Iran

TEHRAN, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran has "temporarily" suspended normalization talks with Saudi Arabia, Iran's Press TV reported on Sunday.

The Iranian side has "unilaterally and temporarily" suspended the talks which was slated to be held in Iraq next week, according to the report.

The report did not specify the reason for the pause or a date for resuming the negotiations.

TEHRAN, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran's nuclear chief said on Saturday that no political impacts can divert Iran's relationship with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) governed by the framework of the IAEA's rules and regulations, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

"We move forward in line with the IAEA's regulations and our professional relationship with it," Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), told reporters.

11 March 2022; MEMO: Talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal on Friday faced the prospect of collapse after a last-minute Russian demand forced world powers to pause negotiations for an undetermined time, despite having a largely completed text, Reuters reports.

Negotiators have reached the final stages of 11 months of discussions to restore the deal, which lifted sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme, long seen by the West as a cover for developing atomic bombs.

TEHRAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The sabotage and psychological operations of the United States in lifting its anti-Iran sanctions delayed the Vienna talks on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal to yield an agreement, Tasnim news agency reported on Friday, citing an Iranian source close to the negotiations.

"The main issue in the Vienna talks is the (U.S.) sanctions on individuals, companies, and institutions that play an effective role in Iran's economic benefit," the source was quoted as saying.

10 March 2022; MEMO: The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Shamkhani, said that nuclear talks are becoming more "knottier by the hour" due to the "absent US political decision."

"US approach to Iran's principled demands, coupled with its unreasonable offers and unjustified pressure to hastily reach an agreement, show that US isn't interested in a strong deal that would satisfy both parties," he wrote on Twitter.

TEHRAN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A top Iranian security official on Thursday slammed U.S. approach to the ongoing talks in Vienna on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal, saying Washington is not willing to reach a "strong deal" that would satisfy both sides.

"U.S. approach to Iran's principled demands, coupled with its unreasonable offers and unjustified pressure to hastily reach an agreement, show that the United States isn't interested in a strong deal that would satisfy both parties," Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani tweeted.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched a second satellite into space, state media reported Tuesday, just as world powers awaited Tehran’s decision in negotiations over the country’s tattered nuclear deal.

State television identified the launch as taking place in its northeastern Shahroud Desert, without specifying when. However, it came as Iran’s top diplomat at the monthslong talks suddenly flew home late Monday for consultations, a sign of the growing pressure on Tehran as the negotiations appear to be nearing their end.

TEHRAN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian diplomat said on Sunday the new Iran report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) includes some positive changes, including the removal of a location, alleged to indicate the possible presence in the past of a uranium metal disc, from the agency's list.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A top Iranian official said Monday that his country is seeking “creative ways” to restore its nuclear deal with world powers after Russia’s foreign minister linked sanctions on Moscow over its war on Ukraine to the ongoing negotiations.

The tweet by Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s powerful Supreme National Security Council, offers the first high-level acknowledgment of the demands of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

TEHRAN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Iran's supreme leader on Sunday called for the development of renewable and clean energy resources, such as civilian nuclear energy, in the country to substitute fossil fuels.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei made the remarks after he planted saplings to mark Iran's National Arbor Day and Natural Resources Week, according to the leader's official website.

The leader described the development of non-fossil fuels, such as nuclear energy, as a growing trend around the globe, saying regional countries are also working toward the goal.