UN nuclear watchdog team in Iran



Inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog were in Iran yesterday, urgently pressing for a deal on addressing concerns about "possible military dimensions" to Tehran's atomic programme.

The seven-member team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived prepared if invited to inspect the Parchin military complex near the Iranian capital - if invited. The agency suspects Iran conducted test blasts there with nuclear applications until 2003 and possibly beyond.

The UN's nuclear watchdog also wants access to Iranian scientists and sensitive documents.

But even before the talks began between the IAEA represntatives and Iranian nuclear officials, Iranian media yesterday said the inspectors, led by the IAEA's deputy director, Herman Nackaerts, would not be given access to Parchin "for now". Tehran insisted it must first reach a framework deal with the IAEA for such visits.

The UN agency suspects Iran has been sanitising the site to remove any traces of illicit activity - a charge Tehran rejects as western propaganda.

Suspicion is mutual. Iran recently accused the IAEA of being infiltrated by hostile intelligence agencies, saying this undermined its role as an impartial organisation.

The United States last month warned that Iran must fully cooperate with the IAEA's investigation by March or face the prospect of being hauled before the UN Security Council for further action, possibly including new sanctions.

Yesterday's talks were closely monitored by six world powers preparing for the resumption in coming weeks of wider, critical nuclear negotiations with Iran following the re-election of Barack Obama, the US president.

Dealings between Iran and the so-called P5+1 - the US, Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany - are separate from Tehran's negotiations with the IAEA, but the two tracks are closely related.

The first is concerned with Iran's current nuclear programme, the second with its past activities.

Iran, which insists its nuclear work is solely for peaceful purposes, has rejected allegations about Parchin as "childish" and "ridiculous", saying they are based on "fabricated documents" provided by hostile spy agencies.

Iran has barred international inspectors access to Parchin for four years, arguing it is a conventional military site, not a nuclear one, and therefore none of the IAEA's business. Tehran also has long demanded to see the agency's documents relating to Parchin.

In a possible bid to gain Iran's cooperation, the IAEA's director-general, Yukiya Amano, said last week his agency would share sensitive data with Iran "when appropriate".

Mojtaba Fathi, a political analyst for Tehran's pro-reform Bahar daily, said Iran might demand that any information from Parchin be kept confidential by the inspectors as a precondition for a possible visit.

A deal between Iran and the IAEA in itself would not be enough to allay international concerns about Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

The West's immediate aim is to get Iran to stop enrichment of uranium to 20 per cent, which is a short technological step from producing bomb-grade material. Iran says it is only doing so to provide medical isotopes for cancer patients.

The P5+1 hopes to persuade Iran to end this level of enrichment and ship abroad its stockpile of such material, but Tehran wants significant relief from choking, Western-imposed sanctions in return. Iran also demands acceptance of its right to continue enriching uranium to a lower level to fuel civilian nuclear power reactors.

The P5+1 are discussing possible changes to an offer rejected by Iran in their last round of talks in Moscow in June.

Russia, reportedly, has yet to agree to an "updated" package of proposals because it still does not offer Iran sufficient sanctions relief.

Meanwhile, Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, suggested on Wednesday that some of his powerful hardline rivals - who have sidelined him on atomic policy — were reluctant to resolve the nuclear dispute.

"Our policy is cooperation with the IAEA," he said on Wednesday. "Of course some in Iran do not want the issue to be resolved and think it is better this way," he said, without elaborating.

mtheodoulou@thenational.ae

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Book%20Details
%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EThree%20Centuries%20of%20Travel%20Writing%20by%20Muslim%20Women%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEditors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiobhan%20Lambert-Hurley%2C%20Daniel%20Majchrowicz%2C%20Sunil%20Sharma%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIndiana%20University%20Press%3B%20532%20pages%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

SCHEDULE

6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
 
Amith's predicted winners:
6.30pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.05pm: Etisalat
7.40pm: Mulfit
8.15pm: Pennsylvania Dutch
8.50pm: Mudallel
9.25pm: Midnight Sands

If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).

Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm

Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm

Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm

Brief scoreline:

Manchester United 2

Rashford 28', Martial 72'

Watford 1

Doucoure 90'

Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.

As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.

Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.

Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.

Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."

'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained

Defined Benefit Plan (DB)

A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.

Defined Contribution Plan (DC) 

A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.

Brief scoreline:

Manchester United 1

Mata 11'

Chelsea 1

Alonso 43'

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.