Tehran Hints at Returning to Nuclear Talks Soon

Iran’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Ulyanov (Reuters)
Iran’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Ulyanov (Reuters)
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Tehran Hints at Returning to Nuclear Talks Soon

Iran’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Ulyanov (Reuters)
Iran’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Ulyanov (Reuters)

In the wake of a partial understanding between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh hinted that Tehran would soon return to the Vienna negotiating table aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Despite saying that Tehran would go back to nuclear talks, Khatibzadeh asked other parties to have a “realistic” approach that matches “the facts on the ground,” implying that Iran’s enrichment of uranium has accelerated to reach 60%, a percentage close to that needed to develop nuclear weapons.

More so, Khatibzadeh refused to tell reporters at a press conference an exact date for resuming nuclear negotiations. He also did not give a date for the visit of the chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami, to Vienna.

Eslami is scheduled to hold discussions with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi within a few days.

“We expect other parties to come to Vienna with a realistic approach and consider realities on the ground,” Khatibzadeh told reporters.

Khatibzadeh said that Grossi’s recent visit to Tehran before the meeting of the IAEA’s Board of Governors “was within the framework of resolving issues.”

The spokesperson said that Tehran would maintain its “normal and technical” relations with the UN nuclear watchdog so long that it remains impartial towards Iran.

He warned the other parties against “impairing technical relations with political motives and issues” and said that “Iran will direct an appropriate response to this issue.”

Nuclear talks with Iran had stopped last June. Less than a month later, the conservative Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, took office.

Western powers urged Iran to return to the negotiating table, saying that time was running out, with the development of its nuclear program going beyond the restrictions contained in the agreement that Washington withdrew from in 2018.



North Korea Pulls Capsized Warship Upright After Botched Launch, Report Says 

A satellite image shows a North Korean warship covered with a blue tarp after an accident that occurred during its launch at the shipyard in Chongjin, North Korea, May 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A satellite image shows a North Korean warship covered with a blue tarp after an accident that occurred during its launch at the shipyard in Chongjin, North Korea, May 24, 2025. (Reuters)
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North Korea Pulls Capsized Warship Upright After Botched Launch, Report Says 

A satellite image shows a North Korean warship covered with a blue tarp after an accident that occurred during its launch at the shipyard in Chongjin, North Korea, May 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A satellite image shows a North Korean warship covered with a blue tarp after an accident that occurred during its launch at the shipyard in Chongjin, North Korea, May 24, 2025. (Reuters)

North Korea appears to have returned to an upright position its stricken Choe Hyun Class destroyer that partially capsized during a botched launching ceremony, US researchers said on Wednesday.

Leader Kim Jong Un, who witnessed the failed launch of the 5,000-ton warship, said the accident damaged the country's dignity and vowed to punish those found responsible.

Commercial satellite imagery from June 2 showed the destroyer upright for the first time since the May 21 accident, the 38 North program, which studies the nuclear-armed North, said in a report.

Since the accident, North Korea has said it detained several officials, and Kim ordered the ship restored before a ruling party meeting this month.

"Commercial satellite imagery shows workers at the port in Chongjin have taken a significant step towards that goal," 38 North said in its report.

Workers were observed pulling tethers, and possibly using barrage balloons, in a manual effort to right the ship, it added. The imagery shows the vessel's bow still on land, with possible damage to its sonar section.

"To repair this, the ship will need to be moved out of the water to either a large floating drydock or graving dock once afloat," 38 North said. "However, Chongjin’s shipyard does not offer this infrastructure."

The east coast shipyard has turned out primarily cargo and fishing vessels and lacks significant expertise in launching large warships such as the new destroyer, other military experts have said.