Iran fails to live up to nuclear obligations, US official says
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Monday criticised Iran’s failure to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog.
Wright was particularly critical of Tehran’s refusal to grant UN inspectors access to Iran’s nuclear sites affected by the war. He said Iran had “ample time to address its egregious negligence” toward its obligations “but that time is up.”
US-Saudi deal contains rigorous clauses to prevent proliferation
Wright said additional safeguards contained in a US-Saudi nuclear accord include “absolutely rigorous” terms against proliferation. He told the IAEA general conference that the UN nuclear agency “was part of it all along.”
The US-Saudi accord, signed in July, could potentially provide the kingdom the capability to enrich uranium for its civilian nuclear programme.
Wright was responding to a question from the media about why the US requested Iran to sign an Additional Protocol and not Saudi Arabia. The Additional Protocol is an agreement between the IAEA and a country that grants agency inspectors increased access to nuclear sites.
Yemenis flee homes as rebels press on
Nearly 94,000 people have fled their homes in Yemen since fighting between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and government forces escalated this month, the International Organisation for Migration said Monday.
The worst-hit areas are Taiz and Lahj, where 48,000 have been displaced, the UN agency said, adding that more than 2,000 people have fled across the sea into Djibouti.
Around 200 schools have been converted to shelters in southwestern Yemen to absorb an influx of families, the International Rescue Committee, an aid group, said.
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 2
Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Monday killed two people and wounded several others, hospital officials and the health ministry said.
One person was killed in Gaza City, while the other was killed when a strike hit tents in Muwasi, according to Shifa and Nasser hospitals.
The strikes also wounded people in Zawaida in central Gaza and Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the health ministry said. The Israeli military confirmed the strikes and said they targeted militants.
US slaps Russian-owned bank with full sanctions
The US Treasury Department on Monday issued full sanctions on VTB Bank — one of Russia’s largest financial institutions — as part of its efforts to target Iran’s remaining financial lifelines.
But the impact of the sanctions remains unclear as the Biden administration had also issued sweeping sanctions against the state-owned bank shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Under Trump, US officials are now accusing the institution of helping the Islamic Republic evade sanctions by establishing correspondent relationships with sanctioned Iranian banks. For years, VTB Bank has been expanding its global presence, including opening branches in China, India and Iran. (PTI)
