The minister further noted that Saudi Arabia has completed the essential administrative preparations to rescind the Small Quantities Protocol in cooperation with the IAEA and has fully implemented the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, as of early 2025.
Archiv: Internationale Atomenergiebehörde / International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Iran foreign minister says US strikes on nuclear sites left „extensive and serious“ damage
Some background: The bill suspending cooperation with the watchdog is now on its final step before becoming law, having been sent to the country’s president for his signature. However, Iran’s supreme leader and the SNSC have decisive authority over how such policies are executed and whether cooperation is effectively suspended.
Trump-Netanyahu-Grossi evil triangle plus Merz’s delight
Now, there is little doubt that Grossi is an agent of the CIA. It is for this reason that Mike Pompeo, the CIA chief and secretary of state in Trump’s first administration, backed Grossi as the director general of the IAEA against his rival, Cornel Feruta from Romania.
On June 18 new German chancellor Friedrich Merz also tried to show his servitude to Israel by praising Israel’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, saying, “I can only say I have the greatest respect for the fact that the Israeli army and the Israeli government had the courage to do this.”
It is astonishingly surprising that strikes on nuclear sites, which are a war crime under international law, and are being lauded by the German leader.
IAEA confirms Israeli strike hit nuclear facility
In a statement on the social platform X, the IAEA’s head Rafael Mariano Grossi was quoted as saying: “The IAEA is closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran. … The Agency is in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels. We are also in contact with our inspectors in the country.”
‘Politically motivated and unbalanced:’ Iran slams IAEA report fueled by ‘Israeli fabrications’
Iran underscores its extensive cooperation with the IAEA, including hosting Grossi twice and the Deputy Director General for Safeguards twice in recent months.
Yet, it laments that the report fails to reflect this reality, instead relying on “fabricated documents provided by the Zionist regime” to recycle “baseless and malicious accusations” about past activities.
“Iran has repeatedly stated that it has no undeclared nuclear locations or activities,” the statement asserts, emphasizing that Tehran has granted access to alleged sites, allowed sampling, and provided detailed explanations.
The statement also defends Iran’s sovereign rights, such as revoking designations for a handful of IAEA inspectors—a move it deems “entirely consistent” with the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.
It points out that the report has misrepresented voluntary JCPOA commitments as binding obligations, a distortion unsupported by the IAEA’s foundational documents.
Reiterating Iran’s immutable position, the statement underscored that nuclear weapons „have no place in Iran’s defense doctrine,“ as enshrined in a fatwa of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Damning IAEA report spells out past secret nuclear activities in Iran
(Updated 4 hours ago)
It would be the first time in almost 20 years Iran has formally been found in non-compliance.
IAEA chief tours two key Iranian nuclear facilities
In 2015, Iran proved the peaceful nature of its nuclear program to the world by signing the multilateral nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — with six world powers.
However, Washington’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.
In 2019, Iran started to roll back the limits it had accepted under the JCPOA after the other parties failed to live up to their commitments.
Joint Statement by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
(March 3, 2023)
The AEOI and the IAEA agreed on the following:
– Interactions between the IAEA and Iran will be carried out in a spirit of collaboration, and in full conformity with the competences of the IAEA and the rights and obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the comprehensive safeguards agreement.
– Regarding the outstanding safeguards issues related to the three locations, Iran expressed its readiness to continue its cooperation and provide further information and access to address the outstanding safeguards issues.
– Iran, on a voluntary basis will allow the IAEA to implement further appropriate verification and monitoring activities. Modalities will be agreed between the two sides in the course of a technical meeting which will take place soon in Tehran.
Tehran warns IAEA about Israel‘s nuclear site threats
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday at a press conference that Tehran warned the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about Israel‘s threats of potentially striking the country‘s nuclear infrastructure.
The coming US-Saudi nuclear deal: Keep it honest
(January 5, 2024)
In 1988, the Central Intelligence Agency did discover that Riyadh bought SS-2 medium-range missiles from China but only after the deal was sealed. In 2003, when China exported DF-21 ballistic missiles to the Kingdom, the CIA again found out and was even allowed to verify the missiles were not nuclear-capable, but only after the missiles were delivered.
Several years later, when intelligence finally leaked out that China secretly built missile factories for the Saudis, the Trump administration was mum on whether there was an intelligence failure and allowed speculation that it had blessed the transaction. Then, in 2020, when US intelligence confirmed China was helping the Kingdom mill uranium domestically, it did so, again only after the mining and milling were well underway.
This track record of studied inadvertence, then, brings us to the next worry: MBS wants Washington to green-light the Kingdom enriching uranium…
The coming US-Saudi nuclear deal: Keep it honest
(January 5, 2024)
In 1988, the Central Intelligence Agency did discover that Riyadh bought SS-2 medium-range missiles from China but only after the deal was sealed. In 2003, when China exported DF-21 ballistic missiles to the Kingdom, the CIA again found out and was even allowed to verify the missiles were not nuclear-capable, but only after the missiles were delivered.
Several years later, when intelligence finally leaked out that China secretly built missile factories for the Saudis, the Trump administration was mum on whether there was an intelligence failure and allowed speculation that it had blessed the transaction. Then, in 2020, when US intelligence confirmed China was helping the Kingdom mill uranium domestically, it did so, again only after the mining and milling were well underway.
This track record of studied inadvertence, then, brings us to the next worry: MBS wants Washington to green-light the Kingdom enriching uranium…
The Saudi energy minister did not comment on whether his country would also join the IAEA’s Additional Protocol, which requires more thorough oversight including snap inspections.
As long as #SaudiArabia doesn‘t sign up to the IAEA‘s Additional Protocol which strengthens the ability of the agency to verify peaceful uses of nuclear technology, concerns will remain over Saudi nuclear ambitions.
Saudi Arabia announces crucial step forward in its nascent nuclear power plans
Switching to a broader inspection regime will enable the kingdom to access fissile material and start running its small nuclear reactor.
The developments come amid increasing concern among nuclear nonproliferation experts and lawmakers about Saudi Arabia‘s intentions with the technology, and the potential for a Middle Eastern arms race.
Additional Protocol
The Additional Protocol is not a stand-alone agreement, but rather a protocol to a safeguards agreement that provides additional tools for verification. In particular, it significantly increases the IAEA’s ability to verify the peaceful use of all nuclear material in States with comprehensive safeguards agreements.
More on Safeguards agreements
Voluntary offer agreements…
Item-specific safeguards agreements…
Additional Protocol
The Additional Protocol is designed for States that have any type of safeguards agreement with the IAEA. States with CSAs that decide to conclude additional protocols must accept all provisions of the Model Protocol Additional, which was approved by the Board of Governors in 1997. States with item-specific or voluntary offer agreements may accept and implement those measures of the Model Additional Protocol that they are prepared to accept.
Small Quantities Protocols
The small quantities protocol is a protocol that may be concluded in conjunction with a comprehensive safeguards agreement. It has been available since 1971 and its text was standardized in 1974 (original small quantities protocol).
The original small quantities protocol was made available to States with minimal or no nuclear material and no nuclear material in a “facility.”
Saudis commit to full UN atomic agency inspection of nuclear activities
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told a meeting of the IAEA annual General Conference in Vienna that his country is ready to adopt the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, which has stricter inspections and monitoring.
The US Position on Saudi Arabia’s Civilian Nuclear Program
(Aug 16, 2023)
Riyadh’s ambitions to secure American nuclear cooperation date to the George W. Bush administration. However, negotiations have stalled over the US demand that Saudi Arabia forgo domestic uranium enrichment because of the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation. Saudi Arabia has resisted this protocol, asserting sovereignty over its uranium resources and apprehension toward Iran’s increased enrichment in recent years.
Why does Saudi Arabia want to acquire the nuclear fuel cycle?
(March 3, 2023)
For example, the Kingdom maintains the old version of the so-called Small Quantities Protocol (SQP), which exempts the country from extensive verification and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Saudis have so far been unwilling to adopt the IAEA’s revised SQP or the Model Additional Protocol, which allows intrusive inspections on short notice.
IAEA Supporting the Enhancement of Saudi Arabia’s National Nuclear Legal Framework
(11 Jan 2023)
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enacted the nuclear law, developed in cooperation with the IAEA, in 2018,” said Bandar E. M. Alharbi, NRRC’s General Director of Legal Affairs and International Relations. “This three-day national workshop on nuclear law organized by the NRRC, provided a very useful platform for outreach and discussion of several aspects of national nuclear law in correlation with international legal instruments”.
Saudi Arabia is party to all the main instruments adopted under IAEA auspices in the field of nuclear safety and security.
Ukraine Spy Chief Says Threat to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Subsiding
Ukrainian officials have been claiming without evidence that Russia planted explosives at the ZNPP and were warning an attack was imminent. But the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Wednesday its experts at the plant saw no signs of explosives, although the agency was asking for more access.
Budanov said the alleged Russia threat was “decreasing” but wouldn’t offer any details. “Sorry I can’t tell you what happened recently but the fact is that the threat is decreasing”, he said. “This means that at least we have all together with joint efforts somehow postponed a technogenic catastrophe.”
U.S. Is Studying Military Strike Options on Iran
(April 9, 2006)
In January, the president termed a nuclear-armed Iran „a grave threat to the security of the world,“ words that echoed language he used before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Vice President Cheney vowed „meaningful consequences“ if Iran does not give up any nuclear aspirations, and U.N. Ambassador John R. Bolton refined the formula to „tangible and painful consequences.“ (…)
Israel is preparing, as well. The government recently leaked a contingency plan for attacking on its own if the United States does not, a plan involving airstrikes, commando teams, possibly missiles and even explosives-carrying dogs. Israel, which bombed Iraq‘s Osirak nuclear plant in 1981 to prevent it from being used to develop weapons, has built a replica of Natanz, according to Israeli media, but U.S. strategists do not believe Israel has the capacity to accomplish the mission without nuclear weapons. (…)
Pentagon planners are studying how to penetrate eight-foot-deep targets and are contemplating tactical nuclear devices.
The Iran Plans
(April 9, 2006)
American and European intelligence agencies, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.), agree that Iran is intent on developing the capability to produce nuclear weapons. (…)
One of the military’s initial option plans, as presented to the White House by the Pentagon this winter, calls for the use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear weapon, such as the B61-11, against underground nuclear sites. (…)
The lack of reliable intelligence leaves military planners, given the goal of totally destroying the sites, little choice but to consider the use of tactical nuclear weapons. “Every other option, in the view of the nuclear weaponeers, would leave a gap,” the former senior intelligence official said. “ ‘Decisive’ is the key word of the Air Force’s planning. It’s a tough decision. But we made it in Japan.”
He went on, “Nuclear planners go through extensive training and learn the technical details of damage and fallout—we’re talking about mushroom clouds, radiation, mass casualties, and contamination over years. This is not an underground nuclear test, where all you see is the earth raised a little bit. These politicians don’t have a clue, and whenever anybody tries to get it out”—remove the nuclear option—“they’re shouted down.”
Iran dedicated to multilateral nuclear talks, diplomacy: Foreign Ministry
(06.03.2023)
Kanaani was referring to the nuclear negotiations that started in April 2021 to revive the 2015 nuclear deal but the talks came to a standstill in the summer of 2022 as the Biden administration is refusing to lift the sanctions imposed during Donald Trump’s presidency.
IAEA chief holds ‘constructive’ talks in Iran after uranium enrichment findings
(04.03.2023)
The two-day visit by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, comes as the Vienna-based organisation seeks greater cooperation with Iran over its nuclear activities.
“By having a constructive discussion … and having good agreements, like I am sure we are going to have, we are going to be paving the way for important agreements,” Grossi told a news conference on Saturday alongside the head of Iran’s atomic energy organisation, Mohammad Eslami.
China thwarts proposal on legitimizing AUKUS‘s nuclear submarine deal at IAEA meeting: envoy
In September 2021, the U.S., the UK and Australia established the AUKUS alliance, under which the U.S. and the UK will assist Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. China and many other countries have repeatedly expressed concerns over the transfer of nuclear weapon materials involved in the trilateral pact.
China vereitelt Vorschlag über Legitimierung des Geschäfts mit den Atom-U-Booten von AUKUS bei der IAEO
Auf der Generalkonferenz der Internationalen Atomenergie-Organisation (IAEO) in dieser Woche schlugen die Vereinigten Staaten, das Vereinigte Königreich und Australien einen Änderungsantrag zu einer IAEO-Sicherheitsresolution vor, um ihr U-Boot-Geschäft im Rahmen des Vertrags über die Nichtverbreitung von Kernwaffen (NVV) zu legitimieren, zogen ihn aber später nach Chinas Widerstand zurück.
Lapid: Israel conducting ‘successful’ campaign to thwart Iran nuke deal, but still ‘long way’ to go
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Sunday described as “successful” his government’s diplomatic offensive against a revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. However, he conceded that there was a “long way” to go to ensure that Tehran does not benefit to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars should an accord be reached.
PM Lapid: „I thank France, the United Kingdom, and Germany for their strong position on this matter. In recent months, we held a discreet and intensive dialogue with them, and presented them with up-to-date intelligence information about Iranian activity at nuclear sites.“
(11.09.2022)
Iran – Joint statement by France, Germany and the United Kingdom (10 September 2022)
Our position remains clear and steadfast. Iran must fully and, without delay, cooperate in good faith with the IAEA. It is up to Iran to provide technically credible answers to the IAEA’s questions on the whereabouts of all nuclear material on its territory. The JCPoA can in no way be used to release Iran from legally binding obligations that are essential to the global non-proliferation regime.
Given Iran’s failure to conclude the deal on the table we will consult, alongside international partners, on how best to address Iran’s continued nuclear escalation and lack of cooperation with the IAEA regarding its NPT safeguards agreement.
Exclusive: IAEA found uranium traces at two sites Iran barred it from, sources say
(19.02.2021)
U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA believe Iran had a secret, coordinated nuclear weapons programme that it halted in 2003, which Iran denies. The 2015 nuclear deal effectively drew a line under that past, but Iran is still required to explain evidence of undeclared past activities or material to the IAEA.
Exclusive: IAEA found uranium traces at two sites Iran barred it from, sources say
(19.02.2021)
The U.N. nuclear watchdog found uranium particles at two Iranian sites it inspected after months of stonewalling, diplomats say, (…)
Although the sites where the material was found are believed to have been inactive for nearly two decades, opponents of the nuclear deal, such as Israel, say evidence of undeclared nuclear activities shows that Iran has not been acting in good faith.
(…)
A senior Iranian official said: “We have nothing to hide. That is why we allowed the inspectors to visit those sites.”
Iran has set a deadline of next week for Biden to lift sanctions reimposed by Trump, or it will halt snap IAEA inspections under the deal, which lifted sanctions in return for curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Was Netanjahu tatsächlich sagt
(1. May 2018)
Geht man nun davon aus, dass alle Angaben vom israelischen Ministerpräsidenten Benjamin Netanyahu, alle Angaben im N.I.E.-Bericht der U.S.-Geheimdienste aus 2007 und alle von der I.A.E.A. aufgrund von Geheimdienstinformationen vermuteten Umstände über ein vor 2003 existierendes Atomwaffenprogramm in Iran tatsächlich alle der Wahrheit entsprechen und dass es israelischen oder anderen Spionen tatsächlich gelang, just vor einigen Wochen eine halbe Tonne hochbrisantes Material aus einer hochgeheimen Lagerstätte in einem nur äußerlich unschuldig wirkenden Bungalow in Teheran zu transportieren, welches dort über vierzehn Jahre gelagert hatte, und es dann nach unbemerkt und ungehindert nach Israel zu schaffen, dann sagt Benjamin Netanyahu nun seit gestern Folgendes:
Er sagt nicht, dass „der Iran“ (also dessen staatliche Autoritäten) ein Atomwaffenprogramm hat.
Er sagt nicht, dass der Iran auch nur den Entschluss gefasst hat eines zu beginnen.
Er sagt nicht, dass der Iran das internationale Atomabkommen verletzt hat.
Der Ministerpräsident von Israel sagt, man habe nun Beweise, dass der Iran Unterlagen über ein bis zum Jahre 2003 existierendes und seitdem nie wieder begonnes Atomwaffenprogramm lagere, mit deren Hilfe dieser islamische Staat zu einem Zeitpunkt seiner Wahl mit Hilfe derzeit fünfzehn Jahr alter Akten wieder ein Atomwaffenprogramm beginnen könnte (das Atomabkommen läuft im Jahre 2025 bzw 2030 aus),