Iran 'pressing the gas pedal' on uranium production, warns UN's top inspector


Rory Reynolds
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Tehran is “pressing the gas pedal” on the refinement of uranium and has its largest stockpile to date, the UN's top nuclear weapons inspector said.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iran has about 200kg of uranium enriched to up to 60 per cent purity. That is close to the roughly 90 per cent required for use in a weapon, and in principle enough for about five nuclear bombs.

“They are pressing the gas pedal. It is for you to interpret and give your analysis of that, but this is the fact – we have seen it,” said Mr Grossi at the World Economic Forum in Davos, following a visit to Iran in November.

Iran's Vice President for Strategic Affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, separately told delegates in Davos that if his country wanted to build a atomic weapon it "could have done it a long time ago". He said Iran was "not a security threat" despite warnings from the US and Israel about its nuclear ambitions.

"I hope that this time around a 'Trump 2' will be more serious, more focused, more realistic," he said. He said the US policy of restoring sanctions "has failed" in limiting Tehran's nuclear activities and "imposed heavy economic costs on the Iranian people".

The situation has not gotten any easier from the time President Trump left [office]
Rafael Grossi,
International Atomic Energy Agency

Asked by The National about relations between Tehran and the new US administration, Mr Grossi said US President Donald Trump would inherit a complex situation.

“So the situation has not gotten any easier from the time President Trump left,” he said. “The nuclear programme has grown dramatically in terms of capabilities, in terms of facilities, in terms of capacities, also in terms of the inventory of nuclear material, now enriching at 60 per cent.

“And so I believe that that makes it for a wider, bigger field of action for negotiation.”

Mr Grossi has not yet met Mr Trump but said he sensed the administration was open to dialogue with Tehran. Mr Grossi is seen as one of the Western officials with the closest working relationship with Tehran, and said he speaks to the Iranian president frequently.

“One can gather from the first statements from President Trump and some others in the new administration that there is a disposition to have a conservation and perhaps move into some sort of agreement,” he said.

Past talks involved the dropping of sanctions against Iran in exchange for a slowdown or halt of the nuclear programme. Mr Trump axed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 and applied a policy of “maximum pressure” against Tehran.

In Davos on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tehran must work to improve relations with its Middle East neighbours and the United States by making it clear it does not aim to develop nuclear weapons.

Russia trip

Mr Grossi said he will visit Ukraine soon to inspect the nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhia, which was captured by Russian forces in March 2022. It is Europe's largest nuclear power plant and one of the largest in the world.

There has been repeated fighting in the area in the past three years, raising fears of a catastrophe.

"The situation around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant requires me, and this has been my effort throughout, to talk to both sides. Of course, and I saw President Zelenskyy yesterday.

On visit to the plant, Mr Grossi said: "We are working on that, it will be soon."

"We see increased military activity around the plant. We are worried because of this [and are] following, of course, this very, very closely."

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
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Sector: Entertainment 
 
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Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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The biog

Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns

Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

Food of choice: Sushi  

Favourite colour: Orange

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19

July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan

Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US

Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

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Ship name: MSC Bellissima

Ship class: Meraviglia Class

Delivery date: February 27, 2019

Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT

Passenger capacity: 5,686

Crew members: 1,536

Number of cabins: 2,217

Length: 315.3 metres

Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)

Third Test

Day 3, stumps

India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151

India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining

The Bio

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

AWARDS
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In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

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THE BIO

Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13 

Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

Updated: January 22, 2025, 2:26 PM