International Atomic Energy Agency

DR Congo has been secretly exporting uranium to China for over two decades, despite a ban on commercial uranium exports, according to an investigation by Lighthouse Reports. The uranium, a by-product of cobalt mining in the Shinkolobwe region, was historically used in US nuclear weapons during WWII. Between 2000 and 2024, 2,000 to 5,000 tonnes of uranium were reportedly exported to China.

The US-Saudi nuclear deal has sparked Israeli concerns over Saudi potential nuclear weapon development. US President Donald Trump claimed the deal prohibits uranium enrichment and requires Saudi normalization with Israel, but Saudi officials have not confirmed these terms. The agreement's strategic implications for Middle East security remain uncertain.

The US and Saudi Arabia signed a nuclear agreement that may allow uranium enrichment and reduce international inspections, raising concerns about regional proliferation. Experts warn this deal weakens the 'gold standard' set by the UAE and could enable similar terms in future nuclear deals with Russia or China.

The Pentagon is developing scenarios for a large-scale ground operation in Iran to seize or destroy enriched uranium stockpiles, as an alternative to airstrikes. The mission would involve securing fortified facilities like Fordow, Isfahan, and Pickaxe Mountain, with specialized units extracting or neutralizing nuclear material. Analysts warn of high risks and potential casualties due to facility fortifications.

The IAEA is aware of a proposed US-Saudi nuclear cooperation deal and is awaiting their formal request for verification work. The agency expressed readiness to collaborate on implementing verification measures once requested.

President Donald Trump announced a revised nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia requiring the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. The agreement prohibits uranium enrichment but has raised concerns among nonproliferation experts due to insufficient safeguards against weaponization. Saudi Arabia insists normalization with Israel depends on a clear path to Palestinian statehood, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected.

President Trump stated that a U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement requires Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel via the Abraham Accords. The deal prohibits uranium enrichment but lacks safeguards against potential weaponization concerns. Saudi Arabia has not commented on the normalization requirement, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected Palestinian statehood as a precondition.

President Donald Trump stated that a U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal is conditional on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, which normalize relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia has previously refused to sign the accords without a credible path to Palestinian statehood, and the deal lacks strict nonproliferation safeguards, raising concerns about uranium enrichment risks.

President Trump stated that a U.S.-Saudi Arabia civilian nuclear program deal requires Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel via the Abraham Accords. The agreement excludes uranium enrichment but raises concerns over insufficient safeguards to prevent weaponization. Saudi Arabia has tied normalization to a Palestinian statehood path, which Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects.

President Trump claimed the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal prohibits uranium enrichment and requires Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords. The agreement, signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, allows American companies to assist Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program but does not require a separate International Atomic Energy Agency protocol. Critics argue the deal weakens leverage to push Saudi-Israel normalization, while the Saudis state they will not normalize with Israel without a Palestinian state path.

President Donald Trump claims a U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement requires Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel via the Abraham Accords. The deal excludes uranium enrichment restrictions, raising nonproliferation concerns, while Saudi officials insist Palestinian statehood is a prerequisite for normalization. The 30-year pact involves U.S. firms and lacks IAEA monitoring protocols.

President Trump claimed a U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement requires Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. The deal excludes uranium enrichment but raises concerns among nonproliferation experts due to lacking safeguards. Saudi Arabia insists normalization with Israel depends on a Palestinian state, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes.

Trump stated that a U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement requires Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. The deal prohibits uranium enrichment but lacks safeguards against potential weaponization, and it is conditional on Saudi joining the Accords. The agreement involves U.S. firms over 30 years and excludes the IAEA's Additional Protocol for monitoring.

Democrats are preparing to oppose a Trump administration nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, citing concerns over lack of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversight and the timing amid the Iran war. The deal aims to strengthen US-Saudi relations and benefit the US nuclear industry, but lawmakers question its compliance with nonproliferation standards.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed a nuclear cooperation agreement that could enable Saudi uranium enrichment for civilian use, with potential implications for regional nuclear proliferation. The deal, which excludes enhanced IAEA monitoring, faces congressional review and involves U.S. firms in developing Saudi nuclear technology.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement allowing Saudi Arabia access to nuclear enrichment for a civilian nuclear power program, with the U.S. providing technology and expertise under nuclear safety and nonproliferation safeguards. The deal, aimed at advancing economic and strategic objectives, will be sent to Congress for review.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed a nuclear cooperation agreement, potentially enabling Saudi uranium enrichment for civilian programs. The deal includes a 123 agreement and bilateral safeguards but excludes the IAEA's Additional Protocol, raising concerns about proliferation risks. The agreement, expected to involve U.S. firms and face congressional review, is framed as upholding nonproliferation standards.

The Trump administration is expected to sign a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could allow uranium enrichment for civilian programs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserts the deal will not lead to proliferation, though experts warn it may increase regional nuclear competition. The agreement lacks the IAEA's Additional Protocol for monitoring and faces potential congressional opposition.

US President Donald Trump threatened to attack Pickaxe Mountain, an underground Iranian facility near the Natanz Nuclear Facility, amid Israeli claims Iran moved enriched uranium and centrifuges there after 2025 attacks. Iran built the facility to manufacture centrifuges for uranium enrichment, but no public evidence confirms it is operational or holds enriched uranium.

President Donald Trump has reportedly approved a 30-year civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, granting access to American reactor technology despite concerns about regional proliferation risks. The deal bypasses International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and includes provisions for a US-led study on Saudi uranium enrichment, raising fears of a Middle Eastern nuclear arms race.

A U.S. service member was killed in Iraq during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone as the U.S. and Iran escalate military tensions with airstrikes and missile attacks. The conflict has targeted civilian infrastructure, including a nuclear plant under construction in Iran, and spread to allied countries like Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

The US announced another service member's death in Iraq during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone. Airstrikes by the US targeted Iran's Revolutionary Guard and infrastructure, while Iran fired missiles toward Jordan, risking escalation into Israel. Both sides have damaged civilian infrastructure, and a U.S. strike reportedly hit a site of a planned Iranian nuclear power plant.

The US and Iran exchanged strikes after an interim peace deal collapsed, with the US targeting Iranian military sites in retaliation for an attack in Jordan that killed two American service members. Iran struck U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf, including a Kuwaiti desalination plant, while the U.S. claimed oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain unimpeded.

The U.S. and Iran have escalated military actions following the killing of U.S. troops, with the U.S. targeting Iranian military infrastructure and Iran firing missiles toward Jordan, risking broader conflict. Iran claims a U.S. strike hit a nuclear site under construction, but satellite images show minimal development, while both sides have damaged civilian infrastructure in the region.

India and Australia have established administrative arrangements to facilitate Australian uranium exports to India. The agreement allows private sector collaboration under strict oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The UAE increased oil production to 4.1 million barrels per day in June, a record high, following its exit from the Saudi-led Opec. This surpasses the previous 2020 peak of 4 million barrels per day and reflects the UAE's move to capitalize on its departure from the energy alliance.

The UAE boosted oil production to a record 4.1 million barrels per day in June 2026, surpassing its previous high, following its exit from Opec in May. The increase reflects the country's efforts to bypass constraints imposed by Saudi-led Opec and navigate challenges related to Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Australia and India signed an administrative deal to resume uranium exports, ending a years-long stalemate over concerns about weapons use. The agreement, announced by Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi, enacts a 2014 deal conditional on International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and separation of India's civilian and military nuclear programs.

Australia and India have agreed to sell uranium for peaceful purposes after years of delay due to weapons concerns, with leaders Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi signing an administrative deal. The agreement requires International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards and separation of civilian and military nuclear programs.

Australia and India signed an administrative deal to resume uranium exports, ending years of stalemate over concerns India might use the material for weapons. The agreement, subject to IAEA safeguards and separation of civilian/military nuclear programs, follows a 2014 deal blocked by Australia's refusal to sell to non-Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signatories.

India and Australia signed an agreement allowing uranium exports from Australia to India for exclusively peaceful purposes, supporting India's clean energy objectives under IAEA safeguards. The deal follows a 2015 nuclear cooperation agreement but had previously faced legal hurdles.

Experts warn that Iran's continued construction at the IAEA-uninspected Pickaxe Mountain facility in the Zagros Mountains raises concerns about compliance with the Trump-era MOU. Satellite imagery from June 2026 shows ongoing activity at the site, which analysts suggest could become a nuclear enrichment plant if negotiations fail. The IAEA has not responded to queries about seeking access to the facility.

The US-Iran deal allows UN inspectors access to nuclear sites, according to IAEA chief Rafael Grossi. He confirmed discussions with Iranians about visiting sites and emphasized the need for a strong verification system.

The IAEA chief emphasized 'very strong' nuclear verification in Iran after the Middle East conflict to prevent nuclear weapon development. The United States and Iran are negotiating a broader agreement to end the war, with Iran's nuclear program as a key issue.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced that the UN nuclear watchdog will begin inspecting Iran's nuclear sites under a US-Iran memorandum of understanding. He emphasized the need for inspections to supervise the agreement and stated technical work has already started.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that UN nuclear inspections in Iran's enrichment sites will proceed despite Tehran's caution. An Iranian diplomat indicated such inspections would occur only after a final agreement is reached, highlighting ongoing disagreements between the US and Iran over the interim deal's provisions.

The U.S. and Iran publicly disagree over nuclear inspections under their interim deal, with the IAEA confirming visits to Iranian sites but Iran delaying them until a final agreement. Ongoing conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon also threaten regional stability.

The U.S. and Iran are in dispute over whether Iran agreed to allow U.N. inspections of its nuclear sites, with President Donald Trump threatening to cut talks if inspections are not approved. A separate plan to resolve a shipping bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz is underway, involving Iran, the U.S., and regional partners, though tensions persist due to ongoing conflicts in Lebanon.

The U.N. nuclear agency head confirmed plans to inspect Iranian enrichment sites under the U.S.-Iran interim deal, but Iranian officials stated inspections would occur only after a final agreement. Public disputes between the U.S. and Iran over nuclear terms, alongside renewed Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, risk destabilizing regional ceasefire efforts.

The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran's nuclear sites to prevent uranium enrichment for weapons, with Iran claiming its program is peaceful. Iran has 441 kg of 60%-enriched uranium, a step from weapons-grade material, according to the IAEA.