International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Wednesday that Iran had carried out its plan to produce Uranium metal. Iran has done this in spite of the warning by western powers that it would be a breach of 2015 nuclear deal. Uranium metal can be used to make the core of an atom bomb.

US under former President Barack Obama had brought Iran and other world powers on the negotiating table to strike the nuclear deal in 2015. But Donald Trump withdrew US from the accord and as a result, Iran started breaching the provisions of the deal. This has accelerated these breaches in recent months.&nbsp;

Russia, one of the parties of the nuclear deal with Iran called for 'restraint' as news of Iran making Uranium metal broke.

"We understand the logic of their actions and the reasons prompting Iran. Despite this it is necessary to show restraint and a responsible approach," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state news agency RIA Novosti.

A law passed in response to the killing of its top nuclear scientist in November, which Tehran blames on its foe Israel, called for steps including opening a uranium metal plant. Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency in December it planned to produce uranium metal fuel for a research reactor.

"Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi today informed IAEA Member States about recent developments regarding Iran's R&amp;D activities on uranium metal production as part of its stated aim to produce fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor," the IAEA said in a statement.

Wednesday's report along with a previous one said that Iran planned to carry out research on uranium metal using natural uranium before moving on to uranium metal enriched to 20%, the level it is enriching uranium to now, short of the 90% that is weapons grade.

"The Agency on 8 February verified 3.6 gram of uranium metal at Iran's Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant (FPFP) in Esfahan," the IAEA statement added.

France, Britain and Germany, all parties to the deal, last month said they were "deeply concerned" and that Iran's uranium metal production had no civilian credibility but potentially serious military implications.

The 2015 deal's central aim was to extend the time Iran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb to at least a year from roughly 2-3 months. Iran, however, denies ever pursuing nuclear weapons and says it only wants to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA believe Iran had a secret, coordinated nuclear weapons programme that it halted in 2003.

(With Reuters inputs)

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Wednesday that Iran had carried out its plan to produce Uranium metal. Iran has done this in spite of the warning by western powers that it would be a breach of 2015 nuclear deal.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Wednesday that Iran had carried out its plan to produce Uranium metal. Iran has done this in spite of the warning by western powers that it would be a breach of 2015 nuclear deal. Uranium metal can be used to make the core of an atom bomb. US under former President Barack Obama had brought Iran and other world powers on the negotiating table to strike the nuclear deal in 2015. But Donald Trump withdrew US from the accord and as a result, Iran started breaching the provisions of the deal. This has accelerated these breaches in recent months. Russia, one of the parties of the nuclear deal with Iran called for 'restraint' as news of Iran making Uranium metal broke. "We understand the logic of their actions and the reasons prompting Iran. Despite this it is necessary to show restraint and a responsible approach," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state news agency RIA Novosti. A law passed in response to the killing of its top nuclear scientist in November, which Tehran blames on its foe Israel, called for steps including opening a uranium metal plant. Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency in December it planned to produce uranium metal fuel for a research reactor. "Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi today informed IAEA Member States about recent developments regarding Iran's R&D activities on uranium metal production as part of its stated aim to produce fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor," the IAEA said in a statement. Wednesday's report along with a previous one said that Iran planned to carry out research on uranium metal using natural uranium before moving on to uranium metal enriched to 20%, the level it is enriching uranium to now, short of the 90% that is weapons grade. "The Agency on 8 February verified 3.6 gram of uranium metal at Iran's Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant (FPFP) in Esfahan," the IAEA statement added. France, Britain and Germany, all parties to the deal, last month said they were "deeply concerned" and that Iran's uranium metal production had no civilian credibility but potentially serious military implications. The 2015 deal's central aim was to extend the time Iran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb to at least a year from roughly 2-3 months. Iran, however, denies ever pursuing nuclear weapons and says it only wants to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA believe Iran had a secret, coordinated nuclear weapons programme that it halted in 2003. (With Reuters inputs)

Iran produces Uranium metal, breaches nuclear deal even as Russia appeals for calm

Iran Monday dismissed an offer by France to mediate between the United States and the Islamic republic in order to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

"The nuclear deal has no need for a mediator," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters without specifically mentioning France.

He was responding to a question about recent comments by the country's president.

Emmanuel Macron said last week he was ready to act as an "honest broker" in talks between the new US administration of President Joe Biden and Tehran after the multilateral deal was torpedoed by ex-president Donald Trump.

"I will do whatever I can to support any initiative from the US side to re-engage in a demanding dialogue, and I will... try to be an honest broker and a committed broker in this dialogue," Macron said.

The landmark 2015 deal has been hanging by a thread since the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. A year later Iran suspended its compliance with most key nuclear commitments in the deal.

The Biden administration has expressed willingness to return to the deal, but insisted that Tehran first resume full compliance.

On Sunday Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the US must "completely lift" sanctions first, followed by verification by Tehran, before the Islamic republic returns to its commitments. This was Iran's "definite policy" and Tehran "will not turn back from it", he said.

Khatibzadeh also insisted that there was no need to renegotiate the nuclear deal.

Last week, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani likewise ruled out changes to the nuclear deal, saying "no clause of the JCPOA will change".

But the US State Department said last week that it was too early to accept the Iranian proposal, and reiterated Washington's call for Tehran to come back into full compliance. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Iran Monday dismissed an offer by France to mediate between the United States and the Islamic republic in order to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. "The nuclear deal has no need for a mediator," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters without specifically mentioning France.

Iran Monday dismissed an offer by France to mediate between the United States and the Islamic republic in order to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. "The nuclear deal has no need for a mediator," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters without specifically mentioning France. He was responding to a question about recent comments by the country's president. Emmanuel Macron said last week he was ready to act as an "honest broker" in talks between the new US administration of President Joe Biden and Tehran after the multilateral deal was torpedoed by ex-president Donald Trump. "I will do whatever I can to support any initiative from the US side to re-engage in a demanding dialogue, and I will... try to be an honest broker and a committed broker in this dialogue," Macron said. The landmark 2015 deal has been hanging by a thread since the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. A year later Iran suspended its compliance with most key nuclear commitments in the deal. The Biden administration has expressed willingness to return to the deal, but insisted that Tehran first resume full compliance. On Sunday Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the US must "completely lift" sanctions first, followed by verification by Tehran, before the Islamic republic returns to its commitments. This was Iran's "definite policy" and Tehran "will not turn back from it", he said. Khatibzadeh also insisted that there was no need to renegotiate the nuclear deal. Last week, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani likewise ruled out changes to the nuclear deal, saying "no clause of the JCPOA will change". But the US State Department said last week that it was too early to accept the Iranian proposal, and reiterated Washington's call for Tehran to come back into full compliance.

Iran dismisses French mediation on nuclear deal with US

Iran`s foreign minister urged Washington to act fast to return to the nuclear accord, pointing out that legislation passed by parliament forces the government to harden its nuclear stance if U.S. sanctions are not eased by Feb. 21.

Mohammad Javad Zarif also referred to elections in Iran in June. If a hardline president is elected, this could further jeopardize the deal.

“Time is running out for the Americans, both because of the parliament bill and the election atmosphere that will follow the Iranian New Year,” Zarif said in an interview with Hamshahri newspaper published on Saturday. Iran’s new year begins on March 21.

The parliament, dominated by hardliners, passed the legislation in December that set a two-month deadline for an easing of sanctions.

Biden’s administration is exploring ways to restore the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran signed with major world powers but that was abandoned in 2018 by former President Donald Trump, who restored sanctions.

Iran retaliated by breaching the terms of the accord in a step-by-step response. Last month, it resumed enriching uranium to 20% - a level it achieved before the accord. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Biden has said that if Tehran returned to strict compliance with the pact, Washington would follow suit and use that as a springboard to a broader agreement that might restrict Iran`s missile development and regional activities.

Tehran has insisted that Washington ease sanctions before it resumes nuclear compliance, and ruled out negotiations on wider security issues.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Iran on Friday in a virtual meeting with his British, French and German counterparts as the group weighed how to revive the deal.

“The more America procrastinates, the more it will lose … it will appear that Mr. Biden’s administration doesn’t want to rid itself of Trump’s failed legacy,” Zarif said in the interview.

“We don’t need to return to the negotiating table. It’s America that has to find the ticket to come to the table,” he added.

On Monday, Zarif hinted at a way to resolve the impasse over which side moves first, by saying the steps could be synchronized.

YEMEN STANCE

Separately, Iran`s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that a new U.S. stand on the Yemen war could be a helpful step, after President Joe Biden said this week Washington was ending its support for a Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen.

"Stopping support ... for the Saudi coalition, if not a political manoeuvre, could be a step towards correcting past mistakes," state media quoted ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying.

But he added, "This alone won`t solve Yemen`s problem, and the air, sea and land blockade that killed thousands of people in the country due to a lack of food and medicine must be lifted, and the military attacks of the aggressor states led by Saudi Arabia must be ended".

Biden said on Thursday that the more than six-year war, widely seen as a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, "has to end." He also named veteran U.S. diplomat Timothy Lenderking as the U.S. special envoy for Yemen in a bid to step up American diplomacy to try to end the war.

Iran`s foreign minister urged Washington to act fast to return to the nuclear accord, pointing out that legislation passed by parliament forces the government to harden its nuclear stance if U.

Iran`s foreign minister urged Washington to act fast to return to the nuclear accord, pointing out that legislation passed by parliament forces the government to harden its nuclear stance if U.S. sanctions are not eased by Feb. 21. Mohammad Javad Zarif also referred to elections in Iran in June. If a hardline president is elected, this could further jeopardize the deal. “Time is running out for the Americans, both because of the parliament bill and the election atmosphere that will follow the Iranian New Year,” Zarif said in an interview with Hamshahri newspaper published on Saturday. Iran’s new year begins on March 21. The parliament, dominated by hardliners, passed the legislation in December that set a two-month deadline for an easing of sanctions. Biden’s administration is exploring ways to restore the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran signed with major world powers but that was abandoned in 2018 by former President Donald Trump, who restored sanctions. Iran retaliated by breaching the terms of the accord in a step-by-step response. Last month, it resumed enriching uranium to 20% - a level it achieved before the accord. Biden has said that if Tehran returned to strict compliance with the pact, Washington would follow suit and use that as a springboard to a broader agreement that might restrict Iran`s missile development and regional activities. Tehran has insisted that Washington ease sanctions before it resumes nuclear compliance, and ruled out negotiations on wider security issues. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Iran on Friday in a virtual meeting with his British, French and German counterparts as the group weighed how to revive the deal. “The more America procrastinates, the more it will lose … it will appear that Mr. Biden’s administration doesn’t want to rid itself of Trump’s failed legacy,” Zarif said in the interview. “We don’t need to return to the negotiating table. It’s America that has to find the ticket to come to the table,” he added. On Monday, Zarif hinted at a way to resolve the impasse over which side moves first, by saying the steps could be synchronized. YEMEN STANCE Separately, Iran`s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that a new U.S. stand on the Yemen war could be a helpful step, after President Joe Biden said this week Washington was ending its support for a Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen. "Stopping support ... for the Saudi coalition, if not a political manoeuvre, could be a step towards correcting past mistakes," state media quoted ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying. But he added, "This alone won`t solve Yemen`s problem, and the air, sea and land blockade that killed thousands of people in the country due to a lack of food and medicine must be lifted, and the military attacks of the aggressor states led by Saudi Arabia must be ended". Biden said on Thursday that the more than six-year war, widely seen as a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, "has to end." He also named veteran U.S. diplomat Timothy Lenderking as the U.S. special envoy for Yemen in a bid to step up American diplomacy to try to end the war.

Iran top diplomat urges Biden to return to nuclear deal

In Iran, the hard-liners in parliament have rejected President Hassan Rouhani's draft budget proposal. They say it will lead to financial ruin but beyond some technical differences - this is a battle of ideologies. There's an election coming up in Iran, and conservative parties are hoping to win the presidency. It's a high stakes battle that will have implications in the whole of West Asia especially on the Iran nuclear deal which is hanging on by a thread.

A moderate president and a hard-line, conservative parliament conducting legislative business in Iran is not easy. With elections due in June, tensions are running high. On Tuesday - the two sides clashed over the annual budget. Out of 261 lawmakers, 148 rejected Rouhani's budget, while 99 supported it. This back-and-forth has been going on for some time now as the budget was first introduced in early December. Conservatives say the plan is unrealistic, and that it will run up a deficit and worsen inflation.

A key concern is the projected oil sales, as the government believes it can raise 8.1 billion dollars from oil. Critics argue that with Trump-era sanctions still intact, this projection is not achievable. Rouhani's government has a two-week window to tweak the budget and send it back to parliament.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/world-court-to-hear-sanctions-dispute-filed-by-iran-against-united-states-361144" hreflang="en">World Court to hear sanctions dispute filed by Iran against United States</a>

If the impasse continues - Iran will have to pass a temporary budget, which is not an ideal situation in an economy crippled by sanctions. The logjam over the budget is symbolic of Iran's larger political divide. Conservatives already control the parliament and the judiciary and are likely to win the presidency in June and this could have major implications on the nuclear deal.

Joe Biden has signalled his willingness to talk but he wants Iran to rejoin the deal - before lifting sanctions. Tehran wants sanctions lifted before the deal is restored. Rouhani is willing to give diplomacy a chance, but his successor may not. Conservatives have traditionally opposed the nuclear deal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/iran-deepens-breach-of-nuclear-deal-at-underground-enrichment-site-360924" hreflang="en">Iran deepens breach of nuclear deal at underground enrichment site</a>

They reject talks with the West - A position that has strengthened after the assassination of Qasem Soleimani and Mohsin Fakhrizadeh. Rouhani is under pressure both from within Iran and the international community. Regional powers - including Saudi Arabia see a role for themselves in an expanded nuclear deal. But the president has ruled out any changes in the deal's terms. "Take it or leave it" was Rouhani's message. 
 
"This agreement is not something that was easily achieved. This is the agreement. If they want it, everyone comes into compliance. If they don't, they can go live their lives", Rouhani had said. West Asia will be watching the upcoming polls closely, and a conservative takeover could define regional politics for years to come.

In Iran, the hard-liners in parliament have rejected President Hassan Rouhani's draft budget proposal. They say it will lead to financial ruin but beyond some technical differences - this is a battle of ideologies.

In Iran, the hard-liners in parliament have rejected President Hassan Rouhani's draft budget proposal. They say it will lead to financial ruin but beyond some technical differences - this is a battle of ideologies. There's an election coming up in Iran, and conservative parties are hoping to win the presidency. It's a high stakes battle that will have implications in the whole of West Asia especially on the Iran nuclear deal which is hanging on by a thread. A moderate president and a hard-line, conservative parliament conducting legislative business in Iran is not easy. With elections due in June, tensions are running high. On Tuesday - the two sides clashed over the annual budget. Out of 261 lawmakers, 148 rejected Rouhani's budget, while 99 supported it. This back-and-forth has been going on for some time now as the budget was first introduced in early December. Conservatives say the plan is unrealistic, and that it will run up a deficit and worsen inflation. A key concern is the projected oil sales, as the government believes it can raise 8.1 billion dollars from oil. Critics argue that with Trump-era sanctions still intact, this projection is not achievable. Rouhani's government has a two-week window to tweak the budget and send it back to parliament. Also read: World Court to hear sanctions dispute filed by Iran against United States If the impasse continues - Iran will have to pass a temporary budget, which is not an ideal situation in an economy crippled by sanctions. The logjam over the budget is symbolic of Iran's larger political divide. Conservatives already control the parliament and the judiciary and are likely to win the presidency in June and this could have major implications on the nuclear deal. Joe Biden has signalled his willingness to talk but he wants Iran to rejoin the deal - before lifting sanctions. Tehran wants sanctions lifted before the deal is restored. Rouhani is willing to give diplomacy a chance, but his successor may not. Conservatives have traditionally opposed the nuclear deal. Also read: Iran deepens breach of nuclear deal at underground enrichment site They reject talks with the West - A position that has strengthened after the assassination of Qasem Soleimani and Mohsin Fakhrizadeh. Rouhani is under pressure both from within Iran and the international community. Regional powers - including Saudi Arabia see a role for themselves in an expanded nuclear deal. But the president has ruled out any changes in the deal's terms. "Take it or leave it" was Rouhani's message. "This agreement is not something that was easily achieved. This is the agreement. If they want it, everyone comes into compliance. If they don't, they can go live their lives", Rouhani had said. West Asia will be watching the upcoming polls closely, and a conservative takeover could define regional politics for years to come.

Iran: Why rejection of Rouhani's budget is a bigger battle than it seems

Iran has deepened a key breach of its 2015 nuclear deal, enriching uranium with a larger number of advanced centrifuge machines in an underground plant as it faces off with the new U.S. administration on salvaging the accord.

Tehran has recently accelerated its breaches of the deal, raising pressure on U.S. President Joe Biden as both sides say they are willing to come back into compliance with the badly eroded agreement if the other side moves first.

Iran began its breaches in 2019 in response to Washington`s withdrawal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump and the reimposition of U.S. economic sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the deal.

The accord says Iran can refine uranium only at its main enrichment site - an underground plant at Natanz - with first-generation IR-1 centrifuges. Last year Iran began enriching there with a cascade, or cluster, of much more efficient IR-2m machines and in December said it would install three more.

"Iran has completed the installation of one of these three cascades, containing 174 IR-2m centrifuges, and, on 30 January 2021, Iran began feeding the cascade with UF6," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report obtained by Reuters on Tuesday, referring to uranium hexafluoride feedstock.

The IAEA later confirmed that the Islamic Republic had started enriching with the second cascade.

Tehran is also pressing ahead with the installation of more advanced centrifuges, the report indicated. Of the remaining two cascades of IR-2m machines, installation of one had begun while the other`s installation was "nearing completion", it said.

Iran`s ambassador to the IAEA, Kazem Gharibabadi, said on Twitter Tehran had also started installing IR-6 centrifuges at Fordow, a site dug into a mountain where Iran has begun enriching uranium to the 20% purity it last achieved before the 2015 deal. The IAEA report made no mention of that.

Earlier on Tuesday Israel`s energy minister said it would now take Iran about six months to produce enough fissile material for one nuclear weapon, a timeline almost twice as long as that anticipated by a senior Biden administration official.

Iran denies any intent to weaponise enrichment. The nuclear deal sets a limit of 3.67% enrichment purity, suitable for producing civilian nuclear energy and far below the 90% that is weapons-grade.

Iran has deepened a key breach of its 2015 nuclear deal, enriching uranium with a larger number of advanced centrifuge machines in an underground plant as it faces off with the new U.

Iran has deepened a key breach of its 2015 nuclear deal, enriching uranium with a larger number of advanced centrifuge machines in an underground plant as it faces off with the new U.S. administration on salvaging the accord. Tehran has recently accelerated its breaches of the deal, raising pressure on U.S. President Joe Biden as both sides say they are willing to come back into compliance with the badly eroded agreement if the other side moves first. Iran began its breaches in 2019 in response to Washington`s withdrawal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump and the reimposition of U.S. economic sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the deal. The accord says Iran can refine uranium only at its main enrichment site - an underground plant at Natanz - with first-generation IR-1 centrifuges. Last year Iran began enriching there with a cascade, or cluster, of much more efficient IR-2m machines and in December said it would install three more. "Iran has completed the installation of one of these three cascades, containing 174 IR-2m centrifuges, and, on 30 January 2021, Iran began feeding the cascade with UF6," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report obtained by Reuters on Tuesday, referring to uranium hexafluoride feedstock. The IAEA later confirmed that the Islamic Republic had started enriching with the second cascade. Tehran is also pressing ahead with the installation of more advanced centrifuges, the report indicated. Of the remaining two cascades of IR-2m machines, installation of one had begun while the other`s installation was "nearing completion", it said. Iran`s ambassador to the IAEA, Kazem Gharibabadi, said on Twitter Tehran had also started installing IR-6 centrifuges at Fordow, a site dug into a mountain where Iran has begun enriching uranium to the 20% purity it last achieved before the 2015 deal. The IAEA report made no mention of that. Earlier on Tuesday Israel`s energy minister said it would now take Iran about six months to produce enough fissile material for one nuclear weapon, a timeline almost twice as long as that anticipated by a senior Biden administration official. Iran denies any intent to weaponise enrichment. The nuclear deal sets a limit of 3.67% enrichment purity, suitable for producing civilian nuclear energy and far below the 90% that is weapons-grade.

Iran deepens breach of nuclear deal at underground enrichment site

The new US government, under President Joe Biden, has named Rob Malley as its special envoy to Iran.

Malley is known as the architect of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran -- one of the chief negotiators on the 2015 nuclear deal reached by Iran and world powers, under which Tehran was promised economic relief for major curbs in its contested nuclear programme.

The deal was reached under Barack Obama, when President Joe Biden was his number two.

Malley has been serving as head of the International Crisis Group, an independent non-governmental organisation focussed on conflict resolution.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is "building a dedicated team" to address Washington's relations with Iran, to be led by Malley, a State Department official said Friday.

Malley "brings to the position a track record of success&nbsp;negotiating constraints on&nbsp;Iran's nuclear program," the State Department official said.

"The Secretary is confident he and his team will be able to do that once again."

In 2018, Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the 2015 accord, which was also signed by Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

The Trump administration deemed the deal not tough enough, and felt it should have also covered what it saw as Iran's "destabilising" activities in the Middle East. It slapped tough sanctions on Tehran.

This week, Blinken confirmed the new US administration's intention to rejoin the accord -- once Tehran meets its commitments.

Iran responded to the tough Trump-era sanctions by reducing its compliance with the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It wants Washington to make the first move.

The new US government, under President Joe Biden, has named Rob Malley as its special envoy to Iran. Malley is known as the architect of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran -- one of the chief negotiators on the 2015 nuclear deal reached by Iran and world powers, under which Tehran was promised economic relief for major curbs in its contested nuclear programme.

The new US government, under President Joe Biden, has named Rob Malley as its special envoy to Iran. Malley is known as the architect of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran -- one of the chief negotiators on the 2015 nuclear deal reached by Iran and world powers, under which Tehran was promised economic relief for major curbs in its contested nuclear programme. The deal was reached under Barack Obama, when President Joe Biden was his number two. Malley has been serving as head of the International Crisis Group, an independent non-governmental organisation focussed on conflict resolution. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is "building a dedicated team" to address Washington's relations with Iran, to be led by Malley, a State Department official said Friday. Malley "brings to the position a track record of success negotiating constraints on Iran's nuclear program," the State Department official said. "The Secretary is confident he and his team will be able to do that once again." In 2018, Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the 2015 accord, which was also signed by Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. The Trump administration deemed the deal not tough enough, and felt it should have also covered what it saw as Iran's "destabilising" activities in the Middle East. It slapped tough sanctions on Tehran. This week, Blinken confirmed the new US administration's intention to rejoin the accord -- once Tehran meets its commitments. Iran responded to the tough Trump-era sanctions by reducing its compliance with the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It wants Washington to make the first move.

US names 2015 nuke deal negotiator Rob Malley as new envoy to Iran

The Russian government said today that the United States should return to "full compliance" of the 2015 nuclear deal for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-zarif-open-to-oil-gulf-security-contacts-with-us-not-on-israel-358827">Iran </a>to meet its obligations under the pact.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/west-asia-post-iran-steps-up-its-nuclear-program-356458/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Russian foreign miniser Sergei Lavrov said: "The United States returns to full compliance with the corresponding Security Council resolution, creating conditions for Iran to meet its obligations under the nuclear deal."

The deal also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015 between Iran, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany fell apart after former US president Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018 as part of his administration's "maximum pressure" policy on Iran.

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif&nbsp;had said earlier that his country "will return to the full implementation of our obligations" if the US government lifts sanctions.

Meanwhile, France said the Iranian government must comply with the accord limiting nuclear programme in order to have the United States return to the deal.

The Iran government had urged the US government to "unconditionally" lift sanctions. The Donald Trump administration had imposed harsh sanctions on Iran targeting its oil and banking sector after pulling out of the deal..

Iran now insists the Joe <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cautious-welcome-for-biden-in-gulf-amid-yet-uncertain-iran-policy-358313">Biden</a> administration should first lift all sanctions and return to its own JCPOA obligations.

Biden had earlier expressed desire to negotiate more broadly with Iran.

The Russian government said today that the United States should return to "full compliance" of the 2015 nuclear deal for Iran to meet its obligations under the pact.

The Russian government said today that the United States should return to "full compliance" of the 2015 nuclear deal for Iran to meet its obligations under the pact. Watch: Russian foreign miniser Sergei Lavrov said: "The United States returns to full compliance with the corresponding Security Council resolution, creating conditions for Iran to meet its obligations under the nuclear deal." The deal also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015 between Iran, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany fell apart after former US president Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018 as part of his administration's "maximum pressure" policy on Iran. Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had said earlier that his country "will return to the full implementation of our obligations" if the US government lifts sanctions. Meanwhile, France said the Iranian government must comply with the accord limiting nuclear programme in order to have the United States return to the deal. The Iran government had urged the US government to "unconditionally" lift sanctions. The Donald Trump administration had imposed harsh sanctions on Iran targeting its oil and banking sector after pulling out of the deal.. Iran now insists the Joe Biden administration should first lift all sanctions and return to its own JCPOA obligations. Biden had earlier expressed desire to negotiate more broadly with Iran.

Nuclear deal row: US should return to full compliance for Iran to meet obligations, says Russia

World powers party to Iran nuclear deal struck by Brack Obama administration on Wednesday went into a huddle to diffuse tension and to decide plan of action under mounting pressure from Iranian breaches and US sanctions. Representatives of China, France, Russia, Iran, Germany and Britain also discussed the uncertainty before US President-elect Joe Biden takes office. The discussion took place via video conference.

During the discussion, one of the diplomats urged Iran to stick to deal.

Nuclear deal with Iran was struck by these world powers after former US President Barack Obama's initiative in 2015. However, Donald Trump withdrew America from the deal. Remaining countries are still party to the pact.

US President-elect Joe Biden has indicated that US would rejoin the deal.

Senior EU foreign affairs official Helga Schmid issued a brief statement following the talks she chaired.

"Participants discussed... how to ensure the full and effective implementation of the agreement by all sides in light of existing challenges," it said.

While she did not say what those challenges were, the deal has unravelled steadily since Trump withdrew from it in 2018 and went on to impose crippling economic sanctions on Iran.&nbsp;

Tehran has retaliated by progressively abandoning limits on its nuclear activity laid down in the deal, most recently planning to install advanced centrifuges at Iran's main nuclear enrichment plant in Natanz.

World powers party to Iran nuclear deal struck by Brack Obama administration on Wednesday went into a huddle to diffuse tension and to decide plan of action under mounting pressure from Iranian breaches and US sanctions.

World powers party to Iran nuclear deal struck by Brack Obama administration on Wednesday went into a huddle to diffuse tension and to decide plan of action under mounting pressure from Iranian breaches and US sanctions. Representatives of China, France, Russia, Iran, Germany and Britain also discussed the uncertainty before US President-elect Joe Biden takes office. The discussion took place via video conference. During the discussion, one of the diplomats urged Iran to stick to deal. Nuclear deal with Iran was struck by these world powers after former US President Barack Obama's initiative in 2015. However, Donald Trump withdrew America from the deal. Remaining countries are still party to the pact. US President-elect Joe Biden has indicated that US would rejoin the deal. Senior EU foreign affairs official Helga Schmid issued a brief statement following the talks she chaired. "Participants discussed... how to ensure the full and effective implementation of the agreement by all sides in light of existing challenges," it said. While she did not say what those challenges were, the deal has unravelled steadily since Trump withdrew from it in 2018 and went on to impose crippling economic sanctions on Iran. Tehran has retaliated by progressively abandoning limits on its nuclear activity laid down in the deal, most recently planning to install advanced centrifuges at Iran's main nuclear enrichment plant in Natanz.

Iran nuclear deal: World powers try to diffuse tension

President Joe Biden has said that he wants the United States to return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal this only Iran resumes compliance. However, the experts say that returning to the nuclear deal won't be easy

U.S. President Joe Biden wants United States to return to the 2015 Iran Nuclear deal

Iran on&nbsp;Tuesday said it would welcome a US return to the landmark 2015 nuclear deal after its November 3 election provided it "guarantees" not to pull out again.

"It makes no difference to us which president in America decides to return" to the accord between Tehran and world powers, government spokesman Ali Rabiei told reporters.

"We would welcome such a decision by any president," he said.

But Washington "should be ready to be held responsible for the damages it has caused the people of Iran during the time it withdrew" and also "to provide other guarantees it will not repeat" such action.

Tensions have soared between Washington and Tehran under US President Donald Trump, who pulled out of the deal in 2018 and has unilaterally reimposed sanctions on Iran.

Joe Biden, Trump's challenger who is leading in polls, favours diplomacy with Iran and has backed the nuclear accord negotiated while he was vice president under Barack Obama.

The Trump administration has accused Iran as well as Russia of trying to interfere in the 2020 election, charges which Tehran has strongly denied.

Iranian officials have repeatedly said they favour no specific candidate in the race.

Iran on Tuesday said it would welcome a US return to the landmark 2015 nuclear deal after its November 3 election provided it "guarantees" not to pull out again.

Iran on Tuesday said it would welcome a US return to the landmark 2015 nuclear deal after its November 3 election provided it "guarantees" not to pull out again. "It makes no difference to us which president in America decides to return" to the accord between Tehran and world powers, government spokesman Ali Rabiei told reporters. "We would welcome such a decision by any president," he said. But Washington "should be ready to be held responsible for the damages it has caused the people of Iran during the time it withdrew" and also "to provide other guarantees it will not repeat" such action. Tensions have soared between Washington and Tehran under US President Donald Trump, who pulled out of the deal in 2018 and has unilaterally reimposed sanctions on Iran. Joe Biden, Trump's challenger who is leading in polls, favours diplomacy with Iran and has backed the nuclear accord negotiated while he was vice president under Barack Obama. The Trump administration has accused Iran as well as Russia of trying to interfere in the 2020 election, charges which Tehran has strongly denied. Iranian officials have repeatedly said they favour no specific candidate in the race.

Iran would hail US return to nuclear deal - with 'guarantees'

The United States wants an immediate meeting with Russia to finalise an extension of a nuclear treaty after Moscow backed a US proposal to freeze warheads.

"We appreciate the Russian Federation's willingness to make progress on the issue of nuclear arms control," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

"The United States is prepared to meet immediately to finalise a verifiable agreement. We expect Russia to empower its diplomats to do the same."

Moscow on Tuesday said it was ready for the deal -- in order to extend the landmark arms reduction deal due to expire next year.

"Russia offers extending the New START by one year and is ready to take on a political commitment with the United States to freeze the number of nuclear warheads both sides have for this period," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ready-to-freeze-warheads-total-to-extend-nuclear-pact-with-us-by-a-year-336656">Also read |&nbsp;Russia ready to freeze warheads total to extend nuclear pact with US by a year</a>

Russian President Vladimir Putin last week proposed extending by one year the New START treaty, which is due to expire in February 2021. The White House, however, described Putin's proposal as a "non-starter" unless accompanied by a freeze on the number of nuclear warheads.

Tensions have raged for months over the fate of New START, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow and expires on February 5, 2021. The 10-year agreement was signed in 2010 at the peak of hopes for a "reset" in relations between Russia and the United States, spearheaded by former US president Barack Obama and then Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

(with inputs)

The United States wants an immediate meeting with Russia to finalise an extension of a nuclear treaty after Moscow backed a US proposal to freeze warheads. "We appreciate the Russian Federation's willingness to make progress on the issue of nuclear arms control," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

The United States wants an immediate meeting with Russia to finalise an extension of a nuclear treaty after Moscow backed a US proposal to freeze warheads. "We appreciate the Russian Federation's willingness to make progress on the issue of nuclear arms control," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. "The United States is prepared to meet immediately to finalise a verifiable agreement. We expect Russia to empower its diplomats to do the same." Moscow on Tuesday said it was ready for the deal -- in order to extend the landmark arms reduction deal due to expire next year. "Russia offers extending the New START by one year and is ready to take on a political commitment with the United States to freeze the number of nuclear warheads both sides have for this period," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Also read | Russia ready to freeze warheads total to extend nuclear pact with US by a year Russian President Vladimir Putin last week proposed extending by one year the New START treaty, which is due to expire in February 2021. The White House, however, described Putin's proposal as a "non-starter" unless accompanied by a freeze on the number of nuclear warheads. Tensions have raged for months over the fate of New START, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow and expires on February 5, 2021. The 10-year agreement was signed in 2010 at the peak of hopes for a "reset" in relations between Russia and the United States, spearheaded by former US president Barack Obama and then Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. (with inputs)

US wants to meet 'immediately' with Russia to finalise nuclear treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed that Moscow and Washington extend for a year and without any conditions New START, the two nations' last major nuclear arms accord.

"I have a proposal -- which is to extend the current agreement without any pre-conditions at least for one year to have an opportunity to conduct substantial negotiations," Putin said at a meeting of his security council, according to a Kremlin statement.

Moscow outlined that the extension of the treaty would be in the interest of the entire world community and that the nation is interested in avoiding a new missile crisis in Europe and other regions.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/neither-serious-nor-sincere-china-rejects-joining-nuclear-arms-limitation-talks-with-us-312344">'Neither serious nor sincere': China rejects joining nuclear arms limitation talks with US</a>

The New START treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)&nbsp;accord was signed in 2010 by US&nbsp;President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance. It&nbsp;had replaced the Treaty of Moscow (SORT), which was to expire in 2012.

Russia previously offered its extension for five years without any conditions, while the US&nbsp;Administration pushed for a new arms control agreement that would also include China. Moscow has described that idea as unfeasible, pointing at Beijing's refusal to negotiate any deal that would reduce its much-smaller nuclear arsenal.

Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov voiced skepticism about reaching a deal on New START, noting that Russia can't accept the conditions put forward by the United States for its extension.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed that Moscow and Washington extend for a year and without any conditions New START, the two nations' last major nuclear arms accord.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed that Moscow and Washington extend for a year and without any conditions New START, the two nations' last major nuclear arms accord. "I have a proposal -- which is to extend the current agreement without any pre-conditions at least for one year to have an opportunity to conduct substantial negotiations," Putin said at a meeting of his security council, according to a Kremlin statement. Moscow outlined that the extension of the treaty would be in the interest of the entire world community and that the nation is interested in avoiding a new missile crisis in Europe and other regions. Also read| 'Neither serious nor sincere': China rejects joining nuclear arms limitation talks with US The New START treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) accord was signed in 2010 by US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance. It had replaced the Treaty of Moscow (SORT), which was to expire in 2012. Russia previously offered its extension for five years without any conditions, while the US Administration pushed for a new arms control agreement that would also include China. Moscow has described that idea as unfeasible, pointing at Beijing's refusal to negotiate any deal that would reduce its much-smaller nuclear arsenal. Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov voiced skepticism about reaching a deal on New START, noting that Russia can't accept the conditions put forward by the United States for its extension.

Russia proposes one-year extension of New START treaty with US

China is expected to at least double the number of its nuclear warheads over the next decade from the low 200s now and is nearing the ability to launch nuclear strikes by land, air and sea, a capacity known as a triad, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

China to double nuclear warheads in the next decade

The United States moved to restore all UN sanctions on Iran on Thursday, arguing Tehran was in violation of a nuclear deal it struck with world powers in 2015 even though Washington itself abandoned that agreement two years ago. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-arrests-people-responsible-for-boeing-crash-as-protests-rage-in-tehran-274213">Also read | Let's replace Iran nuclear deal with 'Trump deal': PM Johnson</a> 
 
The United States submitted a letter to the 15-member UN Security Council accusing Tehran of non-compliance, in theory starting a 30-day process that could lead to the "snapback" of UN sanctions even though major powers such as Russia reject the US stance and say they will not restore the UN measures.

Iran itself rejected the US move, taken in part because of the impending October expiration of a UN arms embargo on Tehran, arguing Washington had no right trigger the re-imposition and asking Security Council members to reject the US action.

US President Donald Trump's administration abandoned the Iran nuclear deal, which was designed to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, arguing in part that its limitations on Iran's atomic activities were inadequate.

In a letter to the UN Security Council, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran had breached many of the deal's central limits without acknowledging that most of the Iranian "non-performance" came only after Washington had pulled out.

"Iran's non-performance is incontestable and a matter of public record," said the letter, citing Iran's enrichment of uranium above 3.67%, amassing of an enriched uranium stockpile beyond the agreement's 300 kg ceiling, and other violations.

In a letter to the Security Council submitted before the United States action, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Washington had no right to trigger the "snapback" mechanism as it was no longer a party to the pact.

"The US push to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran will have dangerous consequences," Zarif's letter said. "Now it is the international community's turn to counter the unlawful push by the United States."

Iranian state TV said the letter was sent to the current president of the UN Security Council by Iran's UN envoy Majid Takhteravanchi.

Russia backed the Iranian stance

Russia's UN ambassador rejected US plans to restore UN sanctions on Iran as "nonexistent," saying only a country that remains in the 2015 agreement can trigger the return of the sanctions in a process known informally as "snapback."

"We will not take it as snapback," Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters before Pompeo was to deliver the US letter.

"He's not triggering a snapback. Snapback can be triggered by a country that is a participant of the JCPOA, which the US is not," he said, referring to the accord by its formal name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"We consider snapback as nonexistent. We will not take it as a snapback," Nebenzia added.

When asked if Russia would reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, the Russian ambassador replied: "How can Russia reimpose UN sanctions on Iran if the resolution 2231 continues?"

He was referring to the Security Council resolution that enshrined the 2015 deal between Iran and six major powers: Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

Under the agreement, Iran committed to limit its nuclear activities in return for wide relief from sanctions.

A snapback of UN sanctions would require Iran to suspend all nuclear enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and ban imports of anything that could contribute to those activities or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. 
 
It would reimpose the arms embargo, ban Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and bring back targeted sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities. Countries also would be urged to inspect shipments to and from Iran and authorized to seize any banned cargo.

The United States moved to restore all UN sanctions on Iran on Thursday, arguing Tehran was in violation of a nuclear deal it struck with world powers in 2015 even though Washington itself abandoned that agreement two years ago.

The United States moved to restore all UN sanctions on Iran on Thursday, arguing Tehran was in violation of a nuclear deal it struck with world powers in 2015 even though Washington itself abandoned that agreement two years ago. Also read | Let's replace Iran nuclear deal with 'Trump deal': PM Johnson The United States submitted a letter to the 15-member UN Security Council accusing Tehran of non-compliance, in theory starting a 30-day process that could lead to the "snapback" of UN sanctions even though major powers such as Russia reject the US stance and say they will not restore the UN measures. Iran itself rejected the US move, taken in part because of the impending October expiration of a UN arms embargo on Tehran, arguing Washington had no right trigger the re-imposition and asking Security Council members to reject the US action. US President Donald Trump's administration abandoned the Iran nuclear deal, which was designed to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, arguing in part that its limitations on Iran's atomic activities were inadequate. In a letter to the UN Security Council, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran had breached many of the deal's central limits without acknowledging that most of the Iranian "non-performance" came only after Washington had pulled out. "Iran's non-performance is incontestable and a matter of public record," said the letter, citing Iran's enrichment of uranium above 3.67%, amassing of an enriched uranium stockpile beyond the agreement's 300 kg ceiling, and other violations. In a letter to the Security Council submitted before the United States action, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Washington had no right to trigger the "snapback" mechanism as it was no longer a party to the pact. "The US push to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran will have dangerous consequences," Zarif's letter said. "Now it is the international community's turn to counter the unlawful push by the United States." Iranian state TV said the letter was sent to the current president of the UN Security Council by Iran's UN envoy Majid Takhteravanchi. Russia backed the Iranian stance Russia's UN ambassador rejected US plans to restore UN sanctions on Iran as "nonexistent," saying only a country that remains in the 2015 agreement can trigger the return of the sanctions in a process known informally as "snapback." "We will not take it as snapback," Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters before Pompeo was to deliver the US letter. "He's not triggering a snapback. Snapback can be triggered by a country that is a participant of the JCPOA, which the US is not," he said, referring to the accord by its formal name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "We consider snapback as nonexistent. We will not take it as a snapback," Nebenzia added. When asked if Russia would reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, the Russian ambassador replied: "How can Russia reimpose UN sanctions on Iran if the resolution 2231 continues?" He was referring to the Security Council resolution that enshrined the 2015 deal between Iran and six major powers: Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Under the agreement, Iran committed to limit its nuclear activities in return for wide relief from sanctions. A snapback of UN sanctions would require Iran to suspend all nuclear enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and ban imports of anything that could contribute to those activities or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. It would reimpose the arms embargo, ban Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and bring back targeted sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities. Countries also would be urged to inspect shipments to and from Iran and authorized to seize any banned cargo.

United States moves to restore all UN sanctions on Iran in dispute over nuclear deal

The United States on Tuesday informed Russia of its terms to potentially extend the nuclear treaty which limits their deployed nuclear weapons.

The treaty in question is expiring in February. The US envoy to talks relating to arms control on Tuesday said that now it is Russia’s turn to make the move.

US wary

The US believes that Russia is building up and stockpiling short-range nuclear weapons that do not fall within the ambit of the treaty. Washington has also asked for Russia to improve their verification system.

In a telephone briefing, US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea said that “the ball is now in Russia’s court”.

Billingslea made it clear that that Russia was well aware of what the US expects from them.

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"Russia understands our position. And what remains to be seen is if there is the political will in Moscow to get this deal done. The ball is now in Russia's court," Billingslea said after the latest round of talks in Vienna with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov”, Billingslea said.

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The US has claimed that if any deal were to replace 2010’s New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), China ought to be a part of it. But Billingslea took a softer approach on this stance and said that the treaty will be framed to “include China in due course”.

US wants more coverage

In 2019, the United States withdrew from the 1987 intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Many senior officials had claimed that Russia had deployed a cruise missile across the country, in direct violation of the INF pact.

Russia responded by saying that the missile’s range puts outside of the treaty’s jurisdiction.

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This led the United States to demand a deal covering all warheads.

"Russia stands for an extension of the START treaty, but is not ready to pay any price for that," Ryabkov said, according to his ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna. “Russia has no preconditions of its own”, he added.

The United States on Tuesday informed Russia of its terms to potentially extend the nuclear treaty which limits their deployed nuclear weapons. The treaty in question is expiring in February.

The United States on Tuesday informed Russia of its terms to potentially extend the nuclear treaty which limits their deployed nuclear weapons. The treaty in question is expiring in February. The US envoy to talks relating to arms control on Tuesday said that now it is Russia’s turn to make the move. US wary The US believes that Russia is building up and stockpiling short-range nuclear weapons that do not fall within the ambit of the treaty. Washington has also asked for Russia to improve their verification system. In a telephone briefing, US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea said that “the ball is now in Russia’s court”. Billingslea made it clear that that Russia was well aware of what the US expects from them. Also read: Obama-Biden administration most corrupt in history, Trump attacks Michelle Obama "Russia understands our position. And what remains to be seen is if there is the political will in Moscow to get this deal done. The ball is now in Russia's court," Billingslea said after the latest round of talks in Vienna with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov”, Billingslea said. Also read: China welcomes Putin's proposed summit on Iran The US has claimed that if any deal were to replace 2010’s New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), China ought to be a part of it. But Billingslea took a softer approach on this stance and said that the treaty will be framed to “include China in due course”. US wants more coverage In 2019, the United States withdrew from the 1987 intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Many senior officials had claimed that Russia had deployed a cruise missile across the country, in direct violation of the INF pact. Russia responded by saying that the missile’s range puts outside of the treaty’s jurisdiction. Also read: Trump rejects Pentagon's proposal to cut military healthcare by $2.2 billion This led the United States to demand a deal covering all warheads. "Russia stands for an extension of the START treaty, but is not ready to pay any price for that," Ryabkov said, according to his ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna. “Russia has no preconditions of its own”, he added.

'Ball is now in Russia's court' on new nuclear arms deal: United States

The U.N. Security Council is preparing to vote this week on a U.S. proposal to extend an arms embargo on Iran, a move that some diplomats say is bound to fail and put the fate of a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers further at risk.&nbsp;

A last-minute attempt by Britain, France and Germany to broker a compromise with Russia and China on an arms embargo extension appeared unsuccessful so far, diplomats said. Russia and China, allies of Iran, have long-signaled opposition to the U.S. measure.

A Chinese diplomat at the United Nations, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that "extending the arms embargo on Iran in whatever form lacks legal basis and will undermine efforts to preserve" the nuclear deal, adding that there is "no chance" the U.S. text will be adopted.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/iran-says-gcc-call-for-tehran-arms-embargo-extension-is-unrealistic-319423" hreflang="en">Iran says GCC call for Tehran arms embargo extension is 'unrealistic'</a>

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft said Russia and China wanted to benefit from the end of the arms embargo. "Russia and China are waiting to be able to sell arms to Iran," Craft told Fox News.&nbsp;

The embargo is due to expire in October under a 2015 deal among Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France and the United States that prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief.

Even though U.S. President Donald Trump's administration quit the accord in 2018 - with Trump dubbing it "the worst deal ever" - Washington has threatened to use a provision in the agreement to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran if the Security Council does not extend the arms embargo indefinitely.

Renewed sanctions -- a move known as snapback -- would likely kill the nuclear deal because Iran would lose a major incentive for limiting its nuclear activities. Iran has already breached parts of the nuclear deal in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the pact and Washington's imposing strong unilateral sanctions.

"This U.S. administration's goal is to terminate the Iran nuclear deal," said a European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook alluded to the United States wanting to reimpose all U.N. sanctions when he said last week, "We need to restore the U.N. Security Council standard of no enrichment."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/iran-says-us-envoys-all-the-same-they-bite-off-more-than-they-can-chew-318957" hreflang="en">Iran says US envoys all the same -- 'they bite off more than they can chew'</a>

A snapback of U.N. sanctions would require Iran to suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and ban imports of anything that could contribute to those activities or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems.

It would reimpose the arms embargo, ban Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and reimpose targeted sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities. States would also be urged to inspect shipments to and from Iran and authorized to seize any banned cargo.

'ZERO CHANCE'

Richard Gowan, U.N. director for conflict prevention advocacy body the International Crisis Group, said there was "zero chance" the U.S. attempt to extend the arms embargo would be adopted and that it was "a ploy to get to snapback."

The council is operating virtually so once a vote is called the 15 members would have 24 hours to submit their decision and the result would be announced at a public meeting, but diplomats say there is little support for the current U.S. text.

The draft resolution needs at least nine votes in favor to force Russia and China to use their vetoes, but some diplomats question whether Washington can even secure those nine votes.

"Everyone at the U.N. understands that this resolution is just the curtain-raiser for a much bigger fight over the Iranian nuclear deal," said Gowan.

Washington argues it can trigger the sanctions because a Security Council resolution enshrining the nuclear deal names it as a participant. But the remaining parties to the agreement are opposed to such a move, and diplomats say the United States would face a tough, messy battle.

"It's highly likely ... a number of countries will be saying they have no intention of implementing further sanctions, until the U.N. Security Council decides whether or not snapback has been carried out legally," said a senior council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

"I don't see how the council can decide that given the divisions that will be within it," the diplomat said. "I don't see any rush to re-establish sanctions regimes therefore around the world."

The U.N. Security Council is preparing to vote this week on a U.S. proposal to extend an arms embargo on Iran, a move that some diplomats say is bound to fail and put the fate of a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers further at risk.

The U.N. Security Council is preparing to vote this week on a U.S. proposal to extend an arms embargo on Iran, a move that some diplomats say is bound to fail and put the fate of a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers further at risk. A last-minute attempt by Britain, France and Germany to broker a compromise with Russia and China on an arms embargo extension appeared unsuccessful so far, diplomats said. Russia and China, allies of Iran, have long-signaled opposition to the U.S. measure. A Chinese diplomat at the United Nations, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that "extending the arms embargo on Iran in whatever form lacks legal basis and will undermine efforts to preserve" the nuclear deal, adding that there is "no chance" the U.S. text will be adopted. Also read: Iran says GCC call for Tehran arms embargo extension is 'unrealistic' U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft said Russia and China wanted to benefit from the end of the arms embargo. "Russia and China are waiting to be able to sell arms to Iran," Craft told Fox News. The embargo is due to expire in October under a 2015 deal among Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France and the United States that prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief. Even though U.S. President Donald Trump's administration quit the accord in 2018 - with Trump dubbing it "the worst deal ever" - Washington has threatened to use a provision in the agreement to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran if the Security Council does not extend the arms embargo indefinitely. Renewed sanctions -- a move known as snapback -- would likely kill the nuclear deal because Iran would lose a major incentive for limiting its nuclear activities. Iran has already breached parts of the nuclear deal in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the pact and Washington's imposing strong unilateral sanctions. "This U.S. administration's goal is to terminate the Iran nuclear deal," said a European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook alluded to the United States wanting to reimpose all U.N. sanctions when he said last week, "We need to restore the U.N. Security Council standard of no enrichment." Also read: Iran says US envoys all the same -- 'they bite off more than they can chew' A snapback of U.N. sanctions would require Iran to suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and ban imports of anything that could contribute to those activities or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. It would reimpose the arms embargo, ban Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and reimpose targeted sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities. States would also be urged to inspect shipments to and from Iran and authorized to seize any banned cargo. 'ZERO CHANCE' Richard Gowan, U.N. director for conflict prevention advocacy body the International Crisis Group, said there was "zero chance" the U.S. attempt to extend the arms embargo would be adopted and that it was "a ploy to get to snapback." The council is operating virtually so once a vote is called the 15 members would have 24 hours to submit their decision and the result would be announced at a public meeting, but diplomats say there is little support for the current U.S. text. The draft resolution needs at least nine votes in favor to force Russia and China to use their vetoes, but some diplomats question whether Washington can even secure those nine votes. "Everyone at the U.N. understands that this resolution is just the curtain-raiser for a much bigger fight over the Iranian nuclear deal," said Gowan. Washington argues it can trigger the sanctions because a Security Council resolution enshrining the nuclear deal names it as a participant. But the remaining parties to the agreement are opposed to such a move, and diplomats say the United States would face a tough, messy battle. "It's highly likely ... a number of countries will be saying they have no intention of implementing further sanctions, until the U.N. Security Council decides whether or not snapback has been carried out legally," said a senior council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I don't see how the council can decide that given the divisions that will be within it," the diplomat said. "I don't see any rush to re-establish sanctions regimes therefore around the world."

Iran nuclear deal at risk as UN council prepares to vote on arms embargo

Iran on Wednesday said that it was ready for talks with the United States if Washington apologises for withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal and compensates Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.

The confrontation between arch-rivals Tehran and Washington has worsened since 2018, when US President Donald Trump abrubtly exited&nbsp;from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with major powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

Iran has refused to hold any talks with the United States, which is trying to force Tehran to negotiate a new deal, unless Washington lifts sanctions on Tehran and returns to the original agreement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-russia-want-to-safeguard-iran-nuclear-deal-macron-274067">France, Russia want to safeguard Iran nuclear deal: Macron</a>

In a tweet in early June, Trump repeated Washington's call for a new deal with Tehran aimed at putting stricter limits on Tehran's nuclear work, curbs its ballistic missile program and ends its decades of regional proxy wars.

"We have no problem with talks with the US, but only if Washington fulfils its obligations under the nuclear deal, apologies and compensates Tehran for its withdrawal from the 2015 deal," Rouhani said in a televised speech. 
"But we know these calls for talks with Tehran are just words and lies," he added.

In retaliation for Washington's 'maximum pressure' policy, Iran has gradually scaled back its nuclear commitments, a process Tehran says is reversible if the European parties to the pact carry out their promises to shield Iran's economy from US&nbsp;penalties.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-challenges-donald-trump-to-return-to-nuclear-deal-303659">Iran challenges Donald Trump to return to nuclear deal</a>

"The Europeans have failed to fulfil their promises. They should carry out their obligations," Rouhani said.

Rouhani also blasted a resolution by the U.N. nuclear watchdog passed on Friday that called on Iran to stop denying the agency access to two suspected former sites and to cooperate fully with it.

"Iran is ready to cooperate with the (International Atomic Energy Agency) IAEA under law," he said.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

Iran on Wednesday said that it was ready for talks with the United States if Washington apologises for withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal and compensates Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.

Iran on Wednesday said that it was ready for talks with the United States if Washington apologises for withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal and compensates Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said. The confrontation between arch-rivals Tehran and Washington has worsened since 2018, when US President Donald Trump abrubtly exited from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with major powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. Iran has refused to hold any talks with the United States, which is trying to force Tehran to negotiate a new deal, unless Washington lifts sanctions on Tehran and returns to the original agreement. Also read: France, Russia want to safeguard Iran nuclear deal: Macron In a tweet in early June, Trump repeated Washington's call for a new deal with Tehran aimed at putting stricter limits on Tehran's nuclear work, curbs its ballistic missile program and ends its decades of regional proxy wars. "We have no problem with talks with the US, but only if Washington fulfils its obligations under the nuclear deal, apologies and compensates Tehran for its withdrawal from the 2015 deal," Rouhani said in a televised speech. "But we know these calls for talks with Tehran are just words and lies," he added. In retaliation for Washington's 'maximum pressure' policy, Iran has gradually scaled back its nuclear commitments, a process Tehran says is reversible if the European parties to the pact carry out their promises to shield Iran's economy from US penalties. Also read: Iran challenges Donald Trump to return to nuclear deal "The Europeans have failed to fulfil their promises. They should carry out their obligations," Rouhani said. Rouhani also blasted a resolution by the U.N. nuclear watchdog passed on Friday that called on Iran to stop denying the agency access to two suspected former sites and to cooperate fully with it. "Iran is ready to cooperate with the (International Atomic Energy Agency) IAEA under law," he said. (With inputs from Reuters)

Iran says it's ready for talks if US apologises for withdrawing from nuclear deal

Iran elections come at a time when the Islamic Republic is most vulnerable, both from the inside and from the outside. American sanctions have crippled the economy and public anger against the regime has raged on unabated.

Iranians will vote for the first time since US President Donald Trump pulled out of the Nuclear Deal. Whether they turn out in big numbers or not will be a referendum in itself.

This Parliamentary election of Iran is a litmus test of the people's faith in the state. It comes at a time when the sentiment against the regime is at its worst.

The confrontation with America, the economic hardship and an airline tragedy - the people's confidence in Iran's leaders is battered 
and that is set to pose the biggest problem for the authorities in this election. &nbsp;

Four years ago, things looked very different - Hassan Rouhani and his allies won big. Hopes were high that the 2015 nuclear deal would pull Iran out of political isolation, and more importantly boost the economy.

But now, the vote to pick 290 lawmakers comes after the US pulled out of the deal. Sanctions have sent the economy on a swift downward spiral over the last 2 years and the standard of living has dipped.&nbsp;

In November 2019, protests exploded across the country against fuel price hikes. Those protests turned political, with demonstrators demanding a regime change.

A crackdown by the revolutionary guards killed hundreds and thousands of others were arrested. The regime also faced major flack for the poor handling of slain General Qasem Soleimani's funeral. The stampede which occurred during his funeral killed over 50 people and more than 200 were injured.

The public is also livid over the accidental downing of the Ukrainian passenger plane last month, which killed all 176 people aboard - mainly Iranians.

After days of denial, Tehran finally put the blame on the revolutionary guards. The people of Iran are exhausted by a string of crises.&nbsp;

Around 58 million Iranians are eligible to vote - the turnout in 2012 was 66 per cent, in 2016, it reduced to 62 per cent and in 2020, it is expected to drop significantly.

Nearly half of the candidates, with moderate political views, have been rejected. Ayatollah Khamenei has ensured that hardliners dominate the field. He is Iran's highest authority and has tried to drum up the nationalistic sentiment to secure a strong turnout.

Whatever be the turnout, Iran's foreign policy or nuclear policy will remain the same because it will be Khamenei's loyalists who will be in Parliament.

Iran elections come at a time when the Islamic Republic is most vulnerable, both from the inside and from the outside. American sanctions have crippled the economy and public anger against the regime has raged on unabated.

Iran elections come at a time when the Islamic Republic is most vulnerable, both from the inside and from the outside. American sanctions have crippled the economy and public anger against the regime has raged on unabated. Iranians will vote for the first time since US President Donald Trump pulled out of the Nuclear Deal. Whether they turn out in big numbers or not will be a referendum in itself. This Parliamentary election of Iran is a litmus test of the people's faith in the state. It comes at a time when the sentiment against the regime is at its worst. The confrontation with America, the economic hardship and an airline tragedy - the people's confidence in Iran's leaders is battered and that is set to pose the biggest problem for the authorities in this election. Four years ago, things looked very different - Hassan Rouhani and his allies won big. Hopes were high that the 2015 nuclear deal would pull Iran out of political isolation, and more importantly boost the economy. But now, the vote to pick 290 lawmakers comes after the US pulled out of the deal. Sanctions have sent the economy on a swift downward spiral over the last 2 years and the standard of living has dipped. In November 2019, protests exploded across the country against fuel price hikes. Those protests turned political, with demonstrators demanding a regime change. A crackdown by the revolutionary guards killed hundreds and thousands of others were arrested. The regime also faced major flack for the poor handling of slain General Qasem Soleimani's funeral. The stampede which occurred during his funeral killed over 50 people and more than 200 were injured. The public is also livid over the accidental downing of the Ukrainian passenger plane last month, which killed all 176 people aboard - mainly Iranians. After days of denial, Tehran finally put the blame on the revolutionary guards. The people of Iran are exhausted by a string of crises. Around 58 million Iranians are eligible to vote - the turnout in 2012 was 66 per cent, in 2016, it reduced to 62 per cent and in 2020, it is expected to drop significantly. Nearly half of the candidates, with moderate political views, have been rejected. Ayatollah Khamenei has ensured that hardliners dominate the field. He is Iran's highest authority and has tried to drum up the nationalistic sentiment to secure a strong turnout. Whatever be the turnout, Iran's foreign policy or nuclear policy will remain the same because it will be Khamenei's loyalists who will be in Parliament.

US pullout from nuclear deal makes Iran elections even more crucial

Iran on January 5 said that it was ending its commitment to limit enrichment of uranium as part of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, more fallout from the US strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had said earlier that recent events meant Iran would take an even bigger step away from the deal than it had initially planned. #Iran #US #NuclearDeal #SoleimaniKilling #QassemSoleimani

Fineprint: Iran pulls out of nuclear deal after killing of Solemani

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a threat to Iran, blaming it for the attack on the US embassy in Iraq.&nbsp;

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!," he tweeted.

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....Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1212121026072592384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The threat came following the violent protests by the Iranian-backed force, the Kataib Hezbollah militia, at the US embassy in Baghdad. 
 
This event has heightened the tensions between Iran and the US since Washington cancelled the nuclear deal with Iran in 2018.

Why did protesters attack&nbsp;US embassy in Baghdad

The US on Sunday carried out airstrikes&nbsp;in Iraq and Syria, targetting the Kataib Hezbollah militia, in retaliation of a rocket attack that killed an American civilian contractor at an Iraqi military base.

At least 25 militias were killed in the US airstrikes. The protesters chanted anti-US slogans, hurled stones towards the embassy compound and also burned US flags.

Agitated protesters said they won't leave the embassy until US forces quit Iraq. The US immediately rushed a rapid response team of marines to help guard the compound.

There were no reports of casualties from the attack. The State Department said all US personnel were safe and there were no plans to evacuate the embassy.

Why did the US target the Kataib Hezbollah militia

The US has designated Kataib Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation in 2009, which is a hardline faction of Iranian-trained Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force. Washington claims that the group has long targetted the US forces in Iraq.&nbsp;

Kataib Hezbollah group receives financial and military support from Iran.&nbsp;

US soldiers and diplomats, deployed in Iraqi military bases, have faced a series of attacks by the pro-Iran groups.

The US described the attacks in Iraq and Syria as 'defensive strikes'. Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had warned Iran, saying the US will not tolerate any attacks by the Iranian-backed forces targetting Americans.

Baghdad attack brings back memories of Benghazi

Baghdad episode is being compared to the attack on the US consulate in Libya's&nbsp;Benghazi in 2012.

The 2012 attack was carried by the Islamic militant group, Ansar al-Sharia, on two United States government facilities in Benghazi.&nbsp;

US Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens, communications officer Sean Smith, CIA contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were killed in the attack.

To avoid a repeat of the deadly attack, the Trump administration took a quick decision to send&nbsp;Marines to the&nbsp;embassy in Baghdad. The US is also set to deploy around&nbsp;750 soldiers in the region immediately. This is being seen as a precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities.

How did Iran react

The United States and Iran are at the loggerheads over influence in Iraq, the nuclear deal and imposition of economic sanctions by Washington.

Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has strongly condemned the US airstrikes and warned that his country was ready to confront any threats issued by the United States.

Khamenei said Iran was ready to respond to any threat without any hesitation. We will never... drag the country towards war. But if others want to impose anything on this country, we will stand against them with all our might," he said.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a threat to Iran, blaming it for the attack on the US embassy in Iraq. "Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a threat to Iran, blaming it for the attack on the US embassy in Iraq. "Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!," he tweeted. ....Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019 × The threat came following the violent protests by the Iranian-backed force, the Kataib Hezbollah militia, at the US embassy in Baghdad. This event has heightened the tensions between Iran and the US since Washington cancelled the nuclear deal with Iran in 2018. Why did protesters attack US embassy in Baghdad The US on Sunday carried out airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, targetting the Kataib Hezbollah militia, in retaliation of a rocket attack that killed an American civilian contractor at an Iraqi military base. At least 25 militias were killed in the US airstrikes. The protesters chanted anti-US slogans, hurled stones towards the embassy compound and also burned US flags. Agitated protesters said they won't leave the embassy until US forces quit Iraq. The US immediately rushed a rapid response team of marines to help guard the compound. There were no reports of casualties from the attack. The State Department said all US personnel were safe and there were no plans to evacuate the embassy. Why did the US target the Kataib Hezbollah militia The US has designated Kataib Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation in 2009, which is a hardline faction of Iranian-trained Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force. Washington claims that the group has long targetted the US forces in Iraq. Kataib Hezbollah group receives financial and military support from Iran. US soldiers and diplomats, deployed in Iraqi military bases, have faced a series of attacks by the pro-Iran groups. The US described the attacks in Iraq and Syria as 'defensive strikes'. Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had warned Iran, saying the US will not tolerate any attacks by the Iranian-backed forces targetting Americans. Baghdad attack brings back memories of Benghazi Baghdad episode is being compared to the attack on the US consulate in Libya's Benghazi in 2012. The 2012 attack was carried by the Islamic militant group, Ansar al-Sharia, on two United States government facilities in Benghazi. US Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens, communications officer Sean Smith, CIA contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were killed in the attack. To avoid a repeat of the deadly attack, the Trump administration took a quick decision to send Marines to the embassy in Baghdad. The US is also set to deploy around 750 soldiers in the region immediately. This is being seen as a precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities. How did Iran react The United States and Iran are at the loggerheads over influence in Iraq, the nuclear deal and imposition of economic sanctions by Washington. Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has strongly condemned the US airstrikes and warned that his country was ready to confront any threats issued by the United States. Khamenei said Iran was ready to respond to any threat without any hesitation. We will never... drag the country towards war. But if others want to impose anything on this country, we will stand against them with all our might," he said.

Explained: What made US President Donald Trump threaten Iran

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani slammed the "irrational" withdrawal of the United States from the multinational nuclear deal on Tehran's nuclear programme, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seeking-economic-support-iranian-president-hassan-rouhani-concluded-two-day-japan-visit-269469">as he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo</a>.

Rouhani's trip to Japan comes after deadly protests last month over petroleum price hikes in Iran, where the economy has been hit by Washington-imposed sanctions.

"I strongly condemn the US for unilaterally and irrationally withdrawing" from the deal, said Rouhani, who became the first Iranian head of state to visit Japan for two decades.

"I hope Japan and other countries will make efforts to maintain this deal."

The US re-imposed crippling sanctions on Iran in 2018 after withdrawing from the international deal aimed at tackling the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme.

Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei has played down the mediation aspect of the trip, saying the visit to Tokyo had "nothing to do with issues such as negotiations with America".

However, he acknowledged that "our Japanese friends usually convey messages or initiatives, which we welcome... and seriously examine".

As a key US ally that also maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with Iran, Abe has tried to build bridges between the two rival powers.

During his meeting with Rouhani, Abe said "Japan will patiently continue its diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East," according to a Japanese government official.

"The two leaders agreed to maintain their close communications," the official said.

Abe travelled to Tehran in June to try to ease tensions between the United States and Iran in the Gulf.

Japan was formerly a major buyer of Iranian crude but stopped purchases to comply with the US sanctions.

Abe explained to Rouhani Tokyo's plans to send Japanese warships to the Gulf of Oman to protect shipping there, while calling on Tehran to take "responsibility" for securing sea lanes in the region.

"This kind of policy is aimed at securing Japanese vessels' safety," government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said earlier in the day, adding that 90 percent of Japan's crude oil imports come from the region.

'Serious impact'

Rouhani flew to Japan from Malaysia where he called on Muslim countries at a summit to band together to fight US "economic terrorism".

Osamu Miyata, head of Center for Contemporary Islamic Studies in Japan (CCISJ), told AFP that Abe would find it difficult to steer a path between US President Donald Trump and Rouhani.

The American sanctions "are having a serious impact on every aspect of Iran -- people's daily life, the country's finances, and inflation in imported goods", Hitoshi Suzuki, a Middle East scholar at the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO), told AFP.

"It would be difficult to have tangible achievements from the Rouhani-Abe meeting this time, but in the long-term, Japan can warn the US that the current sanctions are having a serious negative impact," added Suzuki.

"This could prompt Iranian domestic politics to move in the opposite direction hoped for by the US -- for example, hawks leading Iran to resume nuclear development, or the emergence of an anti-democratic Iran."

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani slammed the "irrational" withdrawal of the United States from the multinational nuclear deal on Tehran's nuclear programme, as he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani slammed the "irrational" withdrawal of the United States from the multinational nuclear deal on Tehran's nuclear programme, as he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. Rouhani's trip to Japan comes after deadly protests last month over petroleum price hikes in Iran, where the economy has been hit by Washington-imposed sanctions. "I strongly condemn the US for unilaterally and irrationally withdrawing" from the deal, said Rouhani, who became the first Iranian head of state to visit Japan for two decades. "I hope Japan and other countries will make efforts to maintain this deal." The US re-imposed crippling sanctions on Iran in 2018 after withdrawing from the international deal aimed at tackling the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme. Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei has played down the mediation aspect of the trip, saying the visit to Tokyo had "nothing to do with issues such as negotiations with America". However, he acknowledged that "our Japanese friends usually convey messages or initiatives, which we welcome... and seriously examine". As a key US ally that also maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with Iran, Abe has tried to build bridges between the two rival powers. During his meeting with Rouhani, Abe said "Japan will patiently continue its diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East," according to a Japanese government official. "The two leaders agreed to maintain their close communications," the official said. Abe travelled to Tehran in June to try to ease tensions between the United States and Iran in the Gulf. Japan was formerly a major buyer of Iranian crude but stopped purchases to comply with the US sanctions. Abe explained to Rouhani Tokyo's plans to send Japanese warships to the Gulf of Oman to protect shipping there, while calling on Tehran to take "responsibility" for securing sea lanes in the region. "This kind of policy is aimed at securing Japanese vessels' safety," government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said earlier in the day, adding that 90 percent of Japan's crude oil imports come from the region. 'Serious impact' Rouhani flew to Japan from Malaysia where he called on Muslim countries at a summit to band together to fight US "economic terrorism". Osamu Miyata, head of Center for Contemporary Islamic Studies in Japan (CCISJ), told AFP that Abe would find it difficult to steer a path between US President Donald Trump and Rouhani. The American sanctions "are having a serious impact on every aspect of Iran -- people's daily life, the country's finances, and inflation in imported goods", Hitoshi Suzuki, a Middle East scholar at the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO), told AFP. "It would be difficult to have tangible achievements from the Rouhani-Abe meeting this time, but in the long-term, Japan can warn the US that the current sanctions are having a serious negative impact," added Suzuki. "This could prompt Iranian domestic politics to move in the opposite direction hoped for by the US -- for example, hawks leading Iran to resume nuclear development, or the emergence of an anti-democratic Iran."

Strongly condemn US for unilaterally, irrationally withdrawing from nuclear deal: Rouhani

The remaining signatories to the faltering Iran nuclear deal began <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europeans-iran-to-cross-swords-at-nuclear-talks-266519">crunch talks in Vienna on Friday</a> with questions over the survival of the landmark agreement after Tehran vowed to continue to breach the deal's limits on its nuclear programme.

Envoys from Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia and Iran are taking part in the meeting, which is the first time the six parties gather in this format since July.

Since May, Iran has taken a series of measures, including stepping up uranium enrichment, in breach of the 2015 deal, with another such move likely in early January.&nbsp;

Iran insists that under the agreement it has the right to take these measures in retaliation for the US's withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and reimposition of crippling sanctions.

Since last month, European members have in turn begun raising the possibility of triggering the so-called "dispute resolution mechanism" foreseen in the accord, which could lead to the resumption of UN sanctions on Iran.

On the eve of what was already likely to be a strained meeting, Britain, France and Germany accused Iran of developing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, in a letter to the UN on Thursday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif dismissed the allegation as "desperate falsehood".

Despite the mounting tension observers say Britain, France and Germany are unlikely to trigger the dispute resolution mechanism on Friday.&nbsp;

Analysts say if UN sanctions are re-imposed and the deal falls apart, Iran could also withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

"It's not clear whether that's worth the benefit," Ali Vaez of International Crisis Group told AFP.

But he warned the risk of the deal collapsing was increasing as Iran was "running out of measures that are easy to reverse and non-controversial".

"Both sides are locked into an escalatory cycle that is just very hard to imagine that they would step away from," he said.

Francois Nicoullaud, former French ambassador to Iran, also said tensions were expected to continue to rise.

"Maybe it won't be this time, but (the deal falling apart) will certainly be in the background of the discussions," Nicoullaud told AFP.

The joint commission meeting was moved at short notice from a hotel in downtown Vienna to take place at the European Union delegation for logistics reasons, according to an EU official.

'No breathing space'

Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani warned Sunday that if European partners triggered the dispute mechanism, Tehran may "seriously reconsider" its commitments to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitors the deal's implementation.

European efforts to shield Iran from the effects of US sanctions by creating a mechanism to carry on legitimate trade with the Islamic republic have borne little fruit, much to Tehran's frustration.

The EU is growing increasingly concerned by Tehran rowing back from its commitments.

The dispute resolution mechanism in the deal has numerous stages, but it can eventually culminate in the UN Security Council voting on whether Iran should still have relief from sanctions lifted under the deal.

In such a scenario, Vaez said, "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)".

Vaez said in the end the path to a diplomatic solution would depend on Washington's next moves and whether it would at least be willing to relax its attempts to prevent sales of Iranian oil, a vital source of income for the country.

"The remaining parties to the deal have proved incapable of providing Iran with any kind of breathing space," Vaez said.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that Tehran is willing to return to the negotiating table if the United States first drops sanctions.

The remaining signatories to the faltering Iran nuclear deal began crunch talks in Vienna on Friday with questions over the survival of the landmark agreement after Tehran vowed to continue to breach the deal's limits on its nuclear programme.

The remaining signatories to the faltering Iran nuclear deal began crunch talks in Vienna on Friday with questions over the survival of the landmark agreement after Tehran vowed to continue to breach the deal's limits on its nuclear programme. Envoys from Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia and Iran are taking part in the meeting, which is the first time the six parties gather in this format since July. Since May, Iran has taken a series of measures, including stepping up uranium enrichment, in breach of the 2015 deal, with another such move likely in early January. Iran insists that under the agreement it has the right to take these measures in retaliation for the US's withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and reimposition of crippling sanctions. Since last month, European members have in turn begun raising the possibility of triggering the so-called "dispute resolution mechanism" foreseen in the accord, which could lead to the resumption of UN sanctions on Iran. On the eve of what was already likely to be a strained meeting, Britain, France and Germany accused Iran of developing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, in a letter to the UN on Thursday. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif dismissed the allegation as "desperate falsehood". Despite the mounting tension observers say Britain, France and Germany are unlikely to trigger the dispute resolution mechanism on Friday. Analysts say if UN sanctions are re-imposed and the deal falls apart, Iran could also withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). "It's not clear whether that's worth the benefit," Ali Vaez of International Crisis Group told AFP. But he warned the risk of the deal collapsing was increasing as Iran was "running out of measures that are easy to reverse and non-controversial". "Both sides are locked into an escalatory cycle that is just very hard to imagine that they would step away from," he said. Francois Nicoullaud, former French ambassador to Iran, also said tensions were expected to continue to rise. "Maybe it won't be this time, but (the deal falling apart) will certainly be in the background of the discussions," Nicoullaud told AFP. The joint commission meeting was moved at short notice from a hotel in downtown Vienna to take place at the European Union delegation for logistics reasons, according to an EU official. 'No breathing space' Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani warned Sunday that if European partners triggered the dispute mechanism, Tehran may "seriously reconsider" its commitments to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitors the deal's implementation. European efforts to shield Iran from the effects of US sanctions by creating a mechanism to carry on legitimate trade with the Islamic republic have borne little fruit, much to Tehran's frustration. The EU is growing increasingly concerned by Tehran rowing back from its commitments. The dispute resolution mechanism in the deal has numerous stages, but it can eventually culminate in the UN Security Council voting on whether Iran should still have relief from sanctions lifted under the deal. In such a scenario, Vaez said, "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)". Vaez said in the end the path to a diplomatic solution would depend on Washington's next moves and whether it would at least be willing to relax its attempts to prevent sales of Iranian oil, a vital source of income for the country. "The remaining parties to the deal have proved incapable of providing Iran with any kind of breathing space," Vaez said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that Tehran is willing to return to the negotiating table if the United States first drops sanctions.

Iran nuclear deal parties meet as accord nears collapse

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-sees-lifting-of-un-arms-embargo-in-2020-as-huge-political-goal-261506">Iran accused European nations of hypocrisy</a> on Tuesday for criticising its latest step back from a nuclear deal while failing to fulfil their commitments of relief from US sanctions.

But President Hassan Rouhani made no mention of a new report from the UN nuclear watchdog that reveals that its inspectors detected uranium particles of man-made origin at an undeclared site in Iran.

Britain, France, Germany and the EU have been trying to salvage the 2015 Iran nuclear deal since the US unilaterally withdrew from it in May last year and began reimposing sanctions.

A year after the US pullout from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran began reducing its commitments to the deal hoping to win concessions from those still party to the accord.

Iran's latest measure came last week when engineers began feeding uranium hexafluoride gas into mothballed enrichment centrifuges at the underground Fordow plant south of Tehran.

In a joint statement on Monday, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union said Iran's decision to restart activities at Fordow was "inconsistent" with a 2015 nuclear deal.

"The E3/EU have fully upheld their JCPOA commitments, including sanctions-lifting as foreseen under the JCPOA," they said.

"It is now critical that Iran upholds its JCPOA commitments and works with all JCPOA participants to de-escalate tensions."

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hit back on Tuesday,&nbsp;

"'Fully upheld commitments under JCPOA' YOU? Really?" he tweeted.

Zarif said Iran had already "triggered and exhausted" a dispute resolution mechanism in the troubled accord.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass had on Monday threatened the use of "all the mechanisms laid down in the agreement" to make Iran comply with its obligations under the JCPOA.

'We waited'

On Tuesday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uranium-particles-detected-at-undeclared-site-in-iran-iaea-report-261503">Rouhani said Iran only began scaling back its nuclear commitments</a> a year after the US withdrawal to give the other parties time to make up for it.

"We waited for a year," Rouhani told a televised news conference.

"Nobody in the world can blame us by saying 'Why are you abandoning your commitments under the JCPOA today and why have you launched Fordow today?'" he said.

"This is a problem that the enemy has created for us," he said, referring to Iran's arch-foe the United States.

Iran's approach, he said, was to take "the path of resistance and perseverance" by reducing commitments under the JCPOA and engaging in negotiations.

"We are negotiating with the world... they are giving us proposals, we're giving them proposals. Up until today, I have not accepted the proposals I've been given."

Rouhani made no mention of the uranium particles the International Atomic Energy Agency said its inspectors had detected at an undeclared site in Iran.

In a report seen by AFP on Monday, the watchdog said its inspectors had "detected natural uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at a location in Iran not declared to the agency."&nbsp;

The particles are understood to be the product of uranium which has been mined and undergone initial processing, but not enriched.

While the IAEA itself has not named the site in question, diplomatic sources have previously said the agency has been posing questions to Iran relating to a site where Israel has alleged secret atomic activity in the past.

Britain, France, Germany and the EU said that they were "extremely concerned".

Iran accused European nations of hypocrisy on Tuesday for criticising its latest step back from a nuclear deal while failing to fulfil their commitments of relief from US sanctions.

Iran accused European nations of hypocrisy on Tuesday for criticising its latest step back from a nuclear deal while failing to fulfil their commitments of relief from US sanctions. But President Hassan Rouhani made no mention of a new report from the UN nuclear watchdog that reveals that its inspectors detected uranium particles of man-made origin at an undeclared site in Iran. Britain, France, Germany and the EU have been trying to salvage the 2015 Iran nuclear deal since the US unilaterally withdrew from it in May last year and began reimposing sanctions. A year after the US pullout from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran began reducing its commitments to the deal hoping to win concessions from those still party to the accord. Iran's latest measure came last week when engineers began feeding uranium hexafluoride gas into mothballed enrichment centrifuges at the underground Fordow plant south of Tehran. In a joint statement on Monday, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union said Iran's decision to restart activities at Fordow was "inconsistent" with a 2015 nuclear deal. "The E3/EU have fully upheld their JCPOA commitments, including sanctions-lifting as foreseen under the JCPOA," they said. "It is now critical that Iran upholds its JCPOA commitments and works with all JCPOA participants to de-escalate tensions." Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hit back on Tuesday, "'Fully upheld commitments under JCPOA' YOU? Really?" he tweeted. Zarif said Iran had already "triggered and exhausted" a dispute resolution mechanism in the troubled accord. German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass had on Monday threatened the use of "all the mechanisms laid down in the agreement" to make Iran comply with its obligations under the JCPOA. 'We waited' On Tuesday, Rouhani said Iran only began scaling back its nuclear commitments a year after the US withdrawal to give the other parties time to make up for it. "We waited for a year," Rouhani told a televised news conference. "Nobody in the world can blame us by saying 'Why are you abandoning your commitments under the JCPOA today and why have you launched Fordow today?'" he said. "This is a problem that the enemy has created for us," he said, referring to Iran's arch-foe the United States. Iran's approach, he said, was to take "the path of resistance and perseverance" by reducing commitments under the JCPOA and engaging in negotiations. "We are negotiating with the world... they are giving us proposals, we're giving them proposals. Up until today, I have not accepted the proposals I've been given." Rouhani made no mention of the uranium particles the International Atomic Energy Agency said its inspectors had detected at an undeclared site in Iran. In a report seen by AFP on Monday, the watchdog said its inspectors had "detected natural uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at a location in Iran not declared to the agency." The particles are understood to be the product of uranium which has been mined and undergone initial processing, but not enriched. While the IAEA itself has not named the site in question, diplomatic sources have previously said the agency has been posing questions to Iran relating to a site where Israel has alleged secret atomic activity in the past. Britain, France, Germany and the EU said that they were "extremely concerned".

Iran accuses Europeans of hypocrisy over nuclear deal

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'

<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

Iran's foreign minister said on Tuesday Tehran would further cut its commitments under a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lots-to-work-out-iran-nuclear-deal-still-very-fragile-french-foreign-minister-247457">2015 nuclear deal</a> unless European states acted to salvage the pact by Thursday, but that this did not mean the "end of talks", Iranian news agencies reported.

Mohammad Javad Zarif said President Hassan Rouhani would soon announce details of the cuts, according to the semi-official news ISNA. "Implementation of this step does not mean the end of talks," he added.

France has proposed offering <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-be-able-to-resume-production-of-20-enriched-uranium-in-2-days-iran-atomic-agency-247375">Iran</a> about $15 billion in credit lines until year-end if Tehran comes fully back into compliance with the deal, a move that hinges on Washington not blocking it, Western and Iranian sources said.

US sanctions Iran space program

Meanwhile, the United States imposed sanctions on Iran's civilian space agency and two research organizations on Tuesday, saying they were being used to advance Tehran's ballistic missile programme.

The US&nbsp;Treasury sanctions targeted the Iran Space Agency, Iran Space Research Center and the Astronautics Research Institute, according to a statement on its website.

"The United States will not allow Iran to use its space launch programme as cover to advance its ballistic missile programs," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

He said Iran's Aug. 29 attempt to test a space launch vehicle underscored "the urgency of the threat."

An Iranian rocket exploded on its launch pad at Imam Khomeini Space Center in northern Iran before its scheduled launch last Thursday. The explosion followed Iran's failed attempt to launch a satellite in January.

The sanctions, part of a years-long US&nbsp;pressure campaign to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons, are the first imposed on Iran's space agencies, according to the State Department. The United States fears long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also be used to launch nuclear warheads.

The Iran Space Agency develops satellites and launch vehicle technology, and works with the Iran Space Research Center on day-to-day tasks as well as research and development, according to the State Department. The two have also worked with a sanctioned liquid propellant ballistic missile organisation, Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, the State Department said.

The Astronautics Research Institute has managed the space vehicle launch project, according to the department.

Tehran denies its space activity is a cover for developing weapon launches.

On Friday, US&nbsp;President Donald Trump posted on Twitter a photo of what appeared to be the site of the failed Iranian satellite launch.

"These designations should serve as a warning to the international scientific community that collaborating with Iran’s space programme could contribute to Tehran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon delivery system," Pompeo said.

Trump withdrew from a 2015 multi-national nuclear deal with Iran, saying it did not go far enough.

Iran's foreign minister said on Tuesday Tehran would further cut its commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal unless European states acted to salvage the pact by Thursday, but that this did not mean the "end of talks", Iranian news agencies reported.

Iran's foreign minister said on Tuesday Tehran would further cut its commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal unless European states acted to salvage the pact by Thursday, but that this did not mean the "end of talks", Iranian news agencies reported. Mohammad Javad Zarif said President Hassan Rouhani would soon announce details of the cuts, according to the semi-official news ISNA. "Implementation of this step does not mean the end of talks," he added. France has proposed offering Iran about $15 billion in credit lines until year-end if Tehran comes fully back into compliance with the deal, a move that hinges on Washington not blocking it, Western and Iranian sources said. US sanctions Iran space program Meanwhile, the United States imposed sanctions on Iran's civilian space agency and two research organizations on Tuesday, saying they were being used to advance Tehran's ballistic missile programme. The US Treasury sanctions targeted the Iran Space Agency, Iran Space Research Center and the Astronautics Research Institute, according to a statement on its website. "The United States will not allow Iran to use its space launch programme as cover to advance its ballistic missile programs," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. He said Iran's Aug. 29 attempt to test a space launch vehicle underscored "the urgency of the threat." An Iranian rocket exploded on its launch pad at Imam Khomeini Space Center in northern Iran before its scheduled launch last Thursday. The explosion followed Iran's failed attempt to launch a satellite in January. The sanctions, part of a years-long US pressure campaign to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons, are the first imposed on Iran's space agencies, according to the State Department. The United States fears long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also be used to launch nuclear warheads. The Iran Space Agency develops satellites and launch vehicle technology, and works with the Iran Space Research Center on day-to-day tasks as well as research and development, according to the State Department. The two have also worked with a sanctioned liquid propellant ballistic missile organisation, Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, the State Department said. The Astronautics Research Institute has managed the space vehicle launch project, according to the department. Tehran denies its space activity is a cover for developing weapon launches. On Friday, US President Donald Trump posted on Twitter a photo of what appeared to be the site of the failed Iranian satellite launch. "These designations should serve as a warning to the international scientific community that collaborating with Iran’s space programme could contribute to Tehran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon delivery system," Pompeo said. Trump withdrew from a 2015 multi-national nuclear deal with Iran, saying it did not go far enough.

Iran warns of further retreat from nuclear deal if no European action by Thursday

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tuesday that several issues were still hindering a French-led bid to save a landmark <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-be-able-to-resume-production-of-20-enriched-uranium-in-2-days-iran-atomic-agency-247375">2015 accord limiting Iran's </a>nuclear programme.

"There is still lots to work out, it's still very fragile," Le Drian told journalists in Paris about the talks between Tehran and three European countries -&nbsp;France, Britain and Germany - to keep the nuclear deal alive after US President Donald Trump pulled out of it last year.

Trump later reimposed harsh sanctions that have pummelled the Iranian economy, prompting a defiant Tehran to ramp up its uranium enrichment to levels in breach of the 2015 deal.

Both sides appeared in more conciliatory form last month at the G7 in France, where Trump caused surprise by saying he would be prepared to meet his Iranian counterpart.

That came after the summit host, President Emmanuel Macron, invited Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to attend the talks, though he did not meet with Trump directly.

"The president sensed that president Trump was open to softening the strategy of maximum pressure, to find a path that could allow a deal to be reached," Le Drian said.

He said talks on Monday in Paris with Iranian officials focused on a possible guaranteed credit line for Tehran in exchange for oil, conditioned on Iran's renewed compliance with the &nbsp;2015 deal.

Tehran would also have to commit to easing geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region, and participate in Middle East talks on improving regional security, Le Drian said.

"That all supposes of course that President Trump allows waivers on some points" of the new US sanctions on Iran, he added.

A conservative Iranian lawmaker was quoted by media reports at the weekend as saying that Macron had proposed a $15 billion (13.7 billion euro) credit line, a figure that French officials have not confirmed.

Earlier Tuesday, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani ruled out holding any direct talks with the United States, and warned that Tehran would stop complying with other elements of the 2015 accord if the talks with European nations yield no results by Thursday.

As part of their efforts to keep the nuclear deal alive, France, Germany and Britain have set up a mechanism called INSTEX that would allow continued trade with Iran despite the US sanctions.

"We have to finish the work on INSTEX... normally it should work," Le Drian said.

The subject could be on the table when French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire meets his US counterpart Steven Mnuchin in Washington on Tuesday.

Macron and Rouhani have held a series of phone calls in recent weeks aimed at salvaging the nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, a French diplomat said rollback by Iran on its commitments to curb its nuclear ambitions would send a "bad signal" after Tehran threatened further breaches of a landmark 2015 deal.

France is leading efforts to try save the deal after the US pulled out of the accord last year.

The source said that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's threats of a third breach of the deal "will make the (mediation) work more complicated".

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tuesday that several issues were still hindering a French-led bid to save a landmark 2015 accord limiting Iran's nuclear programme.

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tuesday that several issues were still hindering a French-led bid to save a landmark 2015 accord limiting Iran's nuclear programme. "There is still lots to work out, it's still very fragile," Le Drian told journalists in Paris about the talks between Tehran and three European countries - France, Britain and Germany - to keep the nuclear deal alive after US President Donald Trump pulled out of it last year. Trump later reimposed harsh sanctions that have pummelled the Iranian economy, prompting a defiant Tehran to ramp up its uranium enrichment to levels in breach of the 2015 deal. Both sides appeared in more conciliatory form last month at the G7 in France, where Trump caused surprise by saying he would be prepared to meet his Iranian counterpart. That came after the summit host, President Emmanuel Macron, invited Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to attend the talks, though he did not meet with Trump directly. "The president sensed that president Trump was open to softening the strategy of maximum pressure, to find a path that could allow a deal to be reached," Le Drian said. He said talks on Monday in Paris with Iranian officials focused on a possible guaranteed credit line for Tehran in exchange for oil, conditioned on Iran's renewed compliance with the 2015 deal. Tehran would also have to commit to easing geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region, and participate in Middle East talks on improving regional security, Le Drian said. "That all supposes of course that President Trump allows waivers on some points" of the new US sanctions on Iran, he added. A conservative Iranian lawmaker was quoted by media reports at the weekend as saying that Macron had proposed a $15 billion (13.7 billion euro) credit line, a figure that French officials have not confirmed. Earlier Tuesday, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani ruled out holding any direct talks with the United States, and warned that Tehran would stop complying with other elements of the 2015 accord if the talks with European nations yield no results by Thursday. As part of their efforts to keep the nuclear deal alive, France, Germany and Britain have set up a mechanism called INSTEX that would allow continued trade with Iran despite the US sanctions. "We have to finish the work on INSTEX... normally it should work," Le Drian said. The subject could be on the table when French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire meets his US counterpart Steven Mnuchin in Washington on Tuesday. Macron and Rouhani have held a series of phone calls in recent weeks aimed at salvaging the nuclear deal. Meanwhile, a French diplomat said rollback by Iran on its commitments to curb its nuclear ambitions would send a "bad signal" after Tehran threatened further breaches of a landmark 2015 deal. France is leading efforts to try save the deal after the US pulled out of the accord last year. The source said that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's threats of a third breach of the deal "will make the (mediation) work more complicated".

Lots to work out, Iran nuclear deal still very fragile: French foreign minister

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unimaginable-says-javad-zarif-as-iran-dampens-down-prospect-of-trump-rouhani-meeting-246147">Javad Zarif</a> said on Thursday the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-has-discussed-iran-nuclear-standoff-with-macron-white-house-234187">United States</a> will have to observe the 2015 nuclear deal if it wants to meet for talks and that Washington was engaging in “economic terrorism” against Iran.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risen since US President Donald Trump’s administration last year quit an international deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and began to ratchet up sanctions.

Watch: Iran wants&nbsp;US to rejoin 2015 nuclear deal

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“The United States is engaged in an economic war against the Iranian people and it won’t be possible for us to engage with the United States unless they stop imposing war and engaging in economic terrorism against the Iranian people,” Zarif told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

“So if they want to come back into the room there is a ticket that they need to purchase and that ticket is to observe the agreement,” he said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday the United States will have to observe the 2015 nuclear deal if it wants to meet for talks and that Washington was engaging in “economic terrorism” against Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday the United States will have to observe the 2015 nuclear deal if it wants to meet for talks and that Washington was engaging in “economic terrorism” against Iran. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risen since US President Donald Trump’s administration last year quit an international deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and began to ratchet up sanctions. Watch: Iran wants US to rejoin 2015 nuclear deal × “The United States is engaged in an economic war against the Iranian people and it won’t be possible for us to engage with the United States unless they stop imposing war and engaging in economic terrorism against the Iranian people,” Zarif told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. “So if they want to come back into the room there is a ticket that they need to purchase and that ticket is to observe the agreement,” he said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal.

Honour nuclear deal and stop economic terrorism if you want talks: Iran tells US

The United States is set to announce this week it will renew sanctions waivers for five Iran nuclear programs that allow Russia, China and European countries to continue civilian nuclear cooperation with Iran, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump, in an Oval Office meeting last week, sided with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin who argued for renewing the waivers over objections by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton, the Post said.

Mnuchin "argued to Trump that if the sanctions were not again waived as required by law by August&nbsp;1, the United States would have to sanction Russian, Chinese and European firms that are involved in projects inside Iran that were established as part of the 2015 nuclear deal," the Post said, citing six unnamed officials.

A State Department spokesman declined to comment to Reuters.

Pompeo in May extended five of seven sanctions waivers for 90 days. The waivers allow work at Iran`s Bushehr nuclear plant, the Fordow enrichment facility, the Arak nuclear complex and the Tehran Research Reactor.

Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and six world powers last year, arguing that he wanted a bigger deal that not only limited Iran`s atomic work but also reined in its support for proxies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, and curbed its ballistic missile programme. Trump tightened sanctions on Iran in May to try to choke off its oil exports.&nbsp;

The Post said the Treasury Department asked for more time to consider the effects of possible sanctions on Russian, Chinese and European companies, and quoted a senior administration official as saying the goal of ending the waivers remained.

"These waivers can be revoked at any time, as developments with Iran warrant. But because of the Treasury Department`s legitimate concerns, we`ve decided to extend them for now," the official said, according to the Post.

Fears of a direct US-Iranian conflict have risen since May with several attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, Iran`s downing of a U.S. surveillance drone, and a plan for US air strikes on Iran last month that Trump called off at the last minute. 
&nbsp;

The United States is set to announce this week it will renew sanctions waivers for five Iran nuclear programs that allow Russia, China and European countries to continue civilian nuclear cooperation with Iran, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

The United States is set to announce this week it will renew sanctions waivers for five Iran nuclear programs that allow Russia, China and European countries to continue civilian nuclear cooperation with Iran, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. President Donald Trump, in an Oval Office meeting last week, sided with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin who argued for renewing the waivers over objections by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton, the Post said. Mnuchin "argued to Trump that if the sanctions were not again waived as required by law by August 1, the United States would have to sanction Russian, Chinese and European firms that are involved in projects inside Iran that were established as part of the 2015 nuclear deal," the Post said, citing six unnamed officials. A State Department spokesman declined to comment to Reuters. Pompeo in May extended five of seven sanctions waivers for 90 days. The waivers allow work at Iran`s Bushehr nuclear plant, the Fordow enrichment facility, the Arak nuclear complex and the Tehran Research Reactor. Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and six world powers last year, arguing that he wanted a bigger deal that not only limited Iran`s atomic work but also reined in its support for proxies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, and curbed its ballistic missile programme. Trump tightened sanctions on Iran in May to try to choke off its oil exports. The Post said the Treasury Department asked for more time to consider the effects of possible sanctions on Russian, Chinese and European companies, and quoted a senior administration official as saying the goal of ending the waivers remained. "These waivers can be revoked at any time, as developments with Iran warrant. But because of the Treasury Department`s legitimate concerns, we`ve decided to extend them for now," the official said, according to the Post. Fears of a direct US-Iranian conflict have risen since May with several attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, Iran`s downing of a U.S. surveillance drone, and a plan for US air strikes on Iran last month that Trump called off at the last minute.

US to renew sanctions waivers for five Iran nuclear programs: Report

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-led-forces-israel-among-states-rapped-by-un-for-killing-children-239735">Saudi-led forces, Israel among states rapped by United Nations for killing children</a> 
 
The UN report said the Houthis killed and injured 398 children and Yemeni government forces were responsible for 58 child casualties.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-takes-up-killing-of-indian-civilian-in-ceasefire-violation-by-pakistan-239696">India takes up killing of Indian civilian in ceasefire violation by Pakistan</a> 
 
Rahme Begum, resident of Dassi Baktoor, died after shelling by Pakistani army in Gurez sector of North Kashmir.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-continue-to-reduce-nuclear-deal-commitments-unless-europe-protects-iran-from-us-sanctions-javad-zarif-239698">Iran to cut nuke deal commitments if Europe doesn't protect from US sanctions</a> 
 
Iran has said it will reduce its commitment to the nuclear accord in stages and may even withdraw from the pact unless the Europeans find ways to shield its economy from the US sanctions.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-bid-to-curb-plastic-pollution-pepsi-and-coca-cola-sever-ties-with-plastics-industry-association-239706">Pepsi and Coca Cola sever ties with Plastics Industry Association</a>&nbsp; 
 
According to American media reports, both the companies are trying to ensure that their packaging is recyclable.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/s-jaishankar-likely-to-meet-mike-pompeo-in-bangkok-239751">Foreign minister S Jaishankar likely to meet Mike Pompeo in Bangkok</a> 
 
Jaishankar-Pompeo pull aside will be the first high-level engagement between US and India since President Donald Trump's remarks on Kashmir.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Saudi-led forces, Israel among states rapped by United Nations for killing children The UN report said the Houthis killed and injured 398 children and Yemeni government forces were responsible for 58 child casualties.

Saudi-led forces, Israel among states rapped by United Nations for killing children The UN report said the Houthis killed and injured 398 children and Yemeni government forces were responsible for 58 child casualties. India takes up killing of Indian civilian in ceasefire violation by Pakistan Rahme Begum, resident of Dassi Baktoor, died after shelling by Pakistani army in Gurez sector of North Kashmir. Iran to cut nuke deal commitments if Europe doesn't protect from US sanctions Iran has said it will reduce its commitment to the nuclear accord in stages and may even withdraw from the pact unless the Europeans find ways to shield its economy from the US sanctions. Pepsi and Coca Cola sever ties with Plastics Industry Association According to American media reports, both the companies are trying to ensure that their packaging is recyclable. Foreign minister S Jaishankar likely to meet Mike Pompeo in Bangkok Jaishankar-Pompeo pull aside will be the first high-level engagement between US and India since President Donald Trump's remarks on Kashmir.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Iran's defence minister said on Wednesday it was "normal" for the country to test missiles as part of its defence research, Iranian media reported after Washington said Tehran had test-fired a medium-range missile last week.

Brigadier General Amir Hatami stopped short of explicitly confirming the test. A US&nbsp;defence official said last week Iran had launched what appeared to be a medium-range ballistic missile that travelled some 1,000 km (620 miles) and added that the test by Washington's arch-foe in the Middle East posed no threat to shipping or US&nbsp;personnel in the region.

"Such things are normal across the world," Hatami was quoted by the semi-official news agency ISNA as saying, after being asked about the reported missile test.

"The research programmes of the armed forces are drawn up and carried out every year...including missile tests."

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump left world powers' 2015 nuclear deal with Iran last year, arguing that he wanted a wider accord that not only limited Iran's nuclear activity but also curbed its ballistic missile programme and reined in its support for proxies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon. Trump tightened sanctions on Iran in May to try to scuttle its oil exports.

Iran has ruled out talks with Washington over its military capabilities, particularly the missile programme that it says has only defence and deterrent purposes. The Islamic Republic denied that its missiles are capable of being tipped with nuclear warheads and says its nuclear programme is peaceful.

On Saturday, Iran said missile tests were part of its defensive needs and were not directed against any country, without confirming last Wednesday's reported test.

Iran's defence minister said on Wednesday it was "normal" for the country to test missiles as part of its defence research, Iranian media reported after Washington said Tehran had test-fired a medium-range missile last week.

Iran's defence minister said on Wednesday it was "normal" for the country to test missiles as part of its defence research, Iranian media reported after Washington said Tehran had test-fired a medium-range missile last week. Brigadier General Amir Hatami stopped short of explicitly confirming the test. A US defence official said last week Iran had launched what appeared to be a medium-range ballistic missile that travelled some 1,000 km (620 miles) and added that the test by Washington's arch-foe in the Middle East posed no threat to shipping or US personnel in the region. "Such things are normal across the world," Hatami was quoted by the semi-official news agency ISNA as saying, after being asked about the reported missile test. "The research programmes of the armed forces are drawn up and carried out every year...including missile tests." US President Donald Trump left world powers' 2015 nuclear deal with Iran last year, arguing that he wanted a wider accord that not only limited Iran's nuclear activity but also curbed its ballistic missile programme and reined in its support for proxies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon. Trump tightened sanctions on Iran in May to try to scuttle its oil exports. Iran has ruled out talks with Washington over its military capabilities, particularly the missile programme that it says has only defence and deterrent purposes. The Islamic Republic denied that its missiles are capable of being tipped with nuclear warheads and says its nuclear programme is peaceful. On Saturday, Iran said missile tests were part of its defensive needs and were not directed against any country, without confirming last Wednesday's reported test.

It's 'normal' for Iran to test missiles: Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami

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