Iran | Common News Update

Apr122021 by adminNo Comments

Iran accuses Israel of causing nuclear site blackout

World

April 12 (UPI) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Monday accused Israel of being responsible for causing the blackout a day earlier at the Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran, vowing Tehran will take retaliatory measures, according to state-run media. Zarif made the comments before lawmakers during a national security and foreign policy commission, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Advertisement On Sunday, Iranian officials said an electrical circuit issue had caused a power outage at the Natanz site, with Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, describing the incident as an act of "nuclear terrorism." No casualties or contamination were reported, officials said. Zarif told the lawmakers that Iran's response will be to further advance its nuclear ...

Apr112021 by adminNo Comments

Iran nuclear: ‘Terrorist act’ at underground Natanz facility

World

ReutersA nuclear facility in Iran was hit by a "terrorist act" a day after it unveiled new advanced uranium centrifuges, a top nuclear official says.He did not say who was to blame but urged the international community to deal with nuclear terrorism.Israeli media suggest the incident was a result of an Israeli cyber attack.Last year, a fire broke out at the Natanz underground facility, which the authorities alleged was the result of cyber sabotage.The latest incident comes as diplomatic efforts to revive a 2015 nuclear deal - abandoned by the US under the Trump administration in 2018 - have resumed. On Saturday, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated new centrifuges at the Natanz site, which is key to the country's uranium enrichment programme, in a ceremony broadcast live on televisi...

Apr72021 by adminNo Comments

Iran sets new record for virus infections amid holiday surge

Health

Iran has shattered its daily record for new coronavirus infections for the second consecutive day, with 20,954 new cases reported on WednesdayByThe Associated PressApril 7, 2021, 10:00 AM• 1 min readTEHRAN, Iran -- Iran has shattered its daily record for new coronavirus infections for the second consecutive day, with 20,954 new cases reported on Wednesday.The country is in the midst of one of the most severe surges of the coronavirus to date, following a two-week public holiday for Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which drove millions to travel to vacation spots across the country and congregate in homes in defiance of government health guidelines.For months, Iran has struggled to curb the worst outbreak of the coronavirus in the Middle East. Wednesday's case count brought the total number of...

Feb212021 by adminNo Comments

Iran to stop ‘snap’ nuclear checks, IAEA confirms

World

ReutersThe head of the UN nuclear watchdog says Iran has agreed to extend UN inspectors' access to its nuclear sites for three months. But the hastily brokered agreement will give IAEA officials less access and end their right to make snap inspections.Iran is changing its access policy from Tuesday because the US has not lifted the sanctions imposed since Donald Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal. Washington and Tehran now have more time to seek a compromise.The then-Trump administration re-imposed crippling sanctions on Iran, and Tehran retaliated by resuming nuclear activity barred under the agreement signed with six world powers in 2015. Why Iran’s nuclear facilities are still vulnerable to attackClock ticks in Iran as rivals square upIran says it will not reverse the measures unless...

Feb92021 by adminNo Comments

Iran starts limited COVID vaccinations with Russian shots

Health

Iran has launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle EastByThe Associated PressFebruary 9, 2021, 9:40 AM• 2 min readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleTEHRAN, Iran -- Iran on Tuesday launched a coronavirus inoculation campaign among healthcare professionals with recently delivered Russian Sputnik V vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East with its death toll nearing 59,000.At a ceremony marking the start of the campaign, Parsa Namaki, son of Health Minister Saeed Namaki, received his first dose. The minister said the vaccination would be simultaneously carrie...