Tehran will allow inspectors in to two sites where Iran is suspected of previously storing or using undeclared nuclear material, the UN’s atomic watchdog said on Wednesday.
Following intense discussions with Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said access dates had been agreed although they were not officially announced.
“Iran is voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by the IAEA and facilitating the IAEA verification activities to resolve these issues,” the agency and Iran said in a joint statement.
Iran had been resisting providing access to the sites, which are thought to date back to the early 2000s, before it signed a 2015 deal with world powers to limit its nuclear capacity. It has long insisted that the IAEA had no legal basis to visit them.
The announcement came after IAEA chief Rafael Grossi visited Iran to push for access and the head of the Iranian nuclear agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, confirmed that his country had agreed to the inspections. Mr Grossi said he expected access very soon.
His visit to Tehran was his first since taking over as the agency's leader in December.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who on Wednesday met with the IAEA chief, said Mr Grossi's trip had produced a “good agreement that can help for moving on a correct and proper path and achieve the final resolution of problems.”
The IAEA's board of governors had passed a resolution in late June put forward by Britain, France and Germany, urging Tehran to provide inspectors access to the two disputed sites.
Until last year, the IAEA had said that Iran had been complying with the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
But the country began breaking the deal's limits on nuclear enrichment in 2019 in response to heavy US sanctions after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord. Iran now no longer follows any of the specified limitations.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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