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Iran 'Dramatically Increasing' Enrichment, IAEA Warns
Deutsche Welle
07 Dec 2024, 10:03
Photo: Planet Labs Inc. via AP/picture alliance
The International Atomic Energy Angency (IAEA) on Friday sounded the alarm over the possibility that Iran may ramp up its uranium enrichment to close to weapons-grade. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said that Iran is "dramatically" increasing enrichment up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% needed for a nuclear weapon. Grossi made the remarks on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain.
What did the IAEA chief say about Iran's uranium enrichment?
The UN nuclear watchdog chief said Iran's production of highly enriched uranium was expected to jump to more than 34 kilograms (75 pounds) per month, compared to the current 4.7 kilograms.
"This is a message. This is a clear message that they are responding to what they feel is pressure," Grossi said about Iran's position.
Europe and the US have argued that there is no civilian justification for Iran's enrichment to those levels, claiming instead it is for the purpose of producing nuclear bombs.
Iran has repeatedly denied that it is pursuing nuclear weapons. Grossi said UN inspectors are planning to see just how many centrifuges Iran would be spinning, after Tehran informed his agency of its plans.
"I think it is very concerning," the IAEA chief said. "They were preparing and they have all of these facilities sort of in abeyance and now they are activating that. So we are going to see," Grossi added. "If they really make them turn — all of them — it's going to be a huge jump," he said.
IAEA requests assurances from Iran
The IAEA issued a statement on the matter shortly after Grossi spoke to reporters. The agency called on Iran "to provide timely and technically credible assurances that the facility is not being misused to produce uranium of an enrichment level higher than that declared by Iran, and that there is no diversion of declared nuclear material."
The reported increase in Iranian production drew international criticism. A German foreign ministry source told Reuters that the ramp up in enrichment represented "a serious escalatory step by Iran."
"It is obvious that such measures significantly worsen the framework for diplomatic efforts," the source said. The IAEA report comes on the same day as Iran launched its heaviest-ever payload, using a domestically developed satellite carrier, official media reported.
The homegrown Simorgh satellite carrier is a two-stage, liquid-fueled satellite launch vehicle developed by Iran's defense ministry. The US has warned against Iran's space activity, arguing technology used for satellites could be applied to ballistic missiles, potentially capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
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Israel’s Devastating Strikes on Gaza and Lebanon Claim 107 Lives
Israel continues its heavy strikes across the besieged Gaza Strip and Lebanon, with at least 107 reported killed in a single day. In Gaza alone, 63 Palestinians lost their lives, while another 44 were killed in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks. The information was reported by Al Jazeera and Anadolu on Wednesday, November 13.
According to Al Jazeera, Israeli attacks across Gaza since early Tuesday have left at least 63 people dead, with medical sources indicating additional casualties near the crowded area of Al-Nour Mosque in western Deir al-Balah, where Israeli airstrikes claimed at least six more lives.
Since last October, the death toll in Gaza has now reached 43,665, as reported by Gaza’s Ministry of Health, with over 103,076 Palestinians injured in the ongoing attacks.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported 44 more deaths and 88 injuries within the past 24 hours as a result of Israeli operations. This brings the total death toll in Lebanon to 3,287, with more than 14,000 injured since October last year.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon's armed group, escalated from skirmishes to a full-scale war in September. Since September 23, Israel has launched extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, including in the capital, Beirut, targeting Hezbollah operatives, infrastructure, and weapon depots, according to Israeli military claims.
Hezbollah has retaliated with missile strikes on Israeli military bases and attacks on Israeli soldiers within Lebanon. In this increasingly intense conflict, Iran has warned that the war could extend far beyond the Middle East.
Trump Continues Appointments with Key Picks
US President-elect Donald Trump continued to fill key positions in his second administration on Tuesday. The new appointments include the US ambassador to Israel and a special envoy for the Middle East. The Republican leader has put an emphasis on close aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign.
Musk, Ramaswamy to oversee government efficiency
Trump on Tuesday announced that billionaire Elon Musk will lead a new US "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)" tasked with cutting federal waste, alongside former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
The acronym "DOGE" is a reference to the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, a Musk favorite. During the election, Musk spent over $100 million (€94.1 million) promoting himself as a key Trump ally. Musk also boosted Trump on X, formerly Twitter, the social media platform he owns.
"Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies," Trump said in a statement. According to the statement, Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House "advice and guidance."
Former intelligence boss to head CIA
Trump nominated John Ratcliffe to head up the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman from Texas, led the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the final months of Trump's first term.
"I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions," Trump said. He called Ratcliffe a "a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans."
Staunch conservative appointed as ambassador to Israel
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, one of the Republican party's most conservative voices, has been appointed the US' next ambassador to Israel. Huckabee, a staunch Evangelical conservative, is known for his support for Israel.
He has also voiced his support for the settlements in the West Bank, which considered illegal under international law. This comes as president-elect Donald Trump has promised to align the US' foreign policy closer to Israel's interests. In a statement about the nomination, Trump said Huckabee "will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East."
Secretaries for defense and homeland security named
Trump named military veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his incoming defense secretary, praising him as "tough, smart, and a true believer in America First." "With Pete at the helm, America's enemies are on notice — Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down," he said in a statement.
Earlier, Hegseth expressed disdain for "woke" policies in the Pentagon and has said he left the military in 2021 after being deemed an extremist by the Army. Additionally, Trump appointed South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security. He highlighted that she was the first governor to deploy National Guard troops to help Texas combat illegal border crossings.
Golf partner appointed Middle East envoy
As his pick for a special envoy to the Middle East, Trump appointed his old friend and golf partner Steven Witkoff. Witkoff, a Florida real estate investor, is currently the chair of Trump's inaugural committee. "Steve will be an unrelenting voice for peace, and make us all proud," Trump said on social media.
Bali Volcanic Ash Disrupts International Flights
International airlines have had to cancel dozens of flights to and from Indonesia's island of Bali, after a nearby volcano sent a large ash column into the sky.
Bali is Indonesia's top tourist hotspot and is a popular destination for Australian visitors.
Airlines say its not safe to fly
Activity at the volcano has disrupted flights at Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai international airport since eruptions began.
"Due to volcanic ash caused by Mount Lewotobi in Indonesia, it is currently not safe to operate to and from Bali," Australian airline Jetstar said on Wednesday.
"Volcanic ash poses a significant threat to safe operations of the aircraft in the vicinity of volcanic clouds," said AirAsia several cancellations were announced.
On Tuesday, authorities expanded the danger zone to 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) as volcanic material, including smoldering rocks, lava, and hot fragments of gravel and ash were thrown up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater on Friday.
Lewotabi volcano active since late 2023
The Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano, situated on the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province — just 500 kilometers (360 miles) from Bali — has been active since late 2023.
Multiple eruptions from the 1,703-metre (5,587-foot) volcano in recent weeks have killed nine people and injured dozens more while forcing the evacuation of more than 11,000 people.
Indonesia — which has close to 130 active volcanoes — is situated on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, which is the most geologically active zone on Earth.
Middle East Updates: / Blinken Calls for End to Gaza War
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday called for Israel to allow Palestinians back into Gaza as well as ensuring aid can be delivered to the embattled enclave. Speaking in Brussels, the departing US diplomat said Israel had achieved its aims in Gaza and should now end the war as it continues to spread across the region.
"The situation is so difficult and so dramatic that to fully redress it, to fully answer the needs of people, the best way to do that is to end the war," Blinken said.
US secretary of state said Israel had accomplished its goals of dismantling the military wing of Hamas, which initiated this latest war with an unprovoked attack on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, and ensuring that no similar attack could be launched by the militant Islamist group again.
"Israel, by the standards it set itself, has accomplished the strategic goals it set for itself. So this should be a time to end the war." Blinken added that hundreds of aid trucks in Gaza could not distribute relief supplies due to looting and other crimes. "It's imperative that that be addressed. Israel has responsibilities to do that. We're also working with Egypt," he said.
Additionally, Blinken called for "real and extended pauses" in the fighting in much of Gaza "so that the assistance can effectively get to people who need it." The US had initially set a 30-day deadline for Israel to takes steps to make sure aid gets delivered to Gaza or face cuts to US-Israel arms shipments. That deadline has passed with no noticeable improvement in the humanitarian situation.
Hezbollah claims Israel attacks
The Iran-back Islamist militia Hezbollah on Wednesday announced that it had carried out drone attacks against Israel. A statement released by the group said it had launched a drone attack targeting Hakirya military base, which houses Israel's military headquarters and ministry of defense in the city of Tel Aviv.
The Lebanese militant group said it conducted an "aerial attack with a squadron of exploding drones" on the site housing Israel's main defense institutions in the commercial hub. The Israeli military said that it intercepted two drones and 40 projectiles launched from Lebanon and that the attack had caused no injuries. The statements did not specify what sites had been targeted.
Bangladesh-Pakistan Maritime Link Reopens, India Concerned
For the first time since 1971, a Pakistani cargo ship has docked directly at a Bangladeshi port. The ship anchored at Chattogram last week, triggering significant concern in India.
Indian news outlet The Telegraph reported on Friday (November 15) that the direct maritime connection between Bangladesh and Pakistan could potentially be used to create instability in India’s Seven Sisters region. These northeastern states share close proximity to the Bangladesh border, making the development particularly sensitive for India.
Citing an Indian security official, The Telegraph noted that over the past five decades, Pakistan had no direct access to Bangladesh's major ports, Chattogram and Mongla. Trade between the two countries had been conducted via Singapore and Colombo.
However, with Pakistani ships now docking directly at Chattogram, there are concerns that banned items, such as weapons, could be smuggled from Pakistan and end up in the hands of armed groups. For instance, in 2004, Pakistan’s intelligence agency had sent 1,500 Chinese weapons via trawlers for Assam's separatist group ULFA. The shipment was seized before reaching the group.
The report also highlighted geopolitical implications, stating that India had previously managed to keep China away from Chattogram and Mongla ports by leveraging its ties with former authoritarian leader Sheikh Hasina. However, Pakistan’s newfound access to Chattogram could alter the region's geopolitical dynamics. Myanmar, being in close proximity to Chattogram and currently in political turmoil, adds to India’s apprehensions about increased illegal migration and drug trafficking into its territory.
Meanwhile, British news outlet The Independent described the arrival of the Pakistani ship in Bangladesh as "historic," indicating a warming of relations between the two countries, which have long been fraught with tensions.
27-Year-Old Caroline Named White House Press Secretary
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Caroline Leavitt as the White House Press Secretary, reports the BBC on Saturday (November 16).
At just 27 years old, Caroline served as the spokesperson for Trump’s election campaign and is set to become the youngest press secretary in U.S. history.
In a statement on Friday, Trump said, “Caroline is a skilled and determined individual. She has proven her excellence in communication. I am confident she will excel in her role and help convey our message to the American people.”
Caroline joined Trump’s campaign team in January 2024. Previously, the youngest press secretary was Ron Ziegler, who assumed the role at age 29 in 1969.
Caroline will succeed Karine Jean-Pierre, who took office on May 13, 2022. Before joining the White House, Karine participated in Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign and worked under him when he was Vice President during the Obama administration.
Russia Halts Gas Supply to Austria, Maintains Ukraine Policy
Russia's state-owned natural gas company Gazprom will end its natural gas deliveries to Austria this weekend, the country's largest energy supplier, OMV said on Friday. OMV announced that Gazprom will stop supplying it with gas on Saturday.
The Austrian energy company said it had expected this development and that the country will continue to get gas through import from Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said the country has a secure supply of alternative fuel and that "no one will freeze."
"The supply is secure," Nehammer said in an appearance at the chancellery to address the situation. "Our gas storage facilities are full and we have sufficient capacity to obtain gas from other regions," he added.
Most of Austria's gas supply is Russian
Austria's energy relationship with Russia dates back to the Cold War, as it was one of the first Western European countries to import gas from the Soviet Union in 1968.
The end of Russian gas deliveries to Austria follows an arbitration ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce, that awarded OMV some €230 million ($242 million) in a contractual dispute with Gazprom.
OMV then said it would stop paying Gazprom until it received an amount of gas equivalent to the €230 million that the Russian company owed them.
Austria gets most of its natural gas from Russia, as much as 98% in December 2023, according to Energy Minister Lenore Gewessler. The long road to green hydrogen
No change to Ukraine policy
Since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, only three European countries —Austria, Slovakia and Hungary — continued to import Russian gas via a pipeline that travels through Ukraine, despite the Russian invasion.
But Ukraine announced it will not continue gas transit on the pipeline after January 1, 2025, which would force those countries to find other suppliers.
Nehammer said in a statement on Friday that despite the halt in gas deliveries, his country would not change its Ukraine policy.
"We will not be blackmailed and will not be brought to our knees," he said.
Nehammer accused Gazprom of not fulfilling its delivery obligations on several occasions, with the goal of exerting pressure on Austria for its support of EU sanctions against Russia. (Source: Deutsche Welle)
