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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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Iran sees rise in oil output, exports amid promising nuclear talks

Iran has seen a surge in its production and exportation of oil and gas since 2021 as the country works to revive the Iran nuclear deal…reports Asian Lite News

The speedy recovery of the country’s energy sector, despite the fact that anti-Iran sanctions are still in place, is mainly driven by the promising prospect of the ongoing nuclear talks in Vienna, Xinhua news agency reported.

Iran’s oil exports, which had fallen sharply under Western sanctions from 2012 to 2015, resumed their upward trend in 2016 after the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015. Iran’s oil exports averaged 2.5 million barrels per day in 2017, up 200,000 barrels as compared to 2016..

According to Iran’s Tejarat News website, by the end of 2017 before the reimposition of US energy sanctions, Iran produced 4.7 million barrels of oil and gas condensate per day, of which 3.8 million were crude oil.

Iran’s oil reserves were estimated at 157 billion barrels, equivalent to 10 per cent of world crude oil reserves and 13 per cent of oil reserves of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

However, in May 2018, former US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the JCPOA and reimposed sanctions on Iran’s energy sector, prompting a significant slump in Iran’s crude output market.

The downward trend stopped only when Iran and world powers began in 2021 talks that aim to revive the JCPOA. Since then, the country’s oil production started to see a rebound as more optimistic lights were shed upon the country’s energy sector.

In its Monthly Oil Market report in February, the OPEC put Iran’s average production in 2021 at slightly over 2.4 million bpd, an increase from an average of 2 million bpd in 2020.

Javad Owji, Iran’s Petroleum Minister, said in an interview with the state TV earlier in April that the US goals of reducing Iran’s oil sales to zero, pursuant to its maximum pressure campaign, had not been realised.

Iran’s oil production capacity has reached pre-sanction levels, Owji said, adding the current capacity of Iran’s oil production is more than 3.8 million bpd.

With effective measures in onshore and offshore oil fields, by drilling new wells and repairing the old ones, and through the renovation and modernisation of facilities and oil reserve centres, Iran has been able to restore oil production levels to those prior to US sanctions, he said.

Besides, new “stable” customers have been explored for Iranian oil, the Minister said.

ALSO READ: Iran seeks protection of its diplomatic missions in Afghanistan

“In this regard, we used all the capacities inside and outside and gave variety to our contracts,” he told the state TV.

Iran hopes to resume oil sales in international markets by reviving the JCPOA and removing sanctions. Energy analysts predict that with the lifting of restrictions, Iran may be able to ship 1.3 million barrels of oil per day to international markets by the end of the current year.

Ali Shams Ardakani, a senior expert in energy economics, said the upward trend in Iran’s crude exports is likely to continue in the coming months.

“The market is still attracted to Iranian oil,” the expert added.

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Iranian Commander says serious response to any Israeli ‘aggression’

Esmail Qaani, the Quds Force Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said his forces will seriously respond to “any aggression” by Israel, Tasnim news agency reported…reports Asian Lite News

“If an act of aggression is carried out against the interests of the Islamic establishment anywhere in the world, we will respond with seriousness,” Qaani added on Thursday, referring to the IRGC’s recent missile attack on the “secret intelligence bases” of Israel in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

The IRGC Commander also said Saudi officials should realise that they have been “defeated” in the Yemeni war, Xinhua news agency reported.

ALSO READ: Raisi: Iran’s peaceful nuclear progress irreversible

“This war is not one that benefits them,” he added.

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Raisi: Iran’s peaceful nuclear progress irreversible

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that the country’s progress in peaceful nuclear science and technology is irreversible…reports Asian Lite News

Raisi made the remarks during a visit to an exhibition of the country’s nuclear industry held by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the National Nuclear Technology Day on Saturday, where he also unveiled nine new nuclear achievements, according to the Iranian presidency’s website.

Raisi emphasised Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear, saying his country will continue its research and studies in the field, irrespective of other countries’ will or opinions, Xinhua news agency reported.

ALSO READ: 190 lawmakers urge Iran President to get firmer US guarantees in nuke talks

He also expressed satisfaction with the momentum of the research by the country’s scientists in developing peaceful uses of nuclear energy, voicing his administration’s support for such activities.

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190 lawmakers urge Iran President to get firmer US guarantees in nuke talks

More than 190 Iranian lawmakers have urged President Ebrahim Raisi to get firmer guarantees from the US in the Vienna talks on restoring the 2015 nuclear deal…reports Asian Lite News

The lawmakers put forward the demand in a letter addressed to the Iranian president, calling for full observance of the Islamic republic’s red lines and safeguarding its people’s interests in the talks, Xinhua news agency reported citing Tasnim news agency.

Parliamentarian Ahmad Hossein Fallahi, who collected the signatures for the petition, confirmed that over 190 lawmakers had signed the letter.

In July 2015, Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers, under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for easing the US-led sanctions.

ALSO READ: Iran’s economic crucible unsolved as nuke talks stalled

However, the US government under former President Donald Trump’s leadership, unilaterally quit the pact in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to reduce its nuclear commitments in retaliation.

Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks on reviving the deal have been held in the Austrian capital of Vienna by Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties, namely China, Britain, France, Russia and Germany. The US has been indirectly involved in the talks, which are reportedly nearing an agreement.

One of the remaining obstacles includes Iran’s demand for US guarantees that its succeeding governments would not quit the deal again.

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Iran’s economic benefits must be ensured in Vienna nuke talks: Spokesman

Iran’s economic benefits have been the focal point in the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington for the past months in the Austrian capital Vienna, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh…reports Asian Lite News

“The nature of the fundamental discussions between us and the US is that the economic benefits for the Iranian people must be observed,” Xinhua news agency quoted Khatibzadeh as saying.

The sanctions prevented Iran from enjoying the economic advantages of the 2015 nuclear pact, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), said Khatibzadeh, adding that the entire chain of sanctions on Iran must be terminated as a result of the negotiations in Vienna, he said.

Iran does not accept the so-called “red lines” in the anti-Iran sanctions imposed by the US, he added.

On March 11, Josep Borrell, EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, announced a pause in the negotiations, saying that “a pause in Vienna talks is needed, due to external factors”.

Iran signed the nuclear deal with the world powers in July 2015.

ALSO READ: Borrell: Pause needed in Iran nuke talks

However, former US President Donald Trump pulled ut of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran.

Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in Vienna between Iran and major parties to the JCPOA, namely Russia, China, France, the UK and Germany, in a bid to revive the deal.

The US has been indirectly involved in the talks.

Over the past days, reports from Vienna suggested that the negotiators were “close” to an agreement with few key issues remaining which required “political decisions” of the parties.

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Borrell: Pause needed in Iran nuke talks

Josep Borrell, the European Union’s (EU) foreign policy chief, said that a pause is needed in the talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), citing “external factors”…reports Asian Lite News

“I will, with my team, continue to be in touch with all JCPOA participants and the US to overcome the current situation and to close the agreement,” he said on Twitter, while noting that a final text of an agreement is “essentially ready and on the table”, reports Xinhua news agency.

Borrell did not give further details on when will the negotiations reconvene.

Following Borrell’s remarks, Enrique Mora, the EU coordinator in the Vienna talks, said that the negotiators are “almost there” on reaching a deal and “have a text in which almost everything is done”.

Mora said both Iran and the US have taken a very constructive and positive approach in the negotiations.

“In order to keep this good spirit and atmosphere, it’s better to pause,” he said, adding that he hopes the talks could resume “very soon”.

The sudden suspension of the Vienna talks came as participants of the negotiations revealed in recent days they were closing in on an agreement despite a few outstanding issues.

Mora on Monday called on the participants to make a political decision “in the next few days” to end the negotiations.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Thursday that Washington was “close to a possible deal” that could even be reached “in the coming days”.

Price added that “it’s really down to a very small number of outstanding issues”, but they are “among the most difficult ones”.

ALSO READ: Iran nuclear talks on ‘pause’ after Russian demands

However, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani has slammed the US approach to the Vienna talks, claiming that the absence of a political decision by Washington has complicated the negotiations.

In 2015, Iran signed the JCPOA with the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council: China, France, Russia, Britain and the US, plus Germany) and the EU.

However, former US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the pact in May 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Iran.

This prompted Iran to drop some of its nuclear commitments and advance its previously halted nuclear programs.

Since April 2021, Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties have held eight rounds of marathon talks in Vienna to restore the deal.

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Iran calls nuke deal parties for immediate ‘political decisions’ in talks

The Iranian envoy stressed that several IAEA reports have shown “transparency in Iran’s nuclear program and activities”…reports Asian Lite News

A senior Iranian diplomat said it is possible to make a successful conclusion in the Vienna talks on restoring the 2015 nuclear deal if relevant parties make the right political decisions immediately to lift US sanctions.

A successful conclusion “is not out of reach if the US and other members of the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) show good faith in the negotiations and make the necessary and right political decisions to immediately lift the cruel and inhumane sanctions”, Xinhua news agency quoted Mohammad Reza Ghaebi, head of Iran’s permanent mission to international organizations in Vienna, as saying.

“Iran has repeatedly announced that it will reverse its remedial measures if the other parties return to the full and verifiable implementation of their obligations within the framework of the JCPOA,” he told the meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA.

The Iranian envoy stressed that several IAEA reports have shown “transparency in Iran’s nuclear program and activities”.

ALSO READ: N-talks: Raisi vows Iran will never back down on red lines

Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in Vienna between Iran and major parties to the deal, in a bid to restore the 2015 nuclear deal from which former US President Donald Trump withdrew unilaterally in 2018 and reinstated sanctions against Tehran.

Tehran retaliated by scrapping some of its commitments.

The US has been indirectly involved in the Vienna talks.

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N-talks: Raisi vows Iran will never back down on red lines

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stressed on Tuesday that Iran has not backed down on any of its red lines in the talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal and will never do so…reports Asian Lite News



Making the remarks in a meeting held in the Iranian capital Tehran, Raisi added that his administration pursued the strategy of “neutralizing the sanctions” with seriousness in the first step, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Iranian presidency’s website.

In the second step, Raisi said, Iran seeks to remove the US sanctions through negotiations, in which full respect for the country has been guaranteed.

He noted that his administration is continuing the talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna completely on the principles and framework established by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, sticking to its declared red lines.

ALSO READ: Political decisions needed for ending Vienna talks on Iran nuclear deal: EU coordinator

Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the world powers in July 2015. However, former US President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran.

Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in Vienna between Iran and major parties to the JCPOA, namely Russia, China, France, the UK and Germany, in a bid to revive the deal. The US has been indirectly involved in the talks.

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Iran says not to wait ‘forever’ for nuke deal if US fails to make decision

Tehran will not wait “forever” for a possible nuclear deal if the US fails to make a decision, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday…reports Asian Lite News

The US has already “walked away” from the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Khatibzadeh tweeted in response to his US counterpart’s remark on Monday that Washington is ready to withdraw from the Vienna talks if Tehran becomes tough, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Everyone has its own plan B, though US’ has proven hollow. Blusters and bluffs have/will not work. Decisions do,” he noted.

“A deal is at hand, if the White House makes its mind. Iran is willing, but will not wait forever,” he added.

ALSO READ: Iran vows not to compromise over redlines in Vienna nuke talks: FM

Iran signed the original nuclear deal with world powers in July 2015. However, then US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed Washington’s unilateral sanctions on Tehran, which prompted the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments and advance its halted nuclear programme.

Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in Vienna between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties, namely Britain, China, France, Russia plus Germany, with the US indirectly involved in the talks, to revive the landmark deal.