Iran nuclear weapons program – News Stories About Iran nuclear weapons program - Page 1

Iran Blames Israel for Attack on Nuke Plant, Vows Revenge

Iran Accuses Israel of
Sabotage at Nuclear Plant

Apr 12, 2021 6:52 AM CDT

Iran Accuses Israel of Sabotage at Nuclear Plant

It may have been a cyberattack at the Natanz site

(Newser) - Iran on Monday blamed Israel for a sabotage attack on its underground Natanz nuclear facility that damaged the centrifuges it uses to enrich uranium there, warning that it would avenge the assault, per the AP . The comments by Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh represent the first official accusation leveled against...

Iran: Power Outage at
Plant Was 'Nuclear Terrorism'

Apr 11, 2021 11:30 AM CDT

Iran: Power Outage at Plant Was 'Nuclear Terrorism'

Israel may have been behind the cyberattack, its media reports

(Newser) - Iran has described a blackout at its underground Natanz atomic installation on Sunday an act of "nuclear terrorism." No injuries or leaks were caused by the problem with the power distribution network, the BBC reports. The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization didn't accuse anyone of...

B-52s Fly Over Mideast in a US Warning to Iran

In a Message to Iran,
US Bombers Buzz Mideast

Mar 7, 2021 10:30 AM CST

In a Message to Iran, US Bombers Buzz Mideast

Flights are the second ordered during Biden administration

(Newser) - A pair of B-52 bombers flew over the Mideast on Sunday, the latest such mission in the region aimed at warning Iran amid tensions between Washington and Tehran. The flight by the two heavy bombers came as a pro-Iran satellite channel based in Beirut broadcast Iranian drone footage of an...

Biden Won't Lift Sanctions
to Revive Iran Negotiations

Feb 7, 2021 5:40 PM CST

Biden Won't Lift Sanctions to Revive Iran Negotiations

He indicated that the country must stop enriching uranium first

(Newser) - “No.” That’s President Joe Biden’s response to a question on whether he’d lift economic sanctions on Iran to get the country back to the negotiating table for the Iran Nuclear deal. Speaking to CBS News , Biden indicated that Iran would need to stop enriching uranium...

Iran Makes
2 Big Moves
Against the West

Jan 4, 2021 4:42 PM CST

Iran Makes 2 Big Moves Against the West

Country seizes South Korean tanker, increases nuclear enrichment

(Newser) - Iran began enriching uranium Monday to levels unseen since its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and also seized a South Korean-flagged tanker near the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a double-barreled challenge to the West that further raised Mideast tensions. Both decisions appeared aimed at increasing Tehran's leverage in...

Iranian Scientist May Have
Been Killed Via Satellite

Nov 30, 2020 7:20 AM CST

Iranian Scientist May Have Been Killed Via Satellite

Government official accuses Israel of using 'electronic devices'

(Newser) - A new narrative is emerging about how Iran's top nuclear scientist got gunned down last week on a stretch of road. The main story line is unchanged: Iran accuses Israel of assassinating Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, though Israel isn't saying a word about it. What's new is that the...

Iran: We
Know Who
Killed Our
Nuclear
Scientist

Nov 28, 2020 12:21 PM CST

Iran: We Know Who Killed Our Nuclear Scientist

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says revenge will come

(Newser) - Iran's supreme leader on Saturday demanded the "definitive punishment" of those behind the killing of a scientist who led Tehran's disbanded military nuclear program, as the Islamic Republic blamed Israel for a slaying that has raised fears of reignited tensions across the Middle East, the AP reports....

After Iranian Scientist Is Killed,
'Serious Indications' Emerge

Nov 27, 2020 10:15 AM CST

After Iranian Scientist Is Killed, 'Serious Indications' Emerge

Benjamin Netanyahu had mentioned Mohsen Fakhrizadeh before, said 'remember that name'

(Newser) - Iran's foreign minister is alleging the killing of a scientist linked to the country's disbanded military nuclear program has "serious indications" of an Israeli role. Mohammad Javad Zarif made the statement Friday on Twitter, per the AP . "Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist today," Zarif...

Pence Helped Talk Trump
Out of Bombing Iran: Report

Nov 17, 2020 6:19 AM CST

Pence Helped Talk Trump Out of Bombing Iran: Report

'New York Times' says president asked advisers about strike before he leaves office

(Newser) - The election isn't the only big matter on President Trump's mind. The New York Times reports that he asked top aides last week about bombing Iran. According to the story, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were among those who talked the president out...

Iran Admits the Truth
About Burned Nuclear Site

Jul 5, 2020 4:50 PM CDT

Iran Admits the Truth About Burned Nuclear Site

Iranian officials had tried to downplay the blaze at Natanz

(Newser) - Iran on Sunday confirmed that a damaged building at the underground Natanz nuclear site was a new centrifuge assembly center, the official IRNA news agency reported, per the AP . Iranian officials had previously sought to downplay the fire , which erupted early on Thursday, calling it only an "incident" that...

A 'Worrisome' Development:
Iran 'Has a Pathway to a Bomb'

Mar 4, 2020 6:11 AM CST

A 'Worrisome' Development: Iran 'Has a Pathway to a Bomb'

IAEA reports say Iran's low-enriched uranium stockpile has tripled

(Newser) - When the Trump administration took the US out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the idea was to instead impose sanctions to pressure Iran to stop developing its nuclear program. Now, "the numbers suggest a different reality"—that Iran "now has a pathway to a bomb,"...

Site Meant for
Research Has
Been Enriching
Uranium: UN
Watchdog

Nov 11, 2019 11:33 AM CST

Site Meant for Research Has Been Enriching Uranium: UN Watchdog

It looks like Fordo underground facility is in violation of 2015 nuclear deal

(Newser) - The United Nations' nuclear watchdog has confirmed that Iran is now enriching uranium at its underground Fordo facility, a move prohibited by the 2015 nuclear deal. That's according to a confidential quarterly report that was distributed to member states and seen by the AP on Monday. Iran invited inspectors...

Iran Gives Europe an Ultimatum

Sep 2, 2019 9:33 AM CDT

Iran Gives Europe an Ultimatum

Tehran wants new terms on nuke deal, or it will take 'strong step' away from it

(Newser) - Iran will "take a strong step" away from its 2015 nuclear deal if Europe cannot offer new terms, a government rep said Monday as top Iranian diplomats traveled to France and Russia for last-minute talks. Ali Rabiei reinforced the deadline Iran had set for Friday for Europe to offer...

Iran, 5 World
Powers Discuss
Nuclear Deal

Jul 28, 2019 11:31 AM CDT

Iran, 5 World Powers Discuss Nuclear Deal

Germany, France, and Britain are among those who met in Vienna

(Newser) - Diplomats from Iran and five world powers recommitted Sunday to salvaging a major nuclear deal amid mounting tensions between the West and Tehran since the US withdrew from the accord and reimposed sanctions, the AP reports. Representatives of Iran, Germany, France, Britain, China, Russia, and the European Union met in...

Iran Breaches Uranium Limits

Jul 8, 2019 3:41 PM CDT

Iran Breaches Uranium Limits

It's now enriching uranium to 4.5%

(Newser) - Iran on Monday began enriching uranium to 4.5%, just breaking the limit set by its nuclear deal with world powers, while it is still seeking a way for Europe to help it bypass US sanctions amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. The acknowledgement by the spokesman of the...

Iran Had an
'Unwelcome
Milestone.' Now,
a New Defiance

Jul 3, 2019 8:11 AM CDT

Iran Had an 'Unwelcome Milestone.' Now, a New Defiance

Uranium enrichment will be 'as much as we want it to be,' President Hassan Rouhani says

(Newser) - Iran announced an "unwelcome milestone" this week: It has 660 pounds of low-enriched uranium stockpiled, a violation of the 2015 nuclear deal the US pulled out of last year. The Washington Post notes that reserve on its own doesn't bring the country much closer to being able to...

War With Iran?
'I Hope Not,'
Says Trump

May 17, 2019 8:28 AM CDT

War With Iran? 'I Hope Not,' Says Trump

Diplomats move to de-escalate situation

(Newser) - Going to war with Iran is not on the to-do list of President Trump, officials say. Sources tell the New York Times that the president—who strongly criticized America's Middle East entanglements during his 2016 campaign—told Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan during a Wednesday morning briefing that he...

Iran Pulls Back
From Nuclear Deal

May 8, 2019 12:07 AM CDT

Iran Pulls Back From Nuclear Deal

Country says it will start keeping excess uranium

(Newser) - Iran's president said Wednesday that the country will begin keeping its excess uranium and heavy water from its nuclear program, setting a 60-day deadline for new terms to its nuclear deal with world powers before it will resume higher uranium enrichment. Hassan Rouhani's address to the nation came...

Iran Warns of
'War Situation' as
Sanctions Resume

Nov 5, 2018 4:53 AM CST

Iran Warns of 'War Situation' as Sanctions Resume

Rouhani likens current situation to war against Saddam

(Newser) - Iran greeted the re-imposition of US sanctions on Monday with air defense drills and a statement from President Hassan Rouhani that the nation faces a "war situation." The sanctions end all economic benefits America had granted Tehran for its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, though Iran for...

US Just Reimposed
All Sanctions on Iran

Nov 2, 2018 11:47 AM CDT

US Just Reimposed All Sanctions on Iran

Move follows decision to withdraw from 2015 nuclear deal

(Newser) - The Trump administration on Friday announced the reimposition of all US sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal. The sanctions will take effect Monday and cover Iran's shipping, financial, and energy sectors, the AP reports. It's the second batch of penalties the administration...