Web Desk/AFP

​Demonstrators hold banners while gathering for the weekly anti-war protest at HaBima Square in Tel Aviv on March 28, 2026. (AFP)

Middle East

Hundreds gathered in Tel Aviv and some other Israeli cities on Saturday to protest the war in the Middle East, in unauthorised demonstrations that security forces sought to disperse.

All you need to know about the US Israel war on Iran day 29

Americas

Israel's military said an Iranian missile on Saturday struck the southern town of Dimona, home to a nuclear facility, after medics reported some 20 people injured by shrapnel.

All you need to know about Day 22 of US-Israeli war on Iran

NEW YORK CITY: The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday debated Iran&rsquo;s nuclear program amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with Pakistan telling the 15-member body that an enduring situation lies in embracing diplomacy rather than abandoning it &ldquo;for short-sighted policies.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It is clear that dialogue, diplomacy and constructive engagement remain the only viable way forward. And yet, diplomacy has been forfeited in favour of military means,&rdquo; Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (UN), said during a discussions on the UN &lsquo;Committee 1737&rsquo;, which oversees international sanctions on Iran regarding its nuclear and missile programs. &ldquo;The developments since last June as well as the ongoing situation that started with the unprovoked and unwarranted attacks on Iran have deeply impacted the context of Iran nuclear file,&rdquo; he said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2032313042986271046&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=c248310fe0919f799bba80033d73f620b941b880&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 841px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Regretting the breakdown of diplomacy on the Iranian nuclear issue, the Pakistani envoy said the validity of the fundamental principles and the multilateral spirit that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, remained intact as also the consensus adoption of resolution 2231 in 2015. (But President Donald Trump, during his first term announced in 2018 the withdrawal of the United States (US) from JCPOA, terming it a &ldquo;horrible,&rdquo; &ldquo;one-sided&rdquo; deal that failed to protect US national security interests.) &ldquo;More than ever, and even during the current conflict and heightened tensions, it is clear that an enduring solution lies in embracing those time-tested principles rather than abandoning them for short-sighted policies,&rdquo; Ambassador Asim Ahmad said. The JCPOA, he said, &nbsp;was a &ldquo;unique instrument &ldquo;, manifestation of an approach based on dialogue, diplomacy and pragmatism, highlighting that it was the outcome of painstaking and arduous, yet constructive negotiations that charted a roadmap to comprehensively address the concerns of the parties based on reciprocal actions and thus embodying peaceful resolution of disputes that is at the heart the UN Charter. &ldquo;Pakistan lent its support to the negotiated settlement of the issue, and it remains our core position till today&rdquo;, he added. &ldquo;We have condemned all use of force, targeting of civilian infrastructure, and strikes on nuclear sites under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards&rdquo;, the Pakistani envoy said, pointing out that strikes against nuclear facilities carried huge environmental and safety risks for the local population and people all around the region.He warned against disrupting IAEA&rsquo;s crucial verification mandate, saying that the agency is responsible for verifying compliance with respective nuclear safeguards obligations of Member States in an objective, impartial and credible manner on technical grounds. &ldquo;The IAEA should be enabled to fulfill this statutory function and its verification activities in Iran should resume unimpeded,&rdquo; the Pakistani envoy said.Pakistan, he said, &nbsp;calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, and urged all parties to show maximum restraint, avoid further escalation, institute a permanent ceasefire, and resume dialogue. &ldquo;All our efforts aim in that direction&rdquo;, he said.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan told the UNSC that diplomacy, not military action, remains the only viable solution to Iran’s nuclear issue, urging restraint, ceasefire, renewed dialogue, and unimpeded IAEA verification activities.

As UNSC debates Iran nuclear program, Pakistan stresses diplomacy only way forward

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Austria on Sunday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;Upon arrival at Vienna International Airport, the prime minister was presented with a guard of honor.&nbsp;Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch are also part of the visiting delegation, the Foreign Office reported.&nbsp;Bilateral talks and business engagementDuring the visit, the prime minister will hold bilateral and delegation-level talks with his Austrian counterpart, in which &quot;both leaders will conduct a detailed review of all aspects of Pakistan-Austria relations,&quot; the foreign office statement said.&nbsp;The two leaders will also jointly chair a meeting of prominent business figures.&nbsp;The prime minister is further scheduled to address the Pakistan-Austria Business Forum.&nbsp;UN engagement in ViennaSharif will participate in and address a special event under the United Nations in Vienna on the theme &ldquo;Sustainable Development: The Path to Global Peace and Prosperity.&rdquo;&nbsp;He is also scheduled to meet the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during his visit.

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Vienna on a two-day official visit, at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, to discuss Pakistan-Austria bilateral relations and to address a UN special ceremony.

PM Sharif in Vienna to boost bilateral ties

Reuters

MOSCOW: The head of Iran&#39;s atomic energy organisation, Mohammad Eslami, has arrived in Moscow for talks, Iranian state-run media said on Monday, as the UN considers whether to reimpose sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme. On Friday, the 15-member UN Security Council rejected a draft resolution to permanently lift sanctions on Tehran, a move backed by Russia and China, which opposed efforts by Britain, France, and Germany to reimpose UN sanctions. The European nations accuse Tehran of failing to abide by a 2015 deal with world powers that aimed to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;denies having any such intention, and Russia says it supports Tehran&#39;s right to peaceful nuclear energy. Eslami, who is also&nbsp;Iran&#39;s vice president, told&nbsp;Iranian state media that bilateral cooperation agreements would be signed during his visit to Russia, including a plan to construct eight nuclear power plants as Tehran seeks to reach 20 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2040. &ldquo;Contract negotiations have taken place, and with the signing of the agreement this week, we will enter the operational steps,&rdquo; Eslami said.Iran, which suffers from electricity shortages during high-demand months, only has one operating nuclear power plant in the southern city of Busheh,r which was built by Russia and has a capacity of around 1 GW. Britain, France and Germany have offered to delay reinstating sanctions for up to six months - to allow space for talks on a long-term deal on Tehran&#39;s nuclear program - if Iran restores access for UN nuclear inspectors, addresses concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engages in talks with the United States. Any delay in reimposing sanctions would require a Security Council resolution. If a deal on an extension can&#39;t be reached by the end of September 27, then all UN sanctions will be reimposed.

Iran’s atomic energy chief, Mohammad Eslami, arrived in Moscow for talks as the UN considers reimposing sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear program, amid stalled diplomacy and divisions among global powers on the issue.

Iran's nuclear chief in Moscow to sign power plants deal as UN ponders sanctions

TEHRAN: Iran&#39;s top security body said Saturday that action by Britain, France and Germany to reimpose UN sanctions will &quot;effectively suspend&quot; its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.&nbsp;&quot;Despite the foreign ministry&#39;s cooperation with the (International Atomic Energy) Agency and the presentation of plans to resolve the issue, the actions of European countries will effectively suspend the path of cooperation with the agency,&quot; the Supreme National Security Council said in a televised statement.&nbsp;The announcement comes after the Security Council voted on Friday to reimpose frozen UN sanctions after the European governments activated the &quot;snapback&quot; mechanism in a decade-old nuclear agreement, accusing Iran of non-compliance.&nbsp;The vote means that the sanctions, which were suspended in return for curbs on Iran&#39;s nuclear activities set out in the 2015 deal, will take renewed effect on September 28 unless Iran can persuade the council to relent in the next week.&nbsp;Tehran said the action by the European powers undermined months of engagement with the IAEA aimed at resuming monitoring and ensuring compliance with international rules.&nbsp;Earlier this month, Iran and the IAEA reached an agreement in Cairo that would have allowed inspections of Iranian nuclear sites to resume.&nbsp;Iran had suspended them after Israel, and the United States attacked its nuclear facilities in June.&nbsp;Western governments have long accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapons capability, an ambition Tehran denies.&nbsp;Tehran has also criticized the IAEA for failing to condemn the Israeli and US strikes.&nbsp;The European governments have said they will not delay the reimposition of UN sanctions unless Iran resumes full cooperation with the IAEA and reopens nuclear talks with the United States, which have been suspended since June.

Iranian flag flies in front of a U.N. building 

The actions of European countries effectively suspend the path of cooperation with the agency, the Supreme National Security Council said in a televised statement.

Iran says cooperation with IAEA suspended after European move on UN sanctions

ISLAMABAD: Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has praised Pakistan for its progress in developing a peaceful nuclear program and its strong collaboration with the global agency, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported Saturday.&nbsp;Grossi made these remarks after meeting with Dr. Raja Ali Raza Anwar, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), during the 69th IAEA General Conference in Vienna on Saturday.&nbsp;He noted that Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear power program is advancing &ldquo;at a good pace,&rdquo; especially with the ongoing construction of the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit-5 (C-5). The director general recalled his visit to the site in February 2025, when the first concrete was poured, a key milestone in Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to enhance energy security through clean and sustainable nuclear power.&nbsp;During the meeting, according to APP, Grossi and Anwar reviewed several areas of cooperation between the IAEA and Pakistan, focusing on initiatives like Atoms4Food, which uses nuclear technology to improve crop yields, food safety, and pest control. They also discussed the Rays of Hope program, which works to expand access to nuclear medicine and radiotherapy for cancer treatment across the Asia-Pacific region.&nbsp;Grossi commended Pakistan for its active involvement in IAEA programs, particularly in capacity-building, training, and applying nuclear knowledge to socio-economic development. He emphasized that Pakistan continues to play a vital role in advancing the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology.&nbsp;For his part, Chairman Anwar reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear technology, in alignment with both national development priorities and IAEA frameworks. He emphasized that Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear power plants operate under the highest safety standards, contributing significantly to the national energy mix by providing reliable, low-carbon electricity. He added that PAEC&rsquo;s efforts are closely aligned with the IAEA&rsquo;s goals of promoting nuclear technology for peace, health, and prosperity.&nbsp;The meeting also provided a platform to discuss Pakistan&rsquo;s contributions to regional initiatives under the IAEA, particularly in the Asia-Pacific. Pakistan&rsquo;s expertise in nuclear applications is being shared with other member states, furthering regional cooperation.&nbsp;Pakistan reiterated its commitment to continuing cooperation with the IAEA and its member states, advancing peaceful nuclear initiatives, promoting sustainable development, and improving the quality of life for people across the region.

Security

IAEA Director General discusses several initiatives with Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Chairman.

International Atomic Energy Agency commends Pakistan’s progress in peaceful nuclear program

<ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" id="isPasted"><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Iran, IAEA agree to resume inspections</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Deal covers all nuclear-related facilities</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Cooperation halted after June war strikes</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Iran demands security council approval first</li></ul> <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">ISLAMABAD:<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">&nbsp;Iran&rsquo;s new cooperation framework with the United Nations nuclear watchdog covers all of its nuclear facilities and installations, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said Wednesday.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The agreement, reached Tuesday, follows Iran&rsquo;s suspension of cooperation after the June war with Israel, when Israeli and United States strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites. The agency has not had access to those facilities since.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The deal, announced Tuesday, followed months of strained relations after Israeli and United States strikes in June targeted Iran&rsquo;s nuclear facilities during a 12-day conflict. More than 600 people were killed in the clashes, including scientists and military personnel, and thousands were injured.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Yesterday, in Cairo, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told the agency&rsquo;s Board of Governors that the agreement covers &ldquo;all facilities and installations in Iran&rdquo; and includes reporting on sites attacked in the strikes. &ldquo;Iran and the agency will now resume cooperation in a respective and comprehensive way,&rdquo; Grossi said.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Iran, however, stressed that access to sites would be subject to approval by its Supreme National Security Council. Araghchi told state television that &ldquo;the nature of access will have to be discussed at an appropriate time&rdquo; based on Iran&rsquo;s future reports.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The disagreement highlights the fragile nature of the deal. Iran has enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, close to weapons-grade levels, but the extent of its remaining stockpile after the strikes remains unclear.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The IAEA has called its inability to verify Iran&rsquo;s nuclear stockpile since June &ldquo;a matter of serious concern.&rdquo; Tehran suspended cooperation in July after accusing the agency of double standards and failing to condemn the Israeli and U.S. attacks. President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law halting collaboration, leading inspectors to leave the country.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">European powers have warned they could reimpose sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal if Iran does not comply with inspection requirements. Araghchi cautioned that Tehran would terminate the agreement if &ldquo;any hostile act&rdquo; was carried out against Iran or if sanctions were reinstated.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">&ldquo;Iran will never compromise on its sovereignty, rights or security,&rdquo; Araghchi said. &ldquo;At the same time, Iran is demonstrating restraint and responsibility by reaching an agreement with the agency.&rdquo;<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Despite the disputes, Tuesday&rsquo;s agreement was seen as a step toward repairing relations between Iran and the U.N. watchdog.&nbsp;

Asia

Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog have agreed to resume inspections across all nuclear sites. The deal follows months of tension after Israeli and U.S. strikes halted cooperation. Iran warns access will depend on national security approval, keeping the deal fragile.

Articles tagged with "IAEA"