Iran's Khamenei Says 'Nothing Wrong' with a Nuclear Deal with West

FILE PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with a group of students in Tehran, Iran November 2, 2022. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with a group of students in Tehran, Iran November 2, 2022. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS
TT

Iran's Khamenei Says 'Nothing Wrong' with a Nuclear Deal with West

FILE PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with a group of students in Tehran, Iran November 2, 2022. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with a group of students in Tehran, Iran November 2, 2022. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS

Iran's supreme leader said on Sunday that reaching a deal with the West over Tehran's disputed nuclear work was possible if the country's nuclear infrastructure remained intact, state media quoted Ali Khamenei as saying.

"There is nothing wrong with the agreement (with the West), but the infrastructure of our nuclear industry should not be touched," he said, adding that Tehran should continue working with the UN nuclear watchdog under the framework of safeguards, said Reuters.

Indirect talks between Tehran and Washington to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear accord with six major powers have been at a stalemate since September, with both sides accusing each other of making unreasonable demands.

In 2019, Iran began breaching the deal's terms in response to a US withdrawal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump.

The 2015 agreement limited Iran’s uranium enrichment activity to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear arms, in return for lifting international sanctions. Iran denies wanting to acquire nuclear weapons.

Both Tehran and Washington on Thursday denied a report that they were nearing an interim deal under which Tehran would curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.



Southern Taiwan Hit by 6.4 Magnitude Quake, TSMC Evacuates Some Factories

A view of the traffic in Taipei, Taiwan January 17, 2025. (Reuters)
A view of the traffic in Taipei, Taiwan January 17, 2025. (Reuters)
TT

Southern Taiwan Hit by 6.4 Magnitude Quake, TSMC Evacuates Some Factories

A view of the traffic in Taipei, Taiwan January 17, 2025. (Reuters)
A view of the traffic in Taipei, Taiwan January 17, 2025. (Reuters)

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck a mountainous area of Taiwan's south on Tuesday near the city of Chiayi, the island's weather administration said, with reports of initial minor damage.

Chipmaker TSMC said it had evacuated staff at its factories in central and southern Taiwan.

The quake shook buildings in the capital, Taipei. The quake had a depth of 9.4 km (6 miles) with its epicenter in Dapu township, the weather administration said.

The fire department said three people were trapped in a damaged building in the city of Tainan and rescue workers were on their way.

The science park in Tainan, home to major factories including of chipmaker TSMC, said buildings were evacuated.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes.

In April, a 7.2 magnitude quake hit the east coast county of Hualien, killing 13 people.

More than 100 people were killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016 and a 7.3 magnitude quake killed more than 2,000 people in 1999.