TEHRAN: Iran said on Saturday that it was no longer bound by restrictions on its nuclear program as a landmark 10-year deal between it and world powers expired, though Tehran reiterated its &quot;commitment to diplomacy&quot;. The 2015 deal -- signed in Vienna by Iran, China, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- saw the lifting of international sanctions against the Islamic republic in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program. US unilateral withdrawal&nbsp;But the pact had already been in tatters after Washington unilaterally withdrew during President Donald Trump&#39;s first term, with Iran later pulling back from its commitments. The reimposition last month of UN sanctions at the urging of three of the deal&#39;s European signatories rendered the accord effectively moot. From now on, &quot;all of the provisions (of the deal), including the restrictions on the Iranian nuclear programme and the related mechanisms are considered terminated&quot;, Iran&#39;s foreign ministry said in a statement on the day of the pact&#39;s expiration. &lsquo;Commitment to diplomacy&rsquo;&nbsp;&quot;Iran firmly expresses its commitment to diplomacy,&quot; it added. Western powers have long accused Iran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons -- something it has repeatedly denied, insisting its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes such as energy production. The deal&#39;s &quot;termination day&quot; was set for October 18, 2025, exactly 10 years after it was enshrined in the UN&#39;s Security Council resolution 2231. The accord capped Iran&#39;s uranium enrichment at 3.67% in exchange for sanctions relief and provided for strict supervision of its nuclear activities by the UN&#39;s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;Irresponsible actions&#39;&nbsp;</h2>In July, Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA following the war with Israel, with Tehran pointing to the agency&#39;s failure to condemn Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear facilities. The unprecedented bombing campaign by Israel and the retaliation by Iran during the 12-day war derailed ongoing nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. At the initiative of France, Britain, and Germany, widespread UN sanctions against Iran returned into force in late September for the first time in a decade. &lsquo;Null and void&rsquo;&nbsp;Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a letter addressed to the United Nations on Saturday that the expiration of the 2015 deal renders the sanctions &quot;null and void&quot;. Britain, France, and Germany accuse Iran of not cooperating with the IAEA and would like it to return to negotiations with the United States. &quot;Iran&#39;s efforts to revive the exchanges (with the IAEA) that led to the agreement in Cairo were also sabotaged by the irresponsible actions of the three European countries,&quot; the Iranian foreign ministry said in Saturday&#39;s statement, referring to a recent framework to resume cooperation.

Middle East

The reimposition last month of United Nations sanctions at the urging of three of the deal's European signatories rendered the accord effectively moot. 

Iran says no longer bound by 'restrictions' on its nuclear program

Web Desk

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.

Articles tagged with "Nuclear Program"

Iran says no longer bound by 'restrictions' on its nuclear program

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