kleptocrats that lead that country buy and sell drones, missiles, tanks, jets, and more," US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Monday. "He will get his wish, unless UNSC extends the arms embargo before it expires 10/18/20."

But with the nuclear deal crumbling, prospects for a removal of the arms embargo appear to have dimmed, and the United States would wield a veto on any decision by the Security Council.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog reported on Monday that Iran was enriching uranium at its underground Fordow site and rapidly accelerating enrichment more broadly, outlining Tehran's latest breaches of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-slams-iran-intimidation-of-iaea-inspector-as-outrageous-260911">2015 nuclear deal</a>.

Germany said on Monday it along with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-union-concerned-by-irans-nuclear-deal-breach-261502">Britain and France</a> should be ready to consider starting moves to reinstate full United Nations sanctions on Iran over its breaches.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday Iran would regain access to the international arms market later next year if it stuck to its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and this would prove "a huge political success".

President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday Iran would regain access to the international arms market later next year if it stuck to its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and this would prove "a huge political success". However, while a United Nations-imposed arms embargo on Iran is supposed to be lifted in October 2020, five years after the nuclear deal took effect, it is questionable whether that will transpire given the recent unravelling of the accord. The United States withdrew from the deal in 2018, arguing it was flawed to Iran's advantage and has reimposed sanctions crippling Tehran's oil exports, prompting to retaliate by breaching the deal's limits on its nuclear capacity. Iran has said its steps to reactivate uranium enrichment, a pathway to developing nuclear bombs, could be reversed if Washington rescinded sanctions and returned to the deal. Rouhani held out the prospect of the deal being saved despite its rapid erosion and said a major dividend for Iran would be an end to the arms embargo next year. "When the embargo...is lifted next year we can easily buy and sell weapons...This is one of those important impacts of this (nuclear) agreement,” Rouhani said, according to state TV. "By remaining in the deal, we would reach a huge political, defensive and security goal (in 2020) ... It would be a huge political success." But US President Donald Trump's administration has warned that a lifting of the arms embargo would let Iran acquire weapons that could fuel conflicts in the Middle East, where Tehran has been involved in proxy wars for decades. "@HassanRouhani's best pitch for IRAN staying in the disastrous Iran deal is that it lets the Islamic kleptocrats that lead that country buy and sell drones, missiles, tanks, jets, and more," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Monday. "He will get his wish, unless UNSC extends the arms embargo before it expires 10/18/20." But with the nuclear deal crumbling, prospects for a removal of the arms embargo appear to have dimmed, and the United States would wield a veto on any decision by the Security Council. The U.N. nuclear watchdog reported on Monday that Iran was enriching uranium at its underground Fordow site and rapidly accelerating enrichment more broadly, outlining Tehran's latest breaches of the 2015 nuclear deal. Germany said on Monday it along with Britain and France should be ready to consider starting moves to reinstate full United Nations sanctions on Iran over its breaches.

Iran sees lifting of U.N. arms embargo in 2020 as 'huge political goal'

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Sunday rejected as a "trap" reports that the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, found traces of uranium at an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uae-calls-for-iran-talks-with-world-powers-region-261152">Iranian site</a> that Israel called a "secret atomic warehouse".

Two months after Reuters first reported that samples taken at the site had shown traces of uranium, the IAEA on Wednesday told member states at a closed-door briefing that it had found uranium traces at a site in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-finds-new-oil-field-with-53-billion-barrels-of-crude-hassan-rouhani-261158">Iran</a> it did not name, but diplomats at the meeting said it was clearly the same place.

"The Zionist regime and Israel are attempting to re-open ... this file," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in remarks carried on state television.

"We have announced that this is a trap," Mousavi said.

"Hopefully the IAEA will maintain its vigilance."

The IAEA confirmed to member states that the traces from samples taken in February were of uranium that was processed but not enriched, and that the explanations provided by Iran so far did not hold water, diplomats said.

In 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vehemently opposed Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, called on the IAEA to visit the site immediately, saying it had housed 15 kg (33 lb) of unspecified radioactive material that had since been removed.

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Sunday rejected as a "trap" reports that the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, found traces of uranium at an Iranian site that Israel called a "secret atomic warehouse".

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Sunday rejected as a "trap" reports that the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, found traces of uranium at an Iranian site that Israel called a "secret atomic warehouse". Two months after Reuters first reported that samples taken at the site had shown traces of uranium, the IAEA on Wednesday told member states at a closed-door briefing that it had found uranium traces at a site in Iran it did not name, but diplomats at the meeting said it was clearly the same place. "The Zionist regime and Israel are attempting to re-open ... this file," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in remarks carried on state television. "We have announced that this is a trap," Mousavi said. "Hopefully the IAEA will maintain its vigilance." The IAEA confirmed to member states that the traces from samples taken in February were of uranium that was processed but not enriched, and that the explanations provided by Iran so far did not hold water, diplomats said. In 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vehemently opposed Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, called on the IAEA to visit the site immediately, saying it had housed 15 kg (33 lb) of unspecified radioactive material that had since been removed.

Iran rejects reports of IAEA finding traces of uranium at unnamed site

The European Union(EU) today expressed concern over Iran's reported decision to deny accreditation of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-starts-injecting-uranium-gas-into-centrifuges-at-fordow-state-media-260336">UN nuclear inspector</a>.

In a statement, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-accuses-iran-of-nuclear-extortion-with-enrichment-step-260207">Iran's Atomic Energy organisation</a> said while entering the gate an "alarm" was triggered which led officials to believe the inspector was carrying a "suspect product".

As a result, she was denied entry, the agency added. "Iran's representative to the IAEA will present a full report on the matter," it said.

However, the Iranian atomic agency did not specify if anything suspicious was found on the inspector. The agency added she was sent back to IAEA in Vienna.

Meanwhile, the EU said it had "full confidence in the inspectorate's professionalism and impartiality."

"The EU is deeply concerned by the incident concerning one IAEA inspector. We understand that the incident was resolved and call upon Iran to ensure that no such incidents occur in the future," it said.

The incident comes even as the Rouhani government had declared that it had resumed uranium enrichment at its underground Fordow plant south of Tehran on Thursday. On Wednesday, Iran had announced that it had resumed enrichment at the Fordow plant from midnight (2030 GMT Wednesday), a move which was seen as a setback for the nuclear deal.

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Russian foreign minister Lavrov had expressed concern about Iran's announcement.

"They are demanding that Iran fulfil all (obligations) without exception but are not giving anything in return," Lavrov said.

The Kremlin has previously called sanctions against Iran "unprecedented and illegal".

"All these activities have been carried out under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency," the Iranian nuclear organisation said.

French President Emmanuel Macron had said Iran had made a "grave" decision as it took steps against the &nbsp;2015 nuclear agreement. Macron added that it was a "profound change" from Iran's earlier stand.

"A return to normal can only take place if the United States and Iran agree to reopen a sort of trust agenda and dialogue," Macron added.&nbsp;

Iran had earlier complained of &nbsp;"undue pressure" from the US and Israel over its nuclear programme after the IAEA had asked for promt reply to the agency's questions.

The European Union(EU) today expressed concern over Iran's reported decision to deny accreditation of a UN nuclear inspector. In a statement, Iran's Atomic Energy organisation said while entering the gate an "alarm" was triggered which led officials to believe the inspector was carrying a "suspect product".

The European Union(EU) today expressed concern over Iran's reported decision to deny accreditation of a UN nuclear inspector. In a statement, Iran's Atomic Energy organisation said while entering the gate an "alarm" was triggered which led officials to believe the inspector was carrying a "suspect product". As a result, she was denied entry, the agency added. "Iran's representative to the IAEA will present a full report on the matter," it said. However, the Iranian atomic agency did not specify if anything suspicious was found on the inspector. The agency added she was sent back to IAEA in Vienna. Meanwhile, the EU said it had "full confidence in the inspectorate's professionalism and impartiality." "The EU is deeply concerned by the incident concerning one IAEA inspector. We understand that the incident was resolved and call upon Iran to ensure that no such incidents occur in the future," it said. The incident comes even as the Rouhani government had declared that it had resumed uranium enrichment at its underground Fordow plant south of Tehran on Thursday. On Wednesday, Iran had announced that it had resumed enrichment at the Fordow plant from midnight (2030 GMT Wednesday), a move which was seen as a setback for the nuclear deal. Watch Video: Russian foreign minister Lavrov had expressed concern about Iran's announcement. "They are demanding that Iran fulfil all (obligations) without exception but are not giving anything in return," Lavrov said. The Kremlin has previously called sanctions against Iran "unprecedented and illegal". "All these activities have been carried out under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency," the Iranian nuclear organisation said. French President Emmanuel Macron had said Iran had made a "grave" decision as it took steps against the 2015 nuclear agreement. Macron added that it was a "profound change" from Iran's earlier stand. "A return to normal can only take place if the United States and Iran agree to reopen a sort of trust agenda and dialogue," Macron added. Iran had earlier complained of "undue pressure" from the US and Israel over its nuclear programme after the IAEA had asked for promt reply to the agency's questions.

'Deeply concerned' over Iran's decision to deny accreditation to IAEA inspector: EU

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-president-rules-out-negotiations-with-us-at-unga-252069">Iran </a>has started using advanced models of centrifuges to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-has-capacity-to-raise-uranium-enrichment-beyond-20-iranian-nuclear-agency-spokesperson-248247">enrich uranium</a>, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog said Thursday, in a new breach of the faltering 2015 deal with world powers.

Advanced centrifuges at Iran's Natanz facility "were accumulating, or had been prepared to accumulate, enriched uranium", the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a report seen.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-demands-united-states-pay-more-for-a-wider-deal-252151">Iran demands United States pay more for a 'wider deal'</a>

Under the 2015 deal with world powers that puts curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, Tehran is only meant to enrich uranium using less efficient IR-1 centrifuges.

The landmark deal has been in jeopardy since May last year when President Donald Trump withdrew the US from it and reimposed sanctions.

The remaining parties to the deal with Iran — Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia — have tried to salvage the accord, but Tehran has repeatedly accused Europe of not doing enough.

Iran has started using advanced models of centrifuges to enrich uranium, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog said Thursday, in a new breach of the faltering 2015 deal with world powers.

Iran has started using advanced models of centrifuges to enrich uranium, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog said Thursday, in a new breach of the faltering 2015 deal with world powers. Advanced centrifuges at Iran's Natanz facility "were accumulating, or had been prepared to accumulate, enriched uranium", the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a report seen. Also read: Iran demands United States pay more for a 'wider deal' Under the 2015 deal with world powers that puts curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, Tehran is only meant to enrich uranium using less efficient IR-1 centrifuges. The landmark deal has been in jeopardy since May last year when President Donald Trump withdrew the US from it and reimposed sanctions. The remaining parties to the deal with Iran — Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia — have tried to salvage the accord, but Tehran has repeatedly accused Europe of not doing enough.

Iran uses advanced centrifuges in new nuclear deal breach: IAEA

European powers on Friday called on Iran to cooperate with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-nuclear-chief-eu-has-failed-to-fulfil-2015-deal-commitments-248415">International Atomic Energy Agency</a>, after Tehran warned that undue pressure from the US and Israel could jeopardise the agency's activities in Iran.

In a joint statement, Britain, France, Germany and the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on Tehran "to cooperate with the IAEA on all relevant matters, including safeguards issues".

The four European signatories of the 2015 accord on Iran's nuclear programme said they were "deeply concerned" <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-fires-up-advanced-centrifuges-in-latest-nuclear-step-248329">by an IAEA report</a> that showed Iran was installing advanced centrifuges.

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Expressing fears that the nuclear deal "further unravels", they urged Iran "to reverse all activities that are inconsistent with its commitments".

US President Donald Trump last year pulled out of the deal on curbing Iran's nuclear programme and reimposed crippling economic sanctions, throwing the accord into jeopardy.

European powers led by French President Emmanuel Macron have been scrambling to try to save the accord and to convince Iran, which has begun reneging on some of its nuclear commitments, to abide by the agreement.

Tehran on Wednesday accused the US and Israel of applying "undue pressure" on the IAEA to vet its nuclear programme and warned it could be "counterproductive" to its cooperation with the agency.

Tehran's ambassador to the IAEA, Kazem Gharib Abadi, said statements by Israel and the US could jeopardise Iran's "constructive, timely and proactive cooperation" with the watchdog. 
&nbsp;

European powers on Friday called on Iran to cooperate with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, after Tehran warned that undue pressure from the US and Israel could jeopardise the agency's activities in Iran.

European powers on Friday called on Iran to cooperate with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, after Tehran warned that undue pressure from the US and Israel could jeopardise the agency's activities in Iran. In a joint statement, Britain, France, Germany and the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on Tehran "to cooperate with the IAEA on all relevant matters, including safeguards issues". The four European signatories of the 2015 accord on Iran's nuclear programme said they were "deeply concerned" by an IAEA report that showed Iran was installing advanced centrifuges. Watch Video: Expressing fears that the nuclear deal "further unravels", they urged Iran "to reverse all activities that are inconsistent with its commitments". US President Donald Trump last year pulled out of the deal on curbing Iran's nuclear programme and reimposed crippling economic sanctions, throwing the accord into jeopardy. European powers led by French President Emmanuel Macron have been scrambling to try to save the accord and to convince Iran, which has begun reneging on some of its nuclear commitments, to abide by the agreement. Tehran on Wednesday accused the US and Israel of applying "undue pressure" on the IAEA to vet its nuclear programme and warned it could be "counterproductive" to its cooperation with the agency. Tehran's ambassador to the IAEA, Kazem Gharib Abadi, said statements by Israel and the US could jeopardise Iran's "constructive, timely and proactive cooperation" with the watchdog.

Britain, France, Germany & EU urge Iran to cooperate with IAEA on nuclear issue

Pakistan on Wednesday conveyed to UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) its decision to subscribe to the guidance on the management of disused radioactive sources.

Although it is non-legally binding in nature, the Guidance supplements the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources is an important component of the global nuclear safety and security regime.

"The Code of Conduct, along with its supplementary guidance documents, seeks to help countries ensure that radioactive sources are used in a manner consistent with the highest standards of safety and security throughout their life cycle," said Pakistan Foreign Ministry in a statement.

This comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Indian government's decisions to reorganise Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.

Various Pakistani leaders including Prime Minister Imran Khan have threatened about a possible military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Pakistan on Wednesday conveyed to UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) its decision to subscribe to the guidance on the management of disused radioactive sources.

Pakistan on Wednesday conveyed to UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) its decision to subscribe to the guidance on the management of disused radioactive sources. Although it is non-legally binding in nature, the Guidance supplements the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources is an important component of the global nuclear safety and security regime. "The Code of Conduct, along with its supplementary guidance documents, seeks to help countries ensure that radioactive sources are used in a manner consistent with the highest standards of safety and security throughout their life cycle," said Pakistan Foreign Ministry in a statement. This comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Indian government's decisions to reorganise Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. Various Pakistani leaders including Prime Minister Imran Khan have threatened about a possible military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Pakistan subscribes to IAEA's guidance on the management of disused radioactive sources

The remaining parties to the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-grants-visa-to-irans-javad-zarif-for-united-nation-meeting-this-week-sources-236046&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi1ocnt-rjjAhVT-WEKHf-gCNAQFjAGegQIARAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0XnDcqJYQmlBGDMAurg3Hn">Iran nuclear deal</a> do not see Tehran's breaches as significant and do not intend for now to trigger the pact's dispute mechanism, preferring more diplomacy to ease the crisis, the EU foreign policy chief said on Monday.

She spoke at the end of a European Union foreign ministers meeting after Britain said there was only a "small window" of time to salvage the deal, while Iran warned it would ramp up uranium enrichment if the EU failed to do more to that end.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-hits-out-at-us-in-iaea-meet-234819&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjepLeD_LjjAhXXBIgKHbVUAt04MhAWMAR6BAgDEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw1PH9R6SLIOtEtvmC-3HUS5">US-Iranian tensions</a> have escalated since US President Donald Trump decided last year to abandon the nuclear deal under which Iran agreed to curtail its atomic program in return for relief from economic sanctions crippling its economy.

The EU ministers drew no conclusions on what action should next be taken to head off a feared US-Iranian conflict. But by suggesting that Iran's non-compliance was not significant, it could anger the United States, which last week warned it would intensify sanctions on Iran over its breaches, and it did prompt an immediate outcry from Israel, Iran's regional arch-enemy.

"For the time being, none of the parties to the agreement has signalled their intention to invoke this article," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told a news conference in Brussels, referring to a mechanism to punish non-compliance.

"(It) means that none of them for the moment, for the time being with the current data we have had in particular from the (UN nuclear watchdog) IAEA, (consider Iran's) non-compliance...to be significant non-compliance."

Nuclear breches

IAEA inspectors last week confirmed Iran is now enriching uranium to 4.5% fissile purity, above the 3.67% limit set by its deal, the second breach in as many weeks after Tehran exceeded limits on its stock of low enriched uranium.

The level at which Iran is now refining uranium is still well below the 20% purity of enrichment Iran reached before the deal, and the 90% needed to yield bomb-grade nuclear fuel. Low-enriched uranium provides fuel for civilian power plants.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said earlier in the day that Iran remained "a good year away from developing a nuclear bomb". He told reporters in Brussels: "There is still some closing, but a small window to keep the deal alive."

Under the terms of the deal, if any party believes another is not upholding their commitments they can refer the issue to a Joint Commission comprising Iran, Russia, China, the three European powers, and the European Union.

This activates a dispute mechanism that could eventually end with a restoration of global, UN sanctions against Iran. Mogherini said a joint commission meeting was possible, although when and at what level had yet to be decided.

She indicated that for now the EU would focus on diplomatic efforts to save the nuclear deal, which signatories in 2015 touted as essential to ward off the risk of a wider Middle East war jeopardising global energy supplies.

"The deal is not in good health, but it's still alive. We hope and we invite Iran to reverse these steps and go back to full compliance with the agreement," Mogherini, adding that they were all reversible.

'Appeasement'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the EU's response on Monday, saying it recalled failed diplomacy with Nazi Germany in the run-up to World War Two.

"(It) reminds me of the European appeasement of the 1930s," Netanyahu said in a video statement.

"Then, too, there were those who stuck their head in the sand and did not see the approaching danger," said Netanyahu, who has often cast Iran's nuclear projects as a mortal menace to Israel and the wider world. Iran denies seeking a nuclear bomb.

The Brussels gathering had been called to flesh out ways of convincing Iran and the United States to reduce tensions and start a dialogue amid fears the 2015 deal is close to collapse.

Fears of direct US.-Iranian conflict have risen since May with several attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, Iran's downing of a US surveillance drone, and a plan for US air strikes on Iran last month that Trump called off at the last minute.

In reaction to the reimposition of tough US sanctions, which have notably targeted Iran's vital oil revenue stream, Tehran has cut some of its nuclear commitments under the deal.

That led the European parties to the pact, France, Britain and Germany, to warn Tehran not to shred the deal's terms.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom suggested the Europeans would leave the door open for diplomacy but that Tehran should exercise restraint.

"It improves their chances of having a good discussion with the EU and other partners in the JCPOA (Iran deal)," she told reporters. "We encourage them to use all diplomatic means and create new diplomatic channels ...to de-escalate the tense situation. We have to use every opportunity to keep the deal."

The Islamic Republic's nuclear energy agency said Tehran would return to the situation before the nuclear deal unless European countries fulfilled their obligations.

"These actions are not taken out of stubbornness but to give diplomacy a chance," agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said.

"And if the Europeans and America don't want to fulfil their commitments we will create a balance in this deal by reducing commitments and return the situation to four years ago."

Iran says the European countries must do more to guarantee it the trade and investment dividends it was due to receive in return for UN-monitored limits to its nuclear capacity under the deal.

Trade mechanism

The Europeans are also trying to set up Instex, a barter-based trade conduit with Iran, but an equivalent Iranian mechanism has yet to start. Should the mechanism go ahead it would initially only deal in products such as pharmaceuticals and foods, which are not subject to US sanctions.

Mogherini also said the shareholders of Instex, which now includes 10 EU members, were considering whether to include oil, something that until now has been ruled out given the threat of US blowback.

Iran has said Instex must include oil sales or provide substantial credit facilities for it to be beneficial.

The remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal do not see Tehran's breaches as significant and do not intend for now to trigger the pact's dispute mechanism, preferring more diplomacy to ease the crisis, the EU foreign policy chief said on Monday.

The remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal do not see Tehran's breaches as significant and do not intend for now to trigger the pact's dispute mechanism, preferring more diplomacy to ease the crisis, the EU foreign policy chief said on Monday. She spoke at the end of a European Union foreign ministers meeting after Britain said there was only a "small window" of time to salvage the deal, while Iran warned it would ramp up uranium enrichment if the EU failed to do more to that end. US-Iranian tensions have escalated since US President Donald Trump decided last year to abandon the nuclear deal under which Iran agreed to curtail its atomic program in return for relief from economic sanctions crippling its economy. The EU ministers drew no conclusions on what action should next be taken to head off a feared US-Iranian conflict. But by suggesting that Iran's non-compliance was not significant, it could anger the United States, which last week warned it would intensify sanctions on Iran over its breaches, and it did prompt an immediate outcry from Israel, Iran's regional arch-enemy. "For the time being, none of the parties to the agreement has signalled their intention to invoke this article," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told a news conference in Brussels, referring to a mechanism to punish non-compliance. "(It) means that none of them for the moment, for the time being with the current data we have had in particular from the (UN nuclear watchdog) IAEA, (consider Iran's) non-compliance...to be significant non-compliance." Nuclear breches IAEA inspectors last week confirmed Iran is now enriching uranium to 4.5% fissile purity, above the 3.67% limit set by its deal, the second breach in as many weeks after Tehran exceeded limits on its stock of low enriched uranium. The level at which Iran is now refining uranium is still well below the 20% purity of enrichment Iran reached before the deal, and the 90% needed to yield bomb-grade nuclear fuel. Low-enriched uranium provides fuel for civilian power plants. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said earlier in the day that Iran remained "a good year away from developing a nuclear bomb". He told reporters in Brussels: "There is still some closing, but a small window to keep the deal alive." Under the terms of the deal, if any party believes another is not upholding their commitments they can refer the issue to a Joint Commission comprising Iran, Russia, China, the three European powers, and the European Union. This activates a dispute mechanism that could eventually end with a restoration of global, UN sanctions against Iran. Mogherini said a joint commission meeting was possible, although when and at what level had yet to be decided. She indicated that for now the EU would focus on diplomatic efforts to save the nuclear deal, which signatories in 2015 touted as essential to ward off the risk of a wider Middle East war jeopardising global energy supplies. "The deal is not in good health, but it's still alive. We hope and we invite Iran to reverse these steps and go back to full compliance with the agreement," Mogherini, adding that they were all reversible. 'Appeasement' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the EU's response on Monday, saying it recalled failed diplomacy with Nazi Germany in the run-up to World War Two. "(It) reminds me of the European appeasement of the 1930s," Netanyahu said in a video statement. "Then, too, there were those who stuck their head in the sand and did not see the approaching danger," said Netanyahu, who has often cast Iran's nuclear projects as a mortal menace to Israel and the wider world. Iran denies seeking a nuclear bomb. The Brussels gathering had been called to flesh out ways of convincing Iran and the United States to reduce tensions and start a dialogue amid fears the 2015 deal is close to collapse. Fears of direct US.-Iranian conflict have risen since May with several attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, Iran's downing of a US surveillance drone, and a plan for US air strikes on Iran last month that Trump called off at the last minute. In reaction to the reimposition of tough US sanctions, which have notably targeted Iran's vital oil revenue stream, Tehran has cut some of its nuclear commitments under the deal. That led the European parties to the pact, France, Britain and Germany, to warn Tehran not to shred the deal's terms. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom suggested the Europeans would leave the door open for diplomacy but that Tehran should exercise restraint. "It improves their chances of having a good discussion with the EU and other partners in the JCPOA (Iran deal)," she told reporters. "We encourage them to use all diplomatic means and create new diplomatic channels ...to de-escalate the tense situation. We have to use every opportunity to keep the deal." The Islamic Republic's nuclear energy agency said Tehran would return to the situation before the nuclear deal unless European countries fulfilled their obligations. "These actions are not taken out of stubbornness but to give diplomacy a chance," agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said. "And if the Europeans and America don't want to fulfil their commitments we will create a balance in this deal by reducing commitments and return the situation to four years ago." Iran says the European countries must do more to guarantee it the trade and investment dividends it was due to receive in return for UN-monitored limits to its nuclear capacity under the deal. Trade mechanism The Europeans are also trying to set up Instex, a barter-based trade conduit with Iran, but an equivalent Iranian mechanism has yet to start. Should the mechanism go ahead it would initially only deal in products such as pharmaceuticals and foods, which are not subject to US sanctions. Mogherini also said the shareholders of Instex, which now includes 10 EU members, were considering whether to include oil, something that until now has been ruled out given the threat of US blowback. Iran has said Instex must include oil sales or provide substantial credit facilities for it to be beneficial.

Nuclear deal parties not ready to launch dispute mechanism against Iran, prefer more diplomacy: European Union

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

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U.S calls for meet after Tehran breaches N-Deal. IAEA board of governers represent 35 nations. Experts said ''We have no idea that what this meeting will achieve''. Parties to the N-Deal already have a separate forum. Watch this video to know more.

U.S calls for IAEA emergency meet

U.S. calls for IAEA emergency meet

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - July 04th, 2019

Iran rejected on Tuesday a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-playing-with-fire-on-nuclear-deal-trump-232172">White House accusation that Tehran</a> was long violating the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers, after the Islamic Republic said it had amassed more low-enriched uranium than permitted under the accord.

"Seriously?" foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a message on social network Twitter, after a statement by White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham that said, "There is little doubt that even before the deal’s existence, Iran was violating its terms."

Tehran's announcement drew a warning from President Donald Trump that Tehran was "playing with fire."

The move marked Iran's first major step beyond the terms of the pact since the United States pulled out of it more than a year ago. However, Zarif said the move was not a violation of the accord, arguing that Tehran was exercising its right to respond to the US&nbsp;walkout.

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The step, however, could have far-reaching consequences for diplomacy at a time when European countries are trying to pull the United States and Iran back from confrontation. It comes less than two weeks after Trump said he ordered air strikes on Iran, only to cancel them minutes before impact.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that the country's enriched uranium stockpile has now passed the 300-kg(661 lb) limit allowed under the deal.

The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic EnergyAgency (IAEA), which monitors Iran's nuclear programme under the deal, confirmed in Vienna that Tehran had breached the limit.

Trump, asked if he had a message for Iran, said, "No message to Iran. They know what they're doing. They know what they'replaying with, and I think they're playing with fire. So, no message to Iran whatsoever."

European powers, which remain party to the accord and have tried to keep it in place, urged Iran not to take further steps that would violate it. But they held off on declaring the agreement void or announcing sanctions of their own.

The White House charge that Iran probably was in violation of the nuclear deal before and after it was reached in 2015 sharply contrasts with CIA Director Gina Haspel’s testimony in January to the Senate Intelligence Committee saying, "At the moment, technically, they are in compliance."

Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, said the White House charge was "illogical".

He pointed out that at the time the nuclear deal was concluded, Tehran and the IAEA agreed on a "roadmap" through which Iran is addressing the nuclear watchdog’s unanswered questions about the nuclear weapons research program that the IAEA and the US intelligence community assessed ended in 2003.

"The process is still underway," he said.

He also said there was no international standard prohibiting Iran from enriching uranium, as asserted by Pompeo. "That is not the case. That is an American position," he said.

The six UN Security Council resolutions that Pompeo asserted established that standard were superseded by Resolution 2231 enshrining the nuclear deal and allowing Iran to enrich uranium within the agreement's restrictions.

While Iran announced on Monday that it breached the deal's restriction on storing more than 300 kg (661 lb) of low-enriched uranium, Kimball said the issue would be adjudicated through the accord’s dispute resolution mechanism.

It was the United States, he said, that first violated the deal when Trump withdrew from it while Iran still was in compliance and then re-imposed harsh U.S. sanctions that had been suspended by the nuclear agreement.

Iran’s breach, he said, does not affect the deal’s central target of extending to a year the time in which Iran could "breakout" and produce enough highly enriched uranium for a warhead.

The breach is a political move aimed at pressuring the European Union, China and Russia to compensate Iran for the serious damage to its economy from US&nbsp;sanctions, he said.

Iran rejected on Tuesday a White House accusation that Tehran was long violating the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers, after the Islamic Republic said it had amassed more low-enriched uranium than permitted under the accord.

Iran rejected on Tuesday a White House accusation that Tehran was long violating the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers, after the Islamic Republic said it had amassed more low-enriched uranium than permitted under the accord. "Seriously?" foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a message on social network Twitter, after a statement by White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham that said, "There is little doubt that even before the deal’s existence, Iran was violating its terms." Tehran's announcement drew a warning from President Donald Trump that Tehran was "playing with fire." The move marked Iran's first major step beyond the terms of the pact since the United States pulled out of it more than a year ago. However, Zarif said the move was not a violation of the accord, arguing that Tehran was exercising its right to respond to the US walkout. The step, however, could have far-reaching consequences for diplomacy at a time when European countries are trying to pull the United States and Iran back from confrontation. It comes less than two weeks after Trump said he ordered air strikes on Iran, only to cancel them minutes before impact. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that the country's enriched uranium stockpile has now passed the 300-kg(661 lb) limit allowed under the deal. The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic EnergyAgency (IAEA), which monitors Iran's nuclear programme under the deal, confirmed in Vienna that Tehran had breached the limit. Trump, asked if he had a message for Iran, said, "No message to Iran. They know what they're doing. They know what they'replaying with, and I think they're playing with fire. So, no message to Iran whatsoever." European powers, which remain party to the accord and have tried to keep it in place, urged Iran not to take further steps that would violate it. But they held off on declaring the agreement void or announcing sanctions of their own. The White House charge that Iran probably was in violation of the nuclear deal before and after it was reached in 2015 sharply contrasts with CIA Director Gina Haspel’s testimony in January to the Senate Intelligence Committee saying, "At the moment, technically, they are in compliance." Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, said the White House charge was "illogical". He pointed out that at the time the nuclear deal was concluded, Tehran and the IAEA agreed on a "roadmap" through which Iran is addressing the nuclear watchdog’s unanswered questions about the nuclear weapons research program that the IAEA and the US intelligence community assessed ended in 2003. "The process is still underway," he said. He also said there was no international standard prohibiting Iran from enriching uranium, as asserted by Pompeo. "That is not the case. That is an American position," he said. The six UN Security Council resolutions that Pompeo asserted established that standard were superseded by Resolution 2231 enshrining the nuclear deal and allowing Iran to enrich uranium within the agreement's restrictions. While Iran announced on Monday that it breached the deal's restriction on storing more than 300 kg (661 lb) of low-enriched uranium, Kimball said the issue would be adjudicated through the accord’s dispute resolution mechanism. It was the United States, he said, that first violated the deal when Trump withdrew from it while Iran still was in compliance and then re-imposed harsh U.S. sanctions that had been suspended by the nuclear agreement. Iran’s breach, he said, does not affect the deal’s central target of extending to a year the time in which Iran could "breakout" and produce enough highly enriched uranium for a warhead. The breach is a political move aimed at pressuring the European Union, China and Russia to compensate Iran for the serious damage to its economy from US sanctions, he said.

Even before nuclear deal, Iran was violating terms: White House

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