Kenya Insights

Tag: nuclear weapon

  • Iran’s President Tells UN Tehran Will Never Seek to Build Nuclear Bomb

    Iran’s President Tells UN Tehran Will Never Seek to Build Nuclear Bomb

    UNITED NATIONS, Sept 24 – Iran has no intention to build nuclear weapons, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, just days before international sanctions could be reimposed on his country over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

    “I hereby declare once more before this assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb. We do not seek nuclear weapons,” Pezeshkian said.

    On August 28, Britain, France and Germany launched a 30-day process to reimpose U.N. sanctions that ends on September 27, accusing Tehran of failing to abide by a 2015 deal with world powers aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon.

    The European powers have offered to delay reinstating sanctions for up to six months to allow space for talks on a long-term deal if Iran restores access for U.N. nuclear inspectors, addresses concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engages in talks with the United States.
    SAYS E3 ‘SET ASIDE GOOD FAITH’

    Pezeshkian criticised the move by European powers as “illegal”, saying it was made at “the behest of the United States of America”.

    The United States, its European allies and Israel accuse Tehran of using its nuclear programme as a veil for efforts to try to develop the capability to produce weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.

    “In doing so, they (the E3) set aside good faith. They circumvented legal obligations. They sought to portray Iran’s lawful remedial measures … as a gross violation,” Pezeshkian said.

    But amid the looming threat of sanctions and last-ditch talks on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, gaps remain between Tehran and European powers over a deal to avert the snapback of sanctions.

    Still, both sides have left the door open to further negotiations. While the E3 says Iran’s clerical rulers have so far failed to meet the conditions it set, Tehran says it will not offer concessions.

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on key state matters such as foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear programme, has ruled out negotiations with the United States under threat.

    DEADLINE ON SATURDAY

    If Tehran and the E3 fail to reach a deal on an extension by the end of September 27, then all U.N. sanctions will be reimposed on Iran, where the economy already struggles with crippling sanctions reimposed since 2018 after President Donald Trump ditched the pact during his first term.

    The so-called “snapback” process would reimpose an arms embargo, a ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing, a ban on activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, a global asset freeze and travel bans on Iranian individuals and entities.

    Soon after the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran’s parliament passed a law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    However, the IAEA and Tehran reached a deal on September 9 to resume inspections at nuclear sites and U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday a team of inspectors was on its way to Iran should Tehran and the E3 strike a deal this week to avert revival of sanctions.

    (Reuters)

  • North Korea Is Building ’Invincible Military’ Kim Vows

    North Korea Is Building ’Invincible Military’ Kim Vows

    North Korea’s leader has vowed to build an “invincible military” in the face of hostile policies from the United States, according to state media.

    Kim Jong-un added that weapons development was for self-defence, and not to start a war.

    Kim made the comments at a rare defence exhibition while flanked by a variety of large missiles.

    North Korea has recently tested what it claims to be new hypersonic and anti-aircraft missiles.

    The South meanwhile has tested its own submarine-launched weapon.

    In his speech at the Self-Defence 2021 exhibition held in Pyongyang, which featured an array of military hardware including tanks, Kim addressed the military build-up in the South and said that North Korea did not want to fight its neighbour.

    “We are not discussing war with anyone, but rather to prevent war itself and to literally increase war deterrence for the protection of national sovereignty,” he said.

    Kim also accused the US of stoking tensions between North and South Korea.

    He added that there was “no behavioural basis” to make North Korea believe that the US was not hostile.

    North Korea leader Kim Jong-un attends the Self-Defence 2021 exhibition to mark the 76th birthday of the ruling Worker’s Party.

    The US under President Joe Biden has repeatedly said it is willing to talk to North Korea, but has demanded Pyongyang give up nuclear weapons before sanctions can be eased. North Korea has so far refused.

    North Korea is banned from testing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons by the UN. It has repeatedly flouted these bans and has been heavily sanctioned as a result.

    Last month, the UN atomic agency said North Korea appeared to have restarted a reactor which could produce plutonium for nuclear weapons, calling it a “deeply troubling” development.

    North Korea has always maintained that it needs to continue developing weapons for defence.

    But observers say it is also being used as a way to rally the impoverished country. North Korea is thought to be in dire economic straits after authorities shut borders to stop the spread of Covid-19.

    Crucial supplies like food and fuel have been cut off from China, North Korea’s main political and economic ally.