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WORLD NEWS Thursday 12 November 2020
UN agency: Iran uranium stockpile still violates atomic deal

By KIYOKO METZLER and its uranium up to 20% pu-
DAVID RISING rity, which is a short tech-
Associated Press nical step away from the
VIENNA (AP) — Iran contin- weapons-grade level of
ues to increase its stockpile 90%. In 2013, Iran's stockpile
of low-enriched uranium of enriched uranium was
far beyond the limits set in already more than 7,000
a landmark nuclear deal kilograms (7.72 tons) with
with world powers and to higher enrichment, but it
enrich it to a greater purity didn't pursue a bomb.
than permitted, the U.N.'s In the quarterly report dis-
atomic watchdog agency tributed to members on
said Wednesday. Wednesday, the IAEA said
The International Atomic it still has questions from the
Energy Agency reported in discovery last year of par-
a confidential document ticles of uranium of man-
distributed to member made origin at a site out-
countries and seen by The side Tehran not declared
Associated Press that Iran by Iran. The United States
as of Nov. 2 had a stockpile and Israel had been press-
of 2,442.9 kilograms (5385.7 ing the IAEA for some time
pounds) of low-enriched to look into the Turquzabad
uranium, up from 2,105.4 facility, which Israeli Prime
kilograms (4,641.6 pounds) Minister Benjamin Netan-
reported on Aug. 25. yahu described to the U.N.
The nuclear deal signed in in 2018 as a "secret atomic
2015 with the United States, warehouse."
Germany, France, Britain, In the current report, the
China and Russia, known as IAEA said the "compositions
the Joint Comprehensive In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Has- of these isotopically altered
Plan of Action, or JCPOA, san Rouhani speaks in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. particles" found there were
allows Iran only to keep a Associated Press "similar to particles found
stockpile of 202.8 kilograms in Iran in the past, originat-
(447 pounds). economic incentives in ex- tinued to allow Internation- the Washington-based ing from imported centri-
The IAEA reported that Iran change for the curbs on al Atomic Energy Agency Arms Control Association fuge components." It said
has also been continuing its nuclear program. Since inspectors full access to its suggests that Iran now it found Iran's response to
to enrich uranium to a puri- the U.S. withdrawal and im- nuclear facilities, a key rea- has more than double the questions last month "un-
ty of up to 4.5%, higher than position of new sanctions, son the countries that re- material it would need to satisfactory."
the 3.67% allowed under Tehran has been putting main parties to the JCPOA make a nuclear weapon. "Following an assessment
the deal. pressure on the remaining say it's worth preserving. However, IAEA Director of this new information, the
Iran has openly announced parties with the violations The goal of the agree- General Rafael Grossi told agency informed Iran that
all violations of the nuclear to come up with new ways ment is to prevent Iran from The Associated Press in an it continues to consider
deal in advance, which to offset the economy-crip- building a nuclear weap- interview last month that Iran's response to be not
have followed the decision pling actions by Washing- on, something the country his agency does not share technically credible," the
by the U.S. to pull out unilat- ton. insists it does not intend to that assessment. IAEA wrote this week. "A full
erally in 2018. At the same time, the Ira- do. Before agreeing to the nu- and prompt explanation
The deal promises Iran nian government has con- A widely cited analysis by clear deal, Iran enriched from Iran...is needed."q

E.U. says looking forward to better ties with U.S. under Biden

By RAF CASERT "It is not a secret, (either), problems remaining in the
Associated Press that in the past 4 years U.S. where Trump has yet
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- things have become com- to concede defeat. Biden
pean Union on Wednes- plicated," Borrell told legis- is steadfastly pushing for-
day said it looked forward lators at the European Par- ward with preparations for
to better relations with the liament. Both sides, despite his presidency.
United States under the being longstanding allies, "We still have to wait until
leadership of President- disagreed over key topics (the) 20th of January be-
elect Joe Biden, and ex- from trade and security to cause as you know very
pressed hope the presi- the fight against climate well it is a quite long transi-
dential transition will not be change. tion ahead. Let's hope it is
"bumpy." The EU is expected to invite not going to be a bumpy
EU foreign affairs chief Jo- Biden soon to videoconfer- transition," Borrell said.
sep Borrell warmly con- ence talks in an attempt Trump has variously stunned
gratulated "Biden and Vice to give new impetus to the and disappointed the Eu-
President-elect Kamala trans-Atlantic alliance. ropeans — most of them European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell addresses the
Harris for their historic vic- "You can rest assured that members of the NATO mili- European Parliament on relations with the U.S. during a plenary
tory" and said the 27-na- we are ready to engage tary alliance that America session, in Brussels, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020.
tion bloc looked forward to fast with the new adminis- leads — by slapping tariffs Associated Press
better relations than under tration," Borrell said. But he on EU exports and pulling
President Donald Trump. also alluded to the political out of the Paris climate agreement and the Iran nuclear deal.q