BAGHDAD: Possible clean-up activities at an Iranian military base where the UN atomic agency wants to probe evidence of suspected nuclear weapons research are “ongoing,” the watchdog’s head said yesterday.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Yukiya Amano nevertheless expressed guarded optimism on a visit to Baghdad about talks with Iran next month, ahead of the expected release on Friday of the IAEA’s latest report on the Islamic republic’s controversial nuclear activities.
Western powers believe the nuclear program is at least in part aimed at developing atomic weapons, but Tehran insists it is for peaceful purposes.
“Yes, the activities at Parchin are ongoing, but I am not in a position to discuss the details today,” Amano told reporters after being asked whether Iran was continuing its clean-up of the sprawling military site near Tehran. The IAEA wants Iran to grant access to Parchin, which it visited twice in 2005 but wants to examine again.
Since the summer, some buildings at the base have been covered in massive tarpaulins to prevent surveillance by Western satellites.
Amano also said he believed there was “good reason” that Iran would cooperate with the IAEA over nuclear program. “I am very much convinced that ... the IAEA has an essential role to play in solving this issue, Iran nuclear issue, through diplomatic means,” he said at a joint news conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
“It is in the interests of Iran, and for the international community, and that is why I believe that there is some good reason that Iran will get cooperative for us. At the same time, the situation is very difficult and worrying. I do not want to speculate.”
IAEA: Iran cleanup of Parchin site ‘ongoing’
IAEA: Iran cleanup of Parchin site ‘ongoing’
Britain says it and France bombed suspected Daesh arms dump in Syria
- Western aircraft have been conducting patrols to stop a resurgence of the Daesh militant group that ruled parts of Syria until 2019
LONDON: Britain’s and France’s air forces conducted a joint operation on Saturday evening to bomb a suspected underground arms cache previously used by the Daesh group in Syria, Britain’s defense ministry said.
Western aircraft have been conducting patrols to stop a resurgence of the Daesh militant group that ruled parts of Syria until 2019. Intelligence analysis identified an underground facility believed to be used to store weapons and explosives in mountains north of Palmyra, Britain said.
“Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels down to the facility; whilst detailed assessment is now underway, initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully,” Britain’s defense ministry said in a statement.
Britain said the area was “devoid of any civilian habitation” before the attack and that all its aircraft had returned safely.
“This action shows our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East,” British Defense Secretary John Healey said, referring to Daesh by an alternative name.
Britain said it used Typhoon FGR4 combat jets to bomb the target, supported by a Voyager refueling tanker.
