Iran not nuclear-compliant, says UN body; defiant Tehran unveils new enrichment site

The UN nuclear watchdog’s board of governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations on Thursday and Tehran announced counter-measures, as an Iranian official said a “friendly country” had warned it of a potential Israeli attack.

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Iran reacted immediately, saying it will establish a new enrichment facility “in a secure location” and that “other measures are also being planned”. The Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran said in a joint statement, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has no choice but to respond to this political resolution.”

US and Iranian officials will hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran’s escalating uranium enrichment programme in Oman on Sunday, according to US and Omani officials.

But security concerns have risen since US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday American personnel were being moved out of the region because “it could be a dangerous place” and that Tehran would not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

Washington is concerned that Israel could take military action against Iran in coming days, US officials said on condition of anonymity, despite Trump’s recent warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against such a strike while US diplomacy continues with Tehran.

US intelligence indicates that Israel has been making preparations to hit Iran’s nuclear installations. But one US official said there was no sign that Israel had made a final decision.

Security in West Asia has already been destabilised by spillover effects of the Gaza war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if the nuclear talks do not yield a deal and said he has become less confident Tehran will agree to stop enriching uranium. The Islamic Republic wants a lifting of US sanctions imposed on it since 2018.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that even if the country’s nuclear facilities were destroyed by bombs they would be rebuilt, state media reported on Thursday.

The IAEA’s ruling will add to the “complexity” of Sunday’s nuclear talks.

Later in the day, Trump said the Israeli attack on Iran is not imminent but “could very well happen”.

“I don't want to say imminent, but it looks like it's something that could very well happen,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday. Trump added that he remains concerned a “massive conflict” could occur in West Asia if Iran does not negotiate a deal, but that he continues to urge Tehran to make a deal.

Hamas claims killing Israel-backed fighters

A unit of the Hamas-run police force said it killed 12 members of an Israeli-backed militia after detaining them early on Thursday in the Gaza Strip. Hours earlier, an Israel-supported aid group said Hamas attacked a bus carrying its Palestinian workers, killing at least five of them. The militia, led by Yasser Abu Shabab, said its fighters had attacked Hamas and killed five militants but made no mention of its own casualties.