Tag: N-deal

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UK govt reviews backing Iran N-deal after Akbari’s execution

Following Akbari’s execution, the UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced a series of measures against Tehran, including sanctioning prosecutor general Mohammad Jafar Montazeri…reports Asian Lite News

After Iran executed British-Iranian National Alireza Akbari on Saturday, reports have emerged that the United Kingdom is now reviewing whether to support the Iran nuclear deal or not.

Akbari, a former Iranian deputy defence minister, was charged with spying for MI6. The Iranian authorities killed Akbari despite countries like the UK and the US urging the Iranian regime not to proceed with it.

Now, Akbari’s execution has escalated tension between the West and Iran, which are already sharing disputed relations over Tehran’s recent crackdown on anti-hijab protestors and its military support for Russia against Ukraine.

It is important to note that from the beginning, Britain has been a key player in restoring the talks on the Obama-era nuclear deal, which was abandoned by Donald Trump, the former US president, in May 2018.

However, talks on restoring it began again in April 2021, which had a provision for easing sanctions on Iran in return if it agreeing to curb its nuclear programme, however, the discussions to restore the deal have mostly remained in major difficulties and the execution of the British-Iranian National Agreement in Iran is likely to change the landscape, as reports suggest that Britain is now reviewing its decision regarding future involvement in the accord.

Following Akbari’s execution, the UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced a series of measures against Tehran, including sanctioning prosecutor general Mohammad Jafar Montazeri.

Meanwhile, the UK has also called the British ambassador to Iran for urgent talks about possible next steps. Also, the British Foreign Secretary is expected to visit Washington, DC, for talks with the US State Secretary to discuss Iran.

Foreign Secretary slammed Iran’s General, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri who was responsible for the trial and the sentencing of the death penalty of Akbari. The British official stated that Montazeri is at the heart of the “barbaric use” of the penalty for political goals.

“Sanctioning him today underlines our disgust at Alireza Akbari’s execution and our commitment to holding the regime to account for its appalling human rights violations,” said Cleverly.

Meanwhile, on Twitter, the British Prime Minister also condemned Iran’s action. “I am appalled by the execution of British-Iranian citizen Alireza Akbari in Iran,” Sunak tweeted.

He then went on to add, “This was a callous and cowardly act, carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights of its people.” “My thoughts are with Alireza’s friends and family.”

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Borrell expects pact on Iran N-deal soon

Borrell recently circulated compromise proposals for an agreement text among Iran and United States’ negotiators, describing the response he received from both sides as reasonable…reports Asian Lite News

EU foreign policy Josep Borrell said in Prague that he was sure negotiations to restore the nuclear agreement with Iran could soon be successfully concluded.

“To me it’s clear that there is a common ground, that we have an agreement that takes into account, I think, everyone’s concerns,” he said in a press conference on Wednesday after a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers.

Efforts are underway to revive the 2015 Vienna agreement to set controls on Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Tehran insists its nuclear research activities are solely for civilian use.

The initial deal was struck in 2015, but fell apart a few years later during the US presidency of Donald Trump, who pulled out of the deal. EU negotiators have said a new version of the deal has been worked out and is only awaiting a yes or no from both sides.

Borrell recently circulated compromise proposals for an agreement text among Iran and United States’ negotiators, describing the response he received from both sides as reasonable.

“I am hoping that in the coming days we are not going to lose this momentum and we can close the deal,” the EU official said.

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EU proposes new draft text for Iran n-deal revival

US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters that Washington was reviewing the “draft understanding” Borrell shared with Iran and other parties to the 2015 deal and would respond directly to the EU…reports Asian Lite News

The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has proposed a new draft text to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, saying there is no room left for further major compromises.

“I have now put on the table a text that addresses, in precise detail, the sanctions lifting as well as the nuclear steps needed to restore the JCPOA,” the European Union’s Josep Borrell wrote in an essay in the Financial Times.

“After 15 months of intense, constructive negotiations in Vienna and countless interactions with the JCPOA participants and the US, I have concluded that the space for additional significant compromises has been exhausted,” he added.

Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran’s lead nuclear negotiator, confirmed Borrell had put forth a new proposal, adding on Twitter, “We, too, have our own ideas, both in substance & form, to conclude the negotiations which would be shared.”

US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters that Washington was reviewing the “draft understanding” Borrell shared with Iran and other parties to the 2015 deal and would respond directly to the EU.

According to Reuters, Borrell did not provide details about his proposal, but he suggested – as many Western officials have before – that time was running out to restore the deal under which Iran limited its nuclear program in return for relief from economic sanctions.

“It is now time for swift political decisions to conclude the Vienna negotiations on the basis of my proposed text and to immediately return to a fully implemented JCPOA,” he wrote. “If the deal is rejected, we risk a dangerous nuclear crisis, set against the prospect of increased isolation for Iran and its people.”

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Malley not confident of Iran N-deal  

Russia later said it had received written guarantees that it would be able to carry out its work as a party to the deal, suggesting Moscow could allow it to be resuscitated…reports Asian Lite News

Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley said on Sunday he was not confident that a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran was imminent, dampening expectations after 11 months of talks in Vienna that have stalled.

The failure of efforts to restore the pact, which would curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting tough sanctions, could carry the risk of a regional war, or lead to more harsh Western sanctions and further rises in world oil prices, analysts say.

“I can’t be confident it is imminent.. a few months ago we thought we were pretty close as well,” Malley said at the Doha Forum international conference.

“In any negotiations, when there’s issues that remain open for so long, it tells you something about how hard it is to bridge the gap.”

His assessment of the negotiations in Vienna to revive a 2015 nuclear accord came after Kamal Kharrazi, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said a deal could come soon.

“Yes, it’s imminent. It depends on the political will of the United States,” Kharrazi told the conference.

Then-US President Donald Trump abandoned the nuclear pact in 2018, prompting Tehran to start violating nuclear limits set under the deal about a year later, and months of on-and-off talks to revive it paused earlier this month after Russia presented a new obstacle.

Russia later said it had received written guarantees that it would be able to carry out its work as a party to the deal, suggesting Moscow could allow it to be resuscitated.

Kharrazi said in order for the deal to be revived it was vital for Washington to remove the foreign terrorist organization (FTO) designation against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite unit which reports to Khamenei.

The IRGC, created by the Islamic Republic’s late founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during the 1979 revolution, is more than just a military force.

It is also an industrial empire with enormous political clout. It was listed by Washington as a specially designated global terrorist (SDGT) and sanctioned under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in 2017.

The IRGC’s foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, was labelled an SDGT in 2007. The Trump administration put the IRGC organization on the FTO list in April of 2019.

The Quds Force helps Iran spread its influence in the Middle East through proxies.

“IRGC is a national army and a national army being listed as a terrorist group certainly is not acceptable,” said Kharrazi.

Asked about any potential redesignation, Malley said: “Regardless of what happens to the IRGC issue that you raise, our view of the IRGC is many other sanctions on the IRGC will remain. This is not a deal that intends to resolve that issue.”

Tehran has also been pushing for guarantees that any future US president would not withdraw from the deal, which would curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting tough sanctions which have hammered Iran’s economy.

The extent to which sanctions would be rolled back is another sensitive subject.

The United States’ allies in the Gulf and Israel view the nuclear talks with misgivings and see Tehran as a security threat.

Israel and the United States will cooperate in preventing a nuclear-armed Iran despite differences over any nuclear deal, Israel’s foreign minister said on Sunday.

“We have disagreements about a nuclear agreement and its consequences, but open and honest dialogue is part of the strength of our friendship,” Yair Lapid said in Jerusalem during a joint press conference with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

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Iran slams US for complicating efforts to restore N-deal

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in a statement confirmed that it targeted the Israeli centres in Erbil with precision-guided missiles

Tehran is locked in negotiations with world powers to revive the nuclear deal that offered it sanctions relief in return for curbs on its atomic programme…reports Asian Lite News

Iran said on Thursday the United States has made extra demands and accused it of working to “complicate” efforts to restore a 2015 nuclear deal, after new Russian requests linked to the Ukraine war raised concerns of fresh delays.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in major state policies, meanwhile, stressed his country will not give up on elements of “national strength”, such as nuclear progress and regional influence.

Tehran is locked in negotiations with world powers to revive the nuclear deal that offered it sanctions relief in return for curbs on its atomic programme.

Its arch-foe the United States, under former president Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew in 2018 from the accord known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

“There is no rational justification for some of the new demands made by the United States, and it contradicts the country’s position on reaching an agreement swiftly,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in a phone call with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, his ministry reported.

Amir-Abdollahian did not specify the demands, but said “the US cannot pass on a new and different message to us every day through the coordinator”, in reference to the EU.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s top security official Ali Shamkhani tweeted that “Vienna negotiations are becoming more complicated every hour without a political decision by the United States.”

“US approach to Iran’s principled demands, coupled with its unreasonable offers and unjustified pressure to hastily reach an agreement, show that US isn’t interested in a strong deal that would satisfy both parties,” he added.

Russian factor

The United States reaffirmed its position that a deal remained close and could even be reached “in the coming days.”

“It’s really down to a very small number of outstanding issues,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a news conference on Thursday, without mentioning any new demands from Washington.

“But the reason these particular issues are outstanding is because they are among the most difficult ones.”

Moscow has said it wants written assurances from Washington that sanctions imposed on it over the Ukraine war will not affect its economic and military cooperation with Tehran.

The negotiations to revive the deal involve Iran as well as France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China directly, and the United States indirectly.

Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the accord and its reimposition of biting economic sanctions prompted Iran to begin rolling back on its own commitments.

The United States has described Russia’s new demands as “irrelevant”, while France warned they could dash hopes for a revived nuclear accord.

“Some people are trying to blame us for protracting the talks. I must tell you that the talks have not yet been finalised, even the text of a final agreement is not yet finalised,” Russian chief negotiator Mikhayil Ulyanov said Wednesday.

“Like any other participant we have the right to ask for something… It’s normal business,” he added.

“We’ve urged all parties — and of course that includes the Russian Federation — to focus on resolving the final remaining issues so that we can achieve our shared objective that is an Iran that is permanently and verifiably barred from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Price told reporters.

He said the Biden administration had made clear it had “no intention of offering Russia anything new or specific as it relates to the sanctions nor is anything new required to successfully reach an agreement on a mutual return to full compliance.”

The July 2015 deal gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities to guarantee it could not develop a weapons capability — an ambition it has staunchly denied.

Western countries have also voiced concern over other Iranian capabilities, including its ballistic missiles program and regional influence and ties to armed groups from Lebanon to Yemen.

Iran’s supreme leader said Thursday that matters of “national strength” were not up for negotiation.

“Regional presence gives us strategic depth and more national strength. Why should we give it up?” Khamenei asked, in a statement on his official website.

“Nuclear scientific progress is also related to meeting the needs of the country in the near future, and if we give it up, from who and where we should ask for that in a few years?”

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UK, China, Russia, US and France issue joint statement on N-weapons

France also released the statement, underscoring that the five powers reiterated their determination for nuclear arms control and disarmament…reports Asian Lite News.

Britain, China, Russia, the United States and France have agreed that a further spread of nuclear arms and a nuclear war should be avoided, according to a joint statement by the five nuclear powers published by the Kremlin on Monday.

It said that the five countries – who are the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – consider it their primary responsibility to avoid war between the nuclear states and to reduce strategic risks, while aiming to work with all countries to create an atmosphere of security.

“We declare there could be no winners in a nuclear war, it should never be started,” the Russian-language version of the statement read.

“As the use of nuclear arms would have far-reaching consequences, we also confirm that nuclear arms – as long as they exist – should serve defensive aims, deterrence against aggression and prevention of war.”

France also released the statement, underscoring that the five powers reiterated their determination for nuclear arms control and disarmament. They would continue bilateral and multilateral approaches to nuclear arms control, it said.

The statement comes amid increased geopolitical tensions between Moscow and Western nations over concerns about Russia’s military build-up near neighbouring Ukraine. Moscow says it can move its army around its own territory as it deems necessary.

Last Thursday US President Joe Biden told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that a possible move on Ukraine will draw sanctions and an increased US presence in Europe, where tensions are high after Russia’s military buildup at the border.

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Iran says US should ‘take first step’ in revival of N-deal

After six months of hiatus in the talks, Iran and the remaining parties to the deal, with the indirect involvement of the United States, resumed their discussions to restore the deal on Nov. 29…reports Asian Lite News.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani has said that Washington should take the first step in revival of the 2015 nuclear deal since it was the one which left the deal, official news agency IRNA reported.

The Islamic Republic of Iran will not back down from its demands for the lifting of sanctions in the process of restoration of the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Bagheri Kani said, according to the report.

He stressed that the proposals made by Iran to the P4 + 1 group, comprising the UK, China, France, Russia plus Germany, in the recent Vienna negotiations are “documented and logical,” and therefore can be a basis for negotiations, Xinhua news agency reported.

Iran believes in the negotiations and is “optimistic” about the possible outcome, he said, adding that however, “unconstructive behaviour by some signatories in the past and repeated breaches of their commitments” make Iranians be more careful in their moves.

After six months of hiatus in the talks, Iran and the remaining parties to the deal, with the indirect involvement of the United States, resumed their discussions to restore the deal on Nov. 29.

On Friday, diplomats from the European side of negotiations returned to their capitals for consultations on two proposals put forward by Iran, which reportedly insist on the priority of removal of all sanctions, which were imposed against Tehran by the former administration in the White House after it withdrew from the deal in 2018.

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EU, Russia, Iran optimistic after resumption of nuclear talks

Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Friday that Iran was serious about the upcoming nuclear talks and wants “a good and verifiable agreement.”…reports Asian Lite News.

Diplomats from EU, Russia and Iran in Vienna expressed optimism amid a fresh round of Iran nuclear talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal after a hiatus of more than five months.

“I feel extremely positive about what I have seen today,” said Enrique Mora, Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, who chaired the talks, after the meeting.

There is “clearly a will” by the Iranian delegation to bring the JCPOA back to life, Mora added, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that inked the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Xinhua news agency reported.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent representative to international organisations in Vienna, said on Twitter that the participants agreed on further immediate steps during the seventh round of negotiations which started “quite successfully”.

Meanwhile, Iran’s top negotiator and Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani also expressed optimism after the talks.

However, it remains to be seen whether such optimism can be transformed into real results as diplomats from China, Russia, the UK, France and Germany, in addition to Iran, convened on Monday at the Palais Coburg hotel to try to revive the 2015 deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Friday that Iran was serious about the upcoming nuclear talks and wants “a good and verifiable agreement.”

“If other parties are ready to return to their full obligations and lift sanctions, a good and even immediate agreement can be reached,” Amir Abdollahian added in a telephone conversation with EU Foreign Affairs Chief, Josep Borrell.

The last round of talks over the restoration of the 2015 deal was held in June 2021.

The US government under Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement in May 2018 and unilaterally re-imposed sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran has gradually stopped implementing parts of its commitments to the deal since May 2019.

Iran’s new negotiating team has set out demands for the revival of the nuclear agreement, including the removal of all US sanctions, verification mechanism for the removal of embargo, and guarantees from the US that the next administrations will not breach the deal.

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Britain to invest in low-cost N-reactors

The government’s investment will be matched by a private funding of over £250 million, and it is part of PM Boris Johnson’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution seeking to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and meet the goals set out by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, reports Asian Lite News

The UK government announced on Tuesday a £210 million investment in a public-private project led by British aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce to design and build small nuclear reactors capable of powering one million homes apiece.

“Next steps in developing the design for one of the world’s first small modular reactors (SMR) has been backed by £210 million in new government funding for Rolls-Royce SMR,” the official statement said.

The UK government’s investment will be matched by a private funding of over £250 million, and it is part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution seeking to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and meet the goals set out by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the UK to deploy more low carbon energy than ever before and ensure greater energy independence,” Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng was quoted as saying.

The investment will take forward phase 2 of the Low-Cost Nuclear project to further develop SMR design and take it through the regulatory processes to assess suitability of potential deployment in the UK.

SMRs have the potential to be less expensive to build than traditional nuclear power plants because of their smaller size. Their modular nature of the components offers the potential for parts to be produced in dedicated factories and shipped by road to site – reducing construction time and cost. Rolls Royce SMR estimate that each Small Modular Reactor could be capable of powering 1 million homes – equivalent to a city the size of Leeds.

The announcement comes as the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP26) currently underway in Glasgow, Scotland, from October 31 till November 12 is expected to reach meaningful commitments to cut greenhouse emissions, achieve carbon neutrality and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The UK has already pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, phase out coal-fired power by 2035 and ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars by 2030.

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the UK to deploy more low carbon energy than ever before and ensure greater energy independence. Small modular reactors offer exciting opportunities to cut costs and build more quickly, ensuring we can bring clean electricity to people’s homes and cut our already-dwindling use of volatile fossil fuels even further. In working with Rolls Royce, we are proud to back the largest engineering collaboration the UK has ever seen – uniting some of the most respected and innovating organisations on the planet. Not only can we maximise British content, create new intellectual property and reinvigorate supply chains, but also position our country as a global leader in innovative nuclear technologies we can potentially export elsewhere.”

The £210 million grant follows £18 million invested in November 2019, which has already delivered significant development of their initial design as part of Phase One of the Low-Cost Nuclear project.

Meanwhile, Rolls Royce Chief Executive Warren East said, “The SMR programme is one of the ways that Rolls-Royce is meeting the need to ensure the UK continues to develop innovative ways to tackle the global threat of climate change. With the Rolls-Royce SMR technology, we have developed a clean energy solution which can deliver cost competitive and scalable net zero power for multiple applications from grid and industrial electricity production to hydrogen and synthetic fuel manufacturing. The business could create up to 40,000 jobs, through UK deployment and export enabled growth. As a major shareholder in Rolls-Royce SMR, we will continue to support its path to successful deployment.”

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Iran, EU to resume nuclear talks in Vienna

According to The Times of Israel, the US, in reaction to the latest development, said that a deal is possible quickly if Iran is “serious” in the Vienna talks…reports Asian Lite News.

Iran and the European Union have agreed to resume nuclear talks on 29 November in Vienna. In a statement, the EU’s European External Action Service said that the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will convene in a “physical format” at the end of this month in Vienna. The statement added that the talks will be chaired by Enrique Mora on behalf of EU foreign policy chief Josip Borrell.

Separately, Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri, who is also Tehran’s lead negotiator, confirmed the date for the resumption of talks. Taking to Twitter, Bagheri said that the 29 November date had been set in a phone call with Mora. Meanwhile, according to The Times of Israel, the US, in reaction to the latest development, said that a deal is possible quickly if Iran is “serious” in the Vienna talks.

Vienna has been hosting talks aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear agreement since April. However, the negotiations have hit a deadlock as Iran has insisted that its nuclear steps are reversible if Washington lifts all sanctions. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi even said that Tehran is after “goal-oriented” talks with the West and noted that his country “never left” the negotiation grounds.

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