Category: Iran

Iran to Begin 60 Percent Uranium Enrichment After Nuclear Site Incident

DUBAI—Iran said on Tuesday it will start enriching uranium to 60 percent purity, a move bringing the fissile material closer to levels suitable for a bomb, after accusing Israel of sabotaging a key nuclear installation. The disclosure came soon before the resumption of talks in Vienna aimed at reviving Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with major…


EU Sanctions Elite Iran Commander, 7 Others Over 2019 Protests

BRUSSELS—The European Union has imposed sanctions on eight Iranian commanders and police chiefs, including the head of the elite Revolutionary Guards, over a deadly crackdown in November 2019, the bloc said in its Official Journal on April 12. The travel bans and asset freezes are the first EU sanctions on Iran for human rights abuses…


Iran Blames Israel for Attack on Natanz Nuclear Site

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran blamed Israel on Monday for an attack on its underground Natanz nuclear facility that damaged its centrifuges. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but Israeli media widely reported that the country had orchestrated a devastating cyberattack that caused a blackout at the nuclear facility. Israeli officials rarely acknowledge operations…


Iran Calls Natanz Atomic Site Blackout ‘Nuclear Terrorism’

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran on Sunday described a blackout at its underground Natanz atomic facility an act of “nuclear terrorism,” raising regional tensions as world powers and Tehran continue to negotiate over its tattered nuclear deal. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, suspicion fell immediately on Israel, where its media nearly uniformly reported…


Iran Reports Electrical Incident at Natanz Nuclear Site, No Casualties

DUBAI—An electrical power problem caused an incident at Iran’s Natanz underground nuclear facility on Sunday, Iranian Press TV reported, a day after Tehran launched new advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges at the site. “The incident caused no casualties or contamination,” Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said, adding that “electricity was affected at the Natanz…


Iran Reports Electrical ‘Incident’ at Natanz Nuclear Site

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—A problem with the electrical distribution grid at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility caused an incident at the site on April 11, Iranian Press TV reported, a day after Tehran launched new advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges at the site. The Natanz facility, which is located in the desert in the central province of…


US, Iran Clash on Sanctions; US Sees Possible ‘Impasse’

U.S. and Iranian officials clashed on Friday over what sanctions the United States should lift to resume compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, with Washington predicting an impasse if Tehran sticks to a demand that all sanctions since 2017 be removed. The two nations laid out tough stances as indirect talks in Vienna on how…


The CCP Is Alone in Its Anti-American Alliance

Commentary The senior leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wanted to win over a few so-called allies to form an anti-American alliance but found themselves standing alone in the anti-American front. On the surface, Russia, North Korea, and Iran appear to be helping the CCP against the United States, but they are actually pushing…


Iran Orders 10-day Shutdown Amid 4th Wave of Coronavirus Pandemic

Iran imposed a 10-day lockdown across most of the country on Saturday to curb the spread of a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, state media reported. The lockdown affects 23 of the country’s 31 provinces, health ministry spokesman Alireza Raisi said. Businesses, schools, theatres, and sports facilities have been forced to shut and gatherings…


Iran Frees South Korean Ship It Held Amid Dispute Over Funds

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—A South Korean oil tanker held for months by Iran amid a dispute over billions of dollars seized by Seoul was freed and sailed away early Friday, just hours ahead of further talks between Tehran and world powers over its tattered nuclear deal. MarineTraffic.com data showed the MT Hankuk Chemi leaving Bandar…