VIENNA: The IAEA said in a report Tuesday that its monitoring tasks in Iran had been “seriously undermined” after Tehran suspended some of the UN agency’s inspections of the country’s nuclear activities.
In February Iran suspended some IAEA inspections in response to the United States’ refusal to lift sanctions on Iran.
“Since 23 February 2021 the Agency’s verification and monitoring activities have been seriously undermined as a result of Iran’s decision to stop the implementation of its nuclear-related commitments” under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in its report.
Iran has boosted its stocks of uranium enriched above the percentage allowed in the 2015 deal, it added.
Under the deal, Iran was not meant to enrich uranium above 3.67 percent, well below the 90-percent threshold needed for use in a nuclear weapon.
In addition it was only meant to have a stockpile of 202.8 kilos in total, equivalent to 300 kilos in a particular compound form.
However, the report estimates that Iran now has 2,441.3 kilos.
Of that amount, 84.3 kilos are uranium enriched to 20 percent (up from 62.8 kilos when the IAEA last reported in May); as well as 10 kilos are enriched up to 60 percent (up from 2.4 kilos).
The latest report comes as diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 deal remain stalled, with Iran warning talks may not resume for months.
Nuclear monitoring in Iran ‘seriously undermined’: IAEA
https://arab.news/9y4wc
Nuclear monitoring in Iran ‘seriously undermined’: IAEA
- Iran has boosted its stocks of uranium enriched above the percentage allowed in the 2015 deal
Denmark supports Palestinian refugees’ UN agency with over $16m
- ‘UNRWA is an indispensable lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza & the region,’ the Danish foreign minister said
- In 2023, Denmark and UNRWA signed a 5-year support agreement totaling $75.2m between 2023 and 2027
LONDON: Denmark announced on Tuesday the disbursement of all planned funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, amounting to over €14 million ($16.54 million) for 2026.
“UNRWA is an indispensable lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza & the region,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen wrote on X.
He added: “Continued support is essential especially with UNRWA under intense pressure. Urge more to follow.”
In 2023, Denmark and UNRWA signed a five-year support agreement totaling $75.2 million between 2023 and 2027, with an annual contribution of around $15.2 million (DKK 105 million).
The funding comes after Israeli authorities recently demolished UNRWA’s headquarters in Jerusalem and stormed its premises in the occupied West Bank on several occasions. Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, and Spain condemned the demolition.
Israeli forces bombed and destroyed several UNRWA buildings in the Gaza Strip, accusing the agency of employing Hamas members involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. UNRWA stated that Israel has not provided evidence for its accusations, which have endangered UNRWA staff and harmed the organization’s reputation.
The Danish contribution will support UNRWA’s essential services for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The agency employs 12,000 people in the Palestinian territories, and its health care, education, and social protection services are vital to Palestinians.
