VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear chief said on Thursday it was his duty to "alert the world" about suspected work in Iran to develop atomic bombs, and major powers prepared to intensify the pressure on the Islamic state.

Arabs, Israel to attend nuclear talks, Iran uncertain

2011-11-16T11:30:17Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - Arab states and Israel plan to attend a rare round of talks next week on efforts to free the world of nuclear weapons but Iran has yet to say whether it will take part, diplomats said on Wednesday.

The November 21-22 forum, hosted by the

Powers nearing deal on IAEA Iran resolution

2011-11-16T09:30:32Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - World powers are narrowing their differences and getting closer to an agreement on how to respond to a U.N. watchdog report that aired intelligence suggesting Iran has been working on designing a nuclear weapon, Western diplomats said Wednesday.

They said offici...

Powers make "progress" on IAEA Iran resolution

2011-11-16T03:30:39Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - World powers are making progress in narrowing their differences on how to respond to a U.N. watchdog report that aired intelligence suggesting Iran has worked on designing a nuclear weapon, Western diplomats said on Wednesday.

They said officials from the six bi...

EU ministers postpone decision on further Iran sanctions

2011-11-14T07:30:10Z

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers spoke out in favor of tougher sanctions against Iran on Monday, but decided to wait till their next meeting on Dec 1., before taking further action.

The ministers, meeting in Brussels, also ru...

'No more point' in concessions, says Iran's foreign minister

2011-11-13T16:30:27Z

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has said he sees no more room for compromise in the battle over Iran's contested nuclear programme, in an interview published Sunday.

"I think there's no more point in making additional concessions," he told the German news weekly <...

IAEA, Iran spar over bomb work allegations

2011-11-11T22:30:14Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog showed letters and satellite images on Friday as part of evidence pointing to military dimensions to Iran's atomic activities, diplomats said, but Tehran's envoy dismissed it as "lousy"...

U.N. nuclear report puts Iran "mystery man" in spotlight

2011-11-11T09:30:06Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - The shadowy military man believed to be at the heart of Iran's disputed atomic activities likely lives under tight security and in secrecy to shield him against assassins and keep him beyond the reach of U.N. sleuths, Western nuclear experts say.

A United Nations nuclear wat...

China says sanctions 'cannot solve' Iran issue

2011-11-10T08:30:31Z

China said on Thursday sanctions would not "fundamentally solve" the Iranian nuclear issue and urged further dialogue to resolve an ongoing impasse over Tehran's atomic programme.

The comments come after the United States and Europe said they may pursue fresh sanctions to...

Britain, France urge new strong sanctions on Iran

2011-11-09T16:30:42Z

Britain and France, in a joint statement Wednesday, called for new tougher strong sanctions to be imposed on Iran unless Tehran cooperates over its nuclear programme.

The call came after Iran vowed it "will not budge an iota" from its nuclear path despite a new

Iran says it is still open to nuclear talks

2011-11-09T07:00:37Z

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran remains ready to engage in negotiations with world powers concerned about its nuclear program, but only if the other parties show it due respect, its Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

"We have always announced that we are ready for positive and useful negotiations but, as w...

Iran moved nuclear material to bunker: U.N. watchdog

2011-11-09T02:30:08Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has started moving nuclear material to an underground facility for the pursuit of sensitive atomic activities, a U.N. nuclear agency report showed, a development likely to add to Western suspicions Tehran is trying to b...

UN nuclear agency puts Iran on the spot

2011-11-08T20:30:20Z

Iran was under fresh scrutiny Wednesday after the UN atomic watchdog released reams of what it called "credible" intelligence suggesting Tehran had worked on developing nuclear weapons.

With Washington threatening to increase international pressure on Iran and Israel's pr...

Iran says IAEA report "politically motivated"

2011-11-08T12:00:39Z

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran rejected as "politically motivated" a report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog Tuesday in which the Islamic Republic was accused of working on developing an atomic bomb design, the semi-official Reuters) - A U.N. nuclear watchdog report due this week is expected to show recent activity in Iran that could help in developing nuclear bombs, including intelligence about computer modeling of such weapons, Western diplomats said on Tuesday.

"There are bits ...

France opposes strike on Iran: minister

2011-11-08T01:00:11Z

PARIS (Reuters) - France is "very worried" about the potential militarization of Iran's nuclear program, but opposes any strike against the Islamic Republic because it could cause irreparable damage, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Tuesday.

...

Iran used foreign expertise for atom work: diplomats

2011-11-07T09:03:18Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - A U.N. nuclear watchdog report is expected to show concern that Iran benefited from foreign expertise to help develop technology that could be used to build atomic bombs, Western officials said on Monday.

Tehran<...

IAEA to say Iran nearing nuclear capability: report

2011-11-07T03:01:54Z

(Reuters) - Intelligence provided to the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency shows that Iran has mastered the critical steps needed to build a nuclear weapon, The Washington Post reported on Sunday...

Analysis: Russia, China may blunt Western pressure on Iran

2011-11-02T06:30:37Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - Russian and Chinese reluctance may complicate any Western campaign to parlay a U.N. watchdog report this month into political momentum for tougher sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program, diplomats and analysts say.

The report by the

Russia, China pressuring IAEA on Iran: diplomats

2011-10-25T17:30:40Z

Russia and China are urging the UN atomic agency to soften or even not issue an eagerly awaited report detailing Iran's suspected efforts to develop nuclear weapons, diplomats told AFP on Tuesday.

"It does seem like the Russians and Chinese are pressuring the IAEA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog is expected to publish intelligence soon pointing to military dimensions to Iran's nuclear activities but stopping short of saying explicitly that Tehran is trying to build atom bombs, Western diplo...

US 'pressing IAEA to release Iran nuclear data'

2011-10-16T11:30:22Z

US President Barack Obama is calling on UN nuclear inspectors to release data showing Iran is designing nuclear weapons technology in a bid to further isolate Tehran, a report said on Sunday.

The White House pus...

"Strong" IAEA report may pile pressure on Iran

2011-10-14T10:00:17Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog is expected to raise international pressure on Iran with a report next month likely to heighten suspicions about the Islamic state's atomic ambitions, Western diplomats said on Friday.

But they said it was unclear whether t...

U.S. hopes IAEA report clearer on Iran nuclear fears

2011-10-13T13:00:09Z

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - The United States hopes the U.N. atomic watchdog will be more detailed about its concerns Iran is covertly developing nuclear missiles in a report due out next month, a senior U.S. diplomat said ...

Israel feels heat at UN atomic agency

2011-09-23T12:30:34Z

Israel found itself on the sharp end Friday of an Arab-sponsored resolution adopted at the UN atomic agency's annual meeting criticising the country for its alleged nuclear weapons arsenal.

The resolution, approved by a large majority at the general council of the 151-nation Inte...

Arabs to avoid targeting Israel at U.N. atom meeting

2011-09-15T11:30:12Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - Arab states will refrain from targeting Israel over its assumed nuclear arsenal at a global meeting of U.N. atomic agency member countries next week, diplomats say, an unexpected gesture of restraint sure to be welcomed by the West.

It would be a rare conciliatory move i...

US, EU slam NKorea at UN atomic agency

2011-09-14T17:30:41Z

The United States and the European Union sharply criticised North Korea on Wednesday as the board of the UN atomic agency was briefed on Pyongyang's nuclear activities.

The United States said Wednesday it hoped the UN atomic agency would "very soon" give more detail on new information the watchdog has on possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme.

"The real fear is that Iran is continuing ... and has over many years continued to explore and to develop technologies with no applic...

Alarmed West dismisses Iran nuclear "charm offensive"

2011-09-14T11:30:25Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - Western powers said on Wednesday an Iranian "charm offensive" had failed to dispel mounting fears Iran may be working to develop a nuclear bomb, but Washington's envoy did not rule out engaging with Tehran after it offered fresh talks.

Glyn Davies, U.S...

Syria offers nuclear cooperation, IAEA says

2011-09-12T09:00:22Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - Syria has offered to cooperate with a U.N. nuclear watchdog probe into a suspected reactor site after years of stonewalling, and a meeting on the issue has been proposed for October, the Vienna-based ag...

IAEA says seeks info from France about blast

2011-09-12T07:00:35Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. atomic agency is seeking information from France about Monday's explosion at a nuclear waste treatment site in the south of the country, its head said.

Yukiya Amano, director gener...

U.N. nuclear chief says more concerned about Iran

2011-09-12T05:30:25Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - The head of the U.N.'s atomic watchdog said he was increasingly concerned on Monday about possible activity in Iran to develop a nuclear missile and accused Tehran of failing to cooperate fully with his inspecto...

Iran offers IAEA 'full supervision' of nuclear sites

2011-09-05T13:30:16Z

Iran on Monday said it was ready to give the International Atomic Energy Agency "full supervision" of its nuclear programme for five years if UN sanctions are lifted, as it alleged a rise in "sabotage" of its controversial work.

"We have proposed that the agency keep Iran's activities ...

North Korea atom drive may rely on smugglers - IAEA

2011-09-02T15:00:07Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - North Korea may have used a "clandestine supply network" to acquire technology and information needed for an uranium enrichment facility the reclusive Asian state revealed late last year, the U.N. nuclear agency said in a report.

In November 2010, ...

US, Australia schemed against IAEA chief: cable

2011-08-30T16:30:24Z

The United States and Australia schemed unsuccessfully in 2005 to block Mohamed ElBaradei's election to a third term as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a newly leaked US diplomatic cable shows.

Bo...

Iran atomic chief says fuel swap talks over: IRNA

2011-08-29T14:30:23Z

Iran will no longer negotiate a nuclear fuel swap with some of the world powers, its atomic chief said on Monday, adding however that it is ready for closer cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

"We will no longer negotiate a fuel swap and a halt to our production of (nuclear) fuel," UN atomic watchdog official last week toured Iranian nuclear sites, including ones where uranium is being enriched, a senior Iranian official was quoted as saying Tuesday by Fars news agency.

Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's representa...

Iran shows U.N. official nuclear sites: envoy

2011-08-23T12:30:19Z

VIENNA, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Iran allowed a senior U.N. nuclear inspector to visit a facility for developing advanced uranium enrichment machines during a rare tour of all of the country's main atomic sites, an Iranian envoy said on Tuesday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - A senior United Nations official visited all of Iran's main atomic sites last week, an Iranian news agency reported, as the Islamic Republic looks to restart talks with world powers about its nuclear program.

Herman Nackaerts...

Iran seeks 'explicit' nuclear deal with UN

2011-07-12T12:31:09Z

Iran on Tuesday signaled it wanted closer cooperation with the UN atomic watchdog but said the Vienna-based agency must agree to "explicit" guidelines on how to proceed to solve a nuclear row.

"Experts from both sides have to sit together and work out a mechanism to see how we can proceed," Iranian Foreign Minister Ali A...

Worldwide nuclear industry woes deepen

2011-07-05T19:30:16Z

And the hits just keep on coming

The year 2011 will go down for the nuclear industry worldwide as an annus horribilis.

First came the March Fukushima nuclear disaster, with operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) belatedly acknowledging that three of the facility's six reactor...

IAEA chief invited to Iran but wants concrete result

2011-06-24T12:30:49Z

UN atomic watchdog chief Yukiya Amano said Friday he had been invited to visit Iran by the head of the country's atomic organisation Fereydoon Abbasi Davani, but added he was awaiting clarification.

"Dr. Abbassi invited me to

IAEA reports Syria to UN over nuke allegations

2011-06-09T14:30:29Z

The UN atomic watchdog voted Thursday to report Syria to the United Nations Security Council over allegations it built an undeclared nuclear reactor that was then destroyed by Israeli bombs, diplomats said.

At a closed-door meeting of the 35-member board of governors of the

World powers concerned over Iran nuclear programme

2011-06-09T11:30:30Z

World powers expressed "deeper concern" Thursday about the intention behind Iran's controversial atomic drive in face of its refusal to answer questions about possible military dimensions to the work.

A day after Iran announced it was expanding uranium enrichment -- the most senstive part of its nuclear programme -- Britain, Ch...

U.N. atomic board reports Syria to Security Council

2011-06-09T09:00:11Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog board decided on Thursday to report Syria to the Security Council for covert atomic work, a U.S.-led move coinciding with Western condemnation of ...

Defiant Iran plans big rise in nuclear enrichment

2011-06-08T06:30:12Z

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will shift its production of higher grade uranium to an underground bunker and triple its production capacity, it said on Wednesday in a defiant response to accusations it is trying to produce atomic bombs.

"This year, under the supervision of the (Iran is ready to resume nuclear talks with the world powers but will press ahead with its atomic activities including uranium enrichment, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday.

"They want to negotiate again. Let's negotiate for understanding and cooperation... but until they change their arrogant approach to one of cooperation, verbal clashes via the media will cont...

IAEA turns up heat on Syria, Iran

2011-06-06T14:31:02Z

UN atomic watchdog chief Yukiya Amano turned up the heat on Syria and Iran -- both accused of illicit nuclear activity -- as the body's policy-making board of governors began meeting here Monday.

Tehran and UN atomic watchdog chief Yukiya Amano turned up the heat on Syria and Iran -- both accused of illicit nuclear activity -- as the body's policy-making board of governors began a meeting in Vienna on Monday.

Reuters) - The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog took a swipe at Israel on Monday for "allegedly" bombing to rubble a suspected Syrian reactor site in 2007, saying the case should have been reported to his agency instead.

The Reuters) - Iran may until recently have carried out nuclear work with possible military links, the U.N. atomic watchdog chief said on Monday, voicing growing frustration at Tehran's failure to address his concerns.

The statement ...

UN atomic watchdog meets on Syria, Iran

2011-06-05T19:30:25Z

The UN atomic watchdog opens a week-long meeting Monday, with the United States and its western allies looking to pass a resolution against Syria over its alleged illicit nuclear activity.

The traditional June session of the

Western push on Syria may spark divisive IAEA debate

2011-06-01T06:00:09Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - Western states are pressing ahead with a drive to report Syria to the U.N. Security Council over suspected nuclear activity, despite misgivings among some other countries and a last-ditch bid by

Under pressure, Syria offers nuclear cooperation

2011-05-30T09:00:11Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - Syria has promised to cooperate with a U.N. nuclear inquiry into a suspected reactor site bombed by Israel in 2007, an apparent last-minute bid by United States said Wednesday that a new UN report on Iran's nuclear program underscored Tehran's continued failure to comply with its international obligations.

In a restricted new report, the Reuters) - Western states are expected to push for Syria to be referred to the U.N. Security Council after U.N. inspectors gave independent support to U.S. allegations that

Iran rejects IAEA report on nuclear program

2011-05-25T06:00:13Z

A senior Iranian nuclear official on Wednesday dismissed a UN nuclear watchdog's new report on Tehran's atomic drive and its possible military aspects, saying it is based on "unfounded allegations."

"The report brings up repetitive and boring content... based on unfounded allegations and speculation regarding some activities with supposed military objectives," UN nuclear watchdog said Tuesday it has received new information on possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme, heightening concerns about the true nature of Tehran's atomic drive.

In a restricted new report, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, the Syria that was bombed by Israeli planes in September 2007 was "very likely" a nuclear reactor, the UN atomic watchdog said Tuesday.

"Based on all the information available to the agency and its technical evaluation of that information, the agency assesses that it is very likely that the building destroyed at the Dair Alzour site was a nuclear reactor which s...

Syria site was "very likely" an atom reactor: IAEA

2011-05-24T09:00:14Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - A Syrian site bombed by Israel in 2007 was "very likely" to have been a nuclear reactor which should have been declared, the U.N. atomic agency said in a report, an assertion which may lead to UN atomic watchdog flew out to Tokyo from Vienna on Sunday to team up with other international experts investigating Japan's nuclear crisis.

Six experts from the Reuters) - The International Atomic Energy Agency is investigating whether Iran hacked into its inspectors' computers and telephones, according to reports heard by senior Western diplomats.

If confirmed, it would further...

U.N. atom watchdog may clamp down on Syria: sources

2011-04-29T08:00:36Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - U.N. inspectors may say in an upcoming report that a Syrian desert site bombed to rubble in 2007 was probably a covert nuclear reactor, opening the way for the U.N. Security Council to take up the case, diplomats s...

U.N. nuclear agency inspects Syria's Homs site

2011-04-01T06:00:11Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. atomic watchdog carried out an agreed inspection of a Syrian plant on Friday as part of a long-stalled probe into suspected covert nuclear activity.

"The inspection is being conducted as planned," an official of the Vienna-based

World powers press Iran to cooperate with IAEA

2011-03-09T16:30:32Z

World powers urged Iran to cooperate with the UN atomic watchdog Wednesday, otherwise it could soon face further censure for blocking the investigation into its controversial nuclear drive.

"We call on Iran to cooperate fully with the (International Atomic Energy) Agency,"...

Syria must not be allowed to stonewall IAEA probe: US

2011-03-09T16:30:31Z

Syria cannot be allowed to continue to block a long-running investigation by the UN atomic watchdog into alleged illicit nuclear activity, the United States said here Wednesday.

"The United States' position on this is that we are not going to let this matter simply fade away or go away. We are not going to let Syria simply r...

Syria "can't be allowed" to block nuclear probe: U.S.

2011-03-09T11:00:22Z

VIENNA (Reuters) - The United States warned Syria Wednesday it "can't be allowed" to stonewall a U.N. watchdog investigation into a desert site where covert atomic activity may have taken place before it was destro...

UN atomic agency has doubts over Iran's nuclear drive

2011-03-07T15:30:29Z

The UN atomic watchdog said Monday it had information that Iran may have been engaged in weaponisation studies more recently than previously thought.

Nevertheless, Tehran was continuing to refuse to answer any questions on the issue, effectively blocking a long-running investigation into the matter, the watchdog's chief ...

Austria Nuclear Agency

2010-12-04T05:00:15Z

Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh waits to the start of the IAEA's board of governors meeting at the International Center in Vienna, Austria, Friday Dec. 3, 2010. (AP Ph...

Russia Putin

2010-10-26T10:31:44Z

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, and head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, shake hands during their meeting in Moscow, Monday, Oct. 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Alexei Nikolsky, Pool)

...

Austria Iran Nuclear

2010-10-09T03:00:59Z

FILE- Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi delivers a speech at the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, in Vienna, Austria, in this file photo d...

Austria Nuclear Agency IAEA

2010-09-24T06:45:29Z

U.S. ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Glyn Davies laughs at the general conference of the IAEA, at the International Center in Vienna, Austria, on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

APTOPIX Austria Nuclear Agency Conference

2010-09-21T14:33:56Z

Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi delivers a speech at a general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, at the International Center in

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