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UAE Joins IAEA’s Response & Assistance Network

Through the UAE’s registration in the RANET, the country’s capabilities are now available for any IAEA Member State to request assistance…reports Asian Lite News

The United Arab Emirates has joined the Response and Assistance Network (RANET), a network established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to provide international assistance to countries during a nuclear or radiological emergency.

RANET was established in 2000, and since then 43 countries have registered their capabilities in the network, on areas including medical support, radiation survey, and other technical aspects. Through the UAE’s registration in the RANET, the country’s capabilities are now available for any IAEA Member State to request assistance in the case of a nuclear or radiological emergency, which may be provided following UAE approvals process.

RANET capabilities registered by the UAE include radiation survey, sampling and analysis, radiological assessment and advice, medical support, and nuclear installation assessment and advice. In addition to FANR, four UAE entities have had their capabilities registered under RANET: Nawah Energy Company; Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council; Al Dhannah Hospital; and Medinat Zayed Hospital.

“The addition of the UAE into the RANET showcases the exemplary standard that the country has reached in the field of emergency preparedness and response, and points to the confidence of the IAEA and its Member States in the UAE’s capabilities in this field, following years of close cooperation with the IAEA through the hosting of workshops and the country’s participation in a variety of exercises organised by the Agency,” said Christer Viktorsson, FANR’s Director-General.

The UAE’s cooperation with the IAEA in emergency preparedness and response encompasses joint exercises, including the UAE’s hosting of the IAEA’s ConvEx-3 exercise in 2021, an international nuclear and radiological emergency exercise involving more than 75 countries and 12 international organisations.

Furthermore, the UAE is a member of the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, which it joined in 1987, and it is part of the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and Request of Assistance. FANR is designated as UAE’s National Warning Point and Competent Authority under the said conventions; and FANR, alongside its national partners, plays also a key role in responding to nuclear or radiological incidents as per exiting approved national and local levels plans.

Since its inception in 2009, FANR developed, issued and revised regulations and regulatory guides for nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response matters, in line with its mandate to protect the public and the environment. To that end, FANR operates its Emergency Operations Centre through which it takes part in exercises and drills that aim to develop the UAE’s capacity to respond to nuclear or radiological emergencies.

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Tensions Rise as Iran Reacts to IAEA

Kanaani said that Iran is committed to the principle of cooperating with IAEA within the framework of the safeguards agreements…reports Asian Lite News

Iran has vowed “a fitting response” to the anti-Iran statement issued at a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.

Iran will respond to the “political move” of the E3 group of France, Britain and Germany as well as the US, a Foreign Ministry statement quoted spokesperson Nasser Kanaani as saying on Wednesday, adding that exerting political pressure on Iran will backfire.

Kanaani noted that the criticism levelled against Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA in the statement came on the heels of significant progress in the cooperation between Tehran and the agency following the two sides’ interactions since the beginning of the year.

Kanaani said that Iran is committed to the principle of cooperating with IAEA within the framework of the safeguards agreements, Xinhua news agency reported.

IAEA, Iran agree to replace surveillance cameras at n-site

He added it is a regret that the E3 and the US, which have “certain motives” behind their anti-Iran moves and have adopted hostile stances against the country, are abusing the technical cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA to achieve their political objectives.

In the statement, the E3 claimed that Iran’s actions remain in “clear violation of its JCPOA commitments and stated intentions,” and that Iran has continued escalating its nuclear programme to “an alarming level clearly beyond credible civilian justification, and has displayed no will to implement the transparency commitments laid out in the joint statement agreed with the IAEA last March”.

Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the removal of the sanctions on the country. 

The US, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments under the deal.

The talks on the revival of the JCPOA began in April 2021 in Austria’s capital Vienna. Despite several rounds of talks, no significant breakthrough has been achieved since the end of the last round in August 2022.

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IAEA chief visits Ukrainian nuclear plant

Grossi’s visit on Thursday, initially scheduled to begin on Wednesday, was delayed for security reasons…reports Asian Lite News

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi has arrived at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine, state-run nuclear energy operator Energoatom said in a Telegram post.

Grossi’s visit on Thursday, initially scheduled to begin on Wednesday, was delayed for security reasons, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko.

The IAEA chief said earlier he will travel to the ZNPP to assess the situation after the Kakhovka dam breach.

The Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam was destroyed on June 6, with Ukraine and Russia trading accusations over the attack on it.

The ZNPP, which has been controlled by Russian forces since March 2022, is located some 140 km northeast of the Kakhovka plant.

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Russia, IAEA discuss safety of Zaporizhzhia N-plant

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,(twitter)

Capturing the key city of Bakhmut could enable Russian forces to press on towards the bigger cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk…reports Asian Lite News

Russian officials and a delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held a new round of consultations in Moscow on cooperation in ensuring the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP).

Alexei Likhachev, Director General of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, participated in the talks among other representatives, Rosatom said in a statement on Thursday.

Likhachev informed Grossi of the steps the Russian side is taking to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and provide comfortable social and living conditions for staff members and their families at the station.

Grossi spoke about the progress of his initiative to create a safety zone at the NPP, and Likhachev expressed Russia’s readiness to continue work on the implementation of this initiative, according to Rosatom, which operates the power station.

The Zaporizhzhia NPP, which is one of Europe’s largest nuclear power plants, has been controlled by Russian forces since early March last year. Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations of strikes on the facility.

Russian forces intensify offensive efforts in Luhansk

A top Ukrainian official said that Russian forces have intensified their offensive efforts in the eastern Luhansk region over the past week.

In a statement on Thursday, Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said that officials have witnessed a slight increase in Russian operations near the cities of Kupyansk and Lyman.

Russia is on the offensive in Luhansk, though without “much success” so far, the Governor added.

Haidai’s remarks came just two days after he had claimed that Russian troops were being sent to the war-torn nation’s eastern region as part of an offensive planned by Moscow on February 15.

On Tuesday. he had said that “we are seeing more and more reserves being deployed in our direction”.

Almost a year into Moscow’s ongoing invasion, an estimated 300,000 Russian reserve troops have been recruited in recent months in an attempt to break through Ukraine’s front lines in the east.

Capturing the key city of Bakhmut could enable Russian forces to press on towards the bigger cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.

The Governor had further claimed that the Russians’ two-month training period was coming to an end and Moscow would need around 10 days to transfer them to the front for a new offensive.

He suggested that in Luhansk region they would target the three towns of Bilohorivka, Kreminna and Svatove.

Since the past few months, Ukraine has been warning of an imminent Russian offensive that could begin on February 24, marking the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion.

Thursday’s development came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy met European Union leaders in Brussels after his trips to London and Paris a day earlier, during which he asked for more fighter jets in en effort to boost Ukraine’s war capabilities amid the ongoing invasion.

ALSO READ-IAEA to monitor Ukraine’s nuclear plants

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India foils China’s bid to bring resolution against AUKUS

Representational Image

India’s considered role helped many smaller countries take a clear stand on the Chinese proposal. Realizing that its resolution would not get majority support, China withdrew its draft resolution on September 30, reports Naveen Kapoor

India’s deft diplomacy at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) forced China to withdraw its resolution against the AUKUS.

According to sources, the “General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was held in Vienna from September 26-30, 2022. China tried to get a resolution passed against the AUKUS for seeking to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines (but armed with conventional weapons).

China argued that this initiative was in violation of its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It also criticized the role of the IAEA in this regard.

India took an objective view of the initiative, recognising the soundness of the technical evaluation by the IAEA. The Indian Mission to the IAEA in Vienna worked closely with many IAEA member states in this regard.

India’s considered role helped many smaller countries take a clear stand on the Chinese proposal. Realizing that its resolution would not get majority support, China withdrew its draft resolution on September 30.

Interestingly, the Chinese were confident enough of the success on September 28 to get Global Times to issue an article on the subject.

India’s deft and impactful diplomacy was deeply appreciated by IAEA member states, particularly the AUKUS partners. (ANI)

ALSO READ: France, Australia move beyond AUKUS

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Raisi launches scathing attack on US at UNGA

The Iranian President also claimed that US hegemony is coming to an end…reports Asian Lite News

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi launched a scathing attack against US foreign policy in his address to the UN General Assembly and announced the emergence of a new world order.

Raisi said American foreign policy over the past century had proved that the “unilateralist” approach was one in which the US had pursued self-interest at the expense of partnerships, Arab News reported.

“What is happening in Europe today has been seen all over the world before. The fate of many countries shows America pursues its own interests against the interests of its allies,” the report quoted Iranian President as saying.

“Unilateralism has been the tool to hold many countries back. On a selective basis, America cannot be allowed to determine which countries have the right to stand on their own two feet because even friends of America do not benefit from this.”

The Iranian President also claimed that US hegemony is coming to an end.

US President Joe Biden

“This order has lost its power, and a new order is shaping up to tackle it as this old system’s policies are defeated,” he said.

“We are witnessing a change of the world order, a world order of hegemony in which financial power gains a control over ‘standards’ of human behaviour which are used to subjugate. This is coming to an end,” he added.

Also, Raisi claimed that Daesh was a US construct, slamming what he contended was the hypocrisy of a country claiming a base in justice and humanity.

A day before his UNGA speech, Raisi reiterated that Iran needs reassuring guarantees as well as the closure of the ongoing inquiry into the Islamic republic by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) before a nuclear deal can be reached.

According to a statement published on the Iranian presidency’s website, Raisi on Tuesday made the remarks in a meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Iran is ready to reach a “fair and stable” nuclear agreement, but considering the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran’s demand to “receive reassuring guarantees” is “completely reasonable and logical”, said Raisi.

The Iranian president also described the IAEA’s inquiry as “a serious obstacle to reaching an agreement,” noting that “we believe that without the closure of Iran’s cases, it is not possible to reach an agreement”.

As for Iran-Europe relations, Raisi said that the improvement of Iran’s relations with Europe depended on the independence of the countries of the European continent from the will and opinion of the US.

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US: No conditionality between Iran nuclear deal and IAEA probes

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. (File Photo: White House).

White House said the investigations led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “are not political” and “are not leverage or bargaining chips”, reports Asian Lite News

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre suggested that there should not be any conditionality between a revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and the conclusion of watchdog probes.

Addressing the media on Friday, Jean-Pierre made the remarks referring to the deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and investigations related to Iran’s obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, reports Xinhua news agency

She said the investigations led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “are not political” and “are not leverage or bargaining chips”.

“We are unbending in our support for the IAEA’s independence… It would be preferable to return to the JCPOA without any open safeguard issues,” the Press Secretary added.

If the US makes the “right decision”, negotiations can be concluded quickly, Mohammad Marandi, an advisor to Iran’s nuclear negotiation team, said on Friday.

“Iran has responded as promised. It’s time for the (US President Joe) Biden team to make a serious decision,” Marandi tweeted hours after Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that Tehran had given answers to the Washington on the European Union’s draft of a potential nuclear agreement.

“The submitted text has a constructive approach with the aim of finalizing the negotiations,” Kanaani said in a statement.

The US State Department confirmed they have received Iran’s response through the European Union (EU).

“We are studying it and will respond through the EU, but unfortunately it is not constructive,” a Department spokesman was quoted by some Western media outlets as saying.

“For the US, ‘constructive’ usually means accepting US terms. For Iran, it means a deal that is balanced and protected,” Marandi said.

Iran and the US are indirectly exchanging views about a recent EU proposal aimed at resolving the outstanding issues on the revival of the JCPOA.

Iran signed the JCPOA with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear program in return for the removal of sanctions on the country.

However, former US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact.

The talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal began in April 2021 in Vienna but were suspended in March this year because of political differences between Tehran and Washington.

The latest round of the nuclear talks was held in the Austrian capital in early August after a five-month hiatus.

On August 8, the EU put forward a “final text” of the draft decision on reviving the deal.

ALSO READ: N-deal: US disagrees on Iran’s ‘constructive’ response

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Iran to keep IAEA cameras turned off

“Iran accepted to put curbs on its (nuclear) capacities to build trust, but despite all these, they did not remain committed to their obligations,” he added…reports Asian Lite News

The Iranian nuclear chief said his country will not turn on the surveillance cameras of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) installed within the framework of a 2015 nuclear deal until parties resume honouring their commitments under the deal.

Mohammad Eslami, President of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), made the remarks in an address to reporters on the sidelines of an exhibition in Tehran on Monday, the official news agency IRNA reported.

He added that the Islamic Republic sees no reason for the presence of these cameras at its nuclear sites as they had been recording data supposed to exonerate Tehran from certain accusations, which are still in place.

Eslami said that although in 2015, lengthy negotiations between Iran and the world powers resulted in the signing of a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the West is still levelling accusations at Iran based on stolen documents and “baseless claims”.

“Iran accepted to put curbs on its (nuclear) capacities to build trust, but despite all these, they did not remain committed to their obligations,” he added.

Eslami said the agency itself has removed the cameras and sealed them, adding they will be kept in Iran’s nuclear facilities until the other sides return to the JCPOA, Xinhua news agency reported.

Eslami emphasised that the IAEA is currently monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities according to the safeguards agreements.

In June, the IAEA’s Board of Governors passed an anti-Iran resolution proposed by the US, Britain, France and Germany following the agency’s reports that Tehran had not provided “technically credible explanations” for uranium particles at three undeclared sites.

In the wake of the adoption of the IAEA resolution, Iran announced its decision to take a number of measures, including turning off the IAEA’s surveillance cameras at its sites.

Iran signed the nuclear deal with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear programme in return for the removal of sanctions on the country.

However, former US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact.

ALSO READ-Iran says plans to send up more satellites in 2022

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Iran: IAEA continues to monitor nuke activities

Iran IAEA continues to monitor nuke activities

International Atomic Energy Organisation (IAEA) continues to monitor activities in Iran’s nuclear sites…reports Asian Lite News

The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) has said the International Atomic Energy Organisation (IAEA) continues to monitor activities in Iran’s nuclear sites, but it has no access to the recorded information in its cameras.

“Monitoring continues, but until a (nuclear) agreement is reached, the information will remain with us and will probably be deleted,” Behrooz Kamalvandi, Spokesman for the AEOI, was quoted by Iran’s Arabic language news network Al-Alam as saying on Saturday.

Regarding the transfer of some nuclear facilities in Karaj, near the capital Tehran, to Natanz complex in central Iran, he said “unfortunately due to the terrorist operation against Karaj facilities, we had to intensify security measures and moved an important part of these machines.”

“Centrifuge machines have been moved to a safer location because of their importance, and they are now operating,” he noted.

On April 4, Iran informed the UN nuclear watchdog about its plan to transfer the producing machines of centrifuge parts from Karaj to Natanz, Xinhua news agency reported.

ALSO READ: US imposing new conditions for lifting sanction: Iran

The AEOI Spokesman added that with the agreement reached with the IAEA, the issues regarding the past activities of Iran would be solved by June.

“We do not have any technical issues at the moment, although there might be some small issues that are being solved,” he said.

In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers, including the United States. However, former US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments.

Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in the Austrian capital Vienna between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties to revive the deal.

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Ukraine has lost connection with Chernobyl, says IAEA

IAEA further revealed that the maintenance activities at Unit 1 had also been reduced to minimum levels…reports Asian Lite News

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday that Ukraine had lost all communication with the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), a day after the Russian-controlled site lost all external power supplies, IAEA reported on Thursday. The agency has also informed that they are aware of reports that power has now been restored to the site and it is looking for confirmation, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.

Earlier, Ukraine authorities have reported to the IAEA that emergency diesel generators that were providing electricity to the Chernobyl NPP had subsequently lost communication which meant that the regulator could no longer provide updated information such as radiation monitoring, ventilation systems and normal lighting related to the site to the IAEA.

Taking to Twitter, IAEA said, “If emergency power were lost, it would still be possible for #Chornobyl staff to monitor the water level and temperature of the spent fuel pool. They would do this under worsening radiation safety conditions and would not be able to follow operational radiation safety procedures.”

IAEA also informed that Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya NPP which is also under the control of Russian forces is not in a position to deliver the necessary spare parts, equipment and specialized personnel to carry out planned repairs.

IAEA further revealed that the maintenance activities at Unit 1 had also been reduced to minimum levels. On March 3, Ukraine informed the IAEA that the Russian forces had taken the control of the site of the country’s Zaporizhzhya NPP. Ukrainian counterparts informed the IAEA that the projectile had hit a training building in the vicinity of one of the plant’s reactor units, causing a localized fire that was later extinguished.

Situation dangerous

Ukraine’s Presidential Office on Thursday warned that the situation at Chernobyl was “very dangerous” after an emergency power outage was reported at the now-defunct nuclear power plant.
“The situation in Chernobyl is overall very dangerous. It is critical that certain elements of the plant receive a consistent supply of electricity,” the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper quoted presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak as saying.

The adviser warned that since “these elements have been cut off from stable access to power”, it posed a “threat to the whole of Europe. And, of course, to Russia itself”.

Podolyak added that not only has the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stopped receiving crucial data from the safety monitoring system, no one currently understood what was going on at the Chernobyl power plant.

According to the presidential advisor, Russia is targeting the nuclear plants in Ukraine to “subdue its neighbours”. According to Ukrenergo, the state energy company of Ukraine, the plant suffered the power outage on Wednesday due to which on site emergency diesel generators were turned on to provide power systems important for safety.
The company said that the supply of diesel fuel on diesel generators will be enough for 48 hours.

It added that repair work to restore the energy supply was impossible due to Russian combat operations in the region. Although operations stopped at the plant after the catastrophic nuclear disaster in 1986, Chernobyl was never fully abandoned and still requires constant management, the BBC said, adding that spent nuclear fuel is cooled at the site.

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