Iran reports strike on uranium enrichment facility, launches missiles at U.S.-U.K. base Iran claims its Natanz nuclear site was attacked, with no signs of radiation leaks reported, according to state media. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it is investigating the incident, noting no increase in off-site radiation levels. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi urged military restraint to prevent nuclear accidents. Iran’s Tasnim news agency stated the strike violated international safety regulations but emphasized no danger to nearby residents. The attack follows Iran’s missile strike on the U.S.-U.K. military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Semi-official Mehr news agency called the targeting a “significant step” indicating Iran’s missile range exceeds previous assumptions. The Wall Street Journal previously reported the missiles missed their target. U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the U.K. for its delayed response to the conflict, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of endangering lives by allowing U.S. military use of UK bases. The U.K. government approved the use of its bases for “defensive operations” to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, citing condemnation of Iran’s expansion of attack targets. Meanwhile, the U.S. is accelerating the deployment of thousands of Marines and sailors to the Middle East, according to NBC News. Secretary of State Marco Rubio coordinated calls with allies including Japan, South Korea, the U.K., and Saudi Arabia to address the escalating crisis. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby warned of higher oil prices, predicting a $175/barrel benchmark that could persist until 2027.#iran #donald_trump #rafael_grossi #international_atomic_energy_agency #diego_garcia
While UN issues mixed signals, Witkoff exposes Tehran’s nuclear evasion ‘pride’ The U.N. nuclear agency’s recent statements have failed to address critical concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, according to U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. During an interview on Fox News, Witkoff revealed that Iranian negotiators openly expressed pride in evading international oversight protocols to advance their nuclear capabilities. The remarks, which highlight Iran’s defiance of global monitoring efforts, have drawn renewed scrutiny amid escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Witkoff detailed the challenges of nuclear negotiations, emphasizing that Iran’s refusal to fully cooperate with inspections has undermined trust in the process. He cited specific instances where Iranian officials boasted about bypassing safeguards to achieve weapons-grade uranium enrichment, a development that has raised alarms about the country’s nuclear ambitions. Despite these revelations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has maintained that there is no conclusive evidence of Iran developing a nuclear weapon, a stance that Witkoff described as insufficient given the recent intelligence. The IAEA director general, Rafael Grossi, recently tweeted that “there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb,” a claim that has been met with skepticism by U.S. officials. Fox News Digital sought clarification from the IAEA on how it could assess Iran’s nuclear activities without direct access to classified intelligence. The agency’s response, while vague, has not resolved the broader concerns about Iran’s compliance with international agreements. As the U.S. and Israel intensify military operations against Iran, the nuclear issue remains a central point of contention.#iran #un #steve_witkoff #iaea #rafael_grossi
