IAEA: Monitoring Devices Return to Some Iranian Sites

Headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna (file photo: Reuters)
Headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna (file photo: Reuters)
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IAEA: Monitoring Devices Return to Some Iranian Sites

Headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna (file photo: Reuters)
Headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna (file photo: Reuters)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran has reinstalled some monitoring equipment initially put under the 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, which Iran removed last year.

The director of the UN agency, Rafael Grossi, said in two quarterly reports that the agency was "awaiting Iran's engagement to address" issues, including installing more monitoring equipment announced months ago.

The monitoring equipment included surveillance cameras at a site in Isfahan, where centrifuge parts are made, and monitoring equipment at two declared enrichment facilities, according to the two confidential reports addressed to IAEA member states.

- Undisclosed sites

Regarding the ongoing investigation of traces of uranium in three undisclosed sites, the agency said that Iran had provided a "satisfactory answer" on one of them to explain the presence of particles there.

The report stated that the agency has no further questions, and the issue is no longer pending.

Iranian media said Tuesday that it settled two disputed cases with the IAEA, one related to finding traces of uranium at the Marivan site in Abadah, in Fars province.

The Marivan site is the first of three locations to be addressed under a work plan Iran, and the IAEA agreed upon last March. It was not reported in the 2015 nuclear deal talks.

Iran also announced a settlement over the IAEA's discovery of traces of 83.7 percent enriched uranium at the Fordow facility earlier this year.

- Iran stockpile

The IAEA reports confirmed that Iran continues to violate the restrictions imposed on its nuclear activities, and its total stockpile of enriched uranium continues to grow and is now 23 times the 202.8-kg limit set by the 2015 deal, at 4.7 tons.

The permissible limit in the agreement is 202.8 kilograms.

Iran's stock of enriched uranium has enriched to up to 60 percent to 141.1 kilograms since February.

Last October, the IAEA estimated that Iran possessed 62.3 percent of uranium of the 60 percent uranium. Back then, experts said Iran's stockpile was enough to make one bomb if it decided to do so.

After relations between Iran and the West deteriorated, Tehran limited its cooperation with the agency and removed surveillance cameras from some facilities.

It also gradually reneged on most of its commitments within the framework of the agreement concluded in 2015 between Tehran and the US, France, the UK, Russia, China, and Germany after then-President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal.

The US State Department said it has "full confidence" in the IAEA and that President Joe "absolutely committed to never allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon," according to the Associated Press.

"We appreciate the IAEA's extensive efforts to engage Iran on longstanding questions related to Iran's safeguards obligations," the State Department said. "We have made clear that Iran must fully uphold its safeguards obligations."



Turkish Court Arrests Journalist for Threatening Erdogan

 Journalist Fatih Altayli 
 Journalist Fatih Altayli 
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Turkish Court Arrests Journalist for Threatening Erdogan

 Journalist Fatih Altayli 
 Journalist Fatih Altayli 

A Turkish court on Sunday arrested prominent independent journalist Fatih Altayli over comments on his social media allegedly threatening President Tayyip Erdogan.

Altayli, who has more than 1.5 million YouTube subscribers, was referred to the Criminal Court of Peace in Istanbul after testifying at the prosecutor's office.

He was detained from home on Saturday over comments in a video he posted on Friday in which he addressed a poll showing most Turks opposed Erdogan ruling for life.

Prosecutors in Istanbul later said the remarks “contained threats” against the president and launched an investigation.

The text of the court's order said Altayli’s actions violated Article 310/2 via 106/1 of the Turkish Penal Code. Under the Turkish law, a person violating those articles face a minimum penalty of five years in prison.

On Friday, Altayli posted a video referencing an unnamed poll showing 70% of Turks opposed Erdogan ruling for life, saying this would “never be allowed” by the Turkish people.

Altayli also referenced past Ottoman rulers in his comments, saying people had “drowned,” “killed,” or “assassinated them in the past.”

“Look at the history of this nation ... This is a nation which strangled its sultan when they didn’t like him or want him. There are quite a few Ottoman sultans who were assassinated, strangled, or whose deaths were made to look like suicide,” he said.

His comments drew backlash from an Erdogan aide, Oktay Saral, who said on X that Altayli's “water was boiling.”

An investigation was immediately launched by the Istanbul Public Prosecutors’ Office.

During questioning, Altayli denied threatening the president. “I did not threaten President Erdogan. I only provided historical context. I do not accept the charges brought against me,” he said before the court.

Altayli's detention comes amid a series of detentions of opposition figures in recent months, including the arrest in March of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu who is Erdogan's main political rival.

Türkiye’s main opposition CHP leader Ozgur Ozel condemned the arrest of Altayli. On X, Ozel wrote, “We are facing a government that fears journalists, youth, women and the nation. But no one can be intimidated by pressure anymore. Altayli is a journalist, and he should be released as soon as possible.”