DUBAI: Saudi Arabia is concerned about increased nuclear activities by Iran which threaten regional security, a Saudi foreign ministry official said, after Tehran started the process of producing enriched uranium metal.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday Iran had begun the enrichment process, a move that could help it develop a nuclear weapon and was criticised by the United States and European powers.
Iran said its steps were aimed at developing fuel for a research reactor, not at producing a nuclear weapon.
Washington and its European allies saw the move as a threat to talks on reviving a 2015 deal that imposed restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions.
Riyadh "is greatly concerned about the increased pace of Iran's nuclear activities and development of capabilities ... that are not consistent with peaceful purposes", the Saudi official said in response to a Reuters request for comment.
The official said Iran's moves to produce uranium enriched to 60% fissile purity and uranium metal to 20% "represent an increasing threat" to regional security and non-proliferation of weapons.
They hamper efforts to secure "a comprehensive nuclear deal that ensures global and regional security and stability," the official said.
Global powers have been in talks with Tehran since early April to revive the 2015 deal. Washington withdrew from the pact three years ago, and Iran has responded by gradually breaching its restrictions.
The United States said on Wednesday it expected a seventh round of indirect U.S.-Iran talks to take place "at the appropriate moment," but did not say when.
Uranium enriched to 20% can be used in research reactors. But France, Britain and Germany, all parties to the 2015 deal, have said Iran's uranium metal production has no civilian credibility but could have potentially serious military implications.
Saudi Arabia, which is locked in a rivalry for regional power with Iran, has called for a stronger deal of longer duration that also addresses Gulf Arab concerns about Tehran's missiles programme and support for proxies around the region.
Riyadh and Tehran, which severed ties in 2016, launched direct talks in April aimed at containing tensions.
Reuters
Fri Jul 09 2021
![Iran's nuclear activity is concerning, says Saudi official Iran's nuclear activity is concerning, says Saudi official](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/61625816576_Iran.jpg)
The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Vienna, Austria May 23, 2021. REUTERS pic
Jambatan Bintangor dijadual siap pada April 2025
Projek jambatan Bintangor di Perkampungan Nombor, Kuching kini dijadualkan siap pada April 2025 selepas kontrak dilanjutkan selama 819 hari susulan kerja-kerja mengalih fasiliti utiliti elektrik dan telekomunikasi oleh agensi bertanggungjawab selesai.
![Bekas CEO MARii dipenjara setahun, denda RM100,000 Bekas CEO MARii dipenjara setahun, denda RM100,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/41706517466_MadaniSahari.jpg)
Bekas CEO MARii dipenjara setahun, denda RM100,000
Mahkamah memerintahkan kedua-dua hukuman penjara terhadap Datuk Mohamad Madani Sahari berjalan serentak bermula hari ini.
Acara sepak takraw regu berpasukan wanita diteruskan
Penganjuran acara sepak takraw berpasukan wanita pada temasya Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) Sarawak 2024 akan diteruskan mengikut jadual.
![RUU Warganegara: KDN sudah bentang kepada Majlis Raja-Raja, perlu perhalusi lagi RUU Warganegara: KDN sudah bentang kepada Majlis Raja-Raja, perlu perhalusi lagi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721300391_TBNasution.jpg)
RUU Warganegara: KDN sudah bentang kepada Majlis Raja-Raja, perlu perhalusi lagi
Saifuddin berkata, masih ada perkara yang perlu diperhalusi dengan Suhakam sebelum ia melalui bacaan buat kali kedua di Dewan Rakyat, Oktober ini.
![Industri CCUS perkasa usaha Malaysia capai sasaran pelepasan sifar bersih - Nik Nazmi Industri CCUS perkasa usaha Malaysia capai sasaran pelepasan sifar bersih - Nik Nazmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721294828_MenteriSumberAsli.jpg)
Industri CCUS perkasa usaha Malaysia capai sasaran pelepasan sifar bersih - Nik Nazmi
Industri penangkapan, penggunaan dan penyimpanan karbon (CCUS) tidak boleh dilihat sebagai penyelesaian tunggal untuk mencapai penyahkarbonan.
![Penukaran RTU 75 stesen amaran banjir perlu dipastikan ikut masa, kos ditetapkan - PAC Penukaran RTU 75 stesen amaran banjir perlu dipastikan ikut masa, kos ditetapkan - PAC](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721299858_MasErmieyatiSamsud.jpg)
Penukaran RTU 75 stesen amaran banjir perlu dipastikan ikut masa, kos ditetapkan - PAC
PETRA perlu memastikan kerja penukaran 'Remote Terminal Unit' (RTU) di 75 stesen terlibat Program Ramalan dan Amaran Banjir Negara (PRAB) disiapkan mengikut masa, kos dan kualiti ditetapkan.
![‘ADUN Rembia, boleh mula kumpul tin bayar denda UMNO RM100 juta’ - Akmal Saleh ‘ADUN Rembia, boleh mula kumpul tin bayar denda UMNO RM100 juta’ - Akmal Saleh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721294102_AkmalSaleh.jpg)
‘ADUN Rembia, boleh mula kumpul tin bayar denda UMNO RM100 juta’ - Akmal Saleh
Muhamad Akmal mengingatkan ADUN Rembia, Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis untuk bersedia membayar RM100 juta kepada UMNO sebagai balasan menyertai parti lain.
![Jambatan Pulau Pinang, kedua ditutup 28 Julai Jambatan Pulau Pinang, kedua ditutup 28 Julai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721298956_PenangBridge.jpg)
Jambatan Pulau Pinang, kedua ditutup 28 Julai
Jambatan Pulau Pinang dan Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah akan ditutup secara berperingkat pada 28 Julai ini bagi memberi laluan kepada acara 'Penang Fellowship Ride Bridge to Bridge 2024'.
![Pelan Transformasi Ekonomi Bumiputera dibentang minggu hadapan - Ahmad Zahid Pelan Transformasi Ekonomi Bumiputera dibentang minggu hadapan - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721292793_ZahidHamidi.jpg)
Pelan Transformasi Ekonomi Bumiputera dibentang minggu hadapan - Ahmad Zahid
Pelan Transformasi Ekonomi Bumiputera 2035 akan dibentangkan dalam Mesyuarat Majlis Ekonomi Bumiputera pada minggu hadapan.
![Jenazah Nur Farah Kartini selamat dikebumikan di Pekan Jenazah Nur Farah Kartini selamat dikebumikan di Pekan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721298561_FarahKartini.jpg)
Jenazah Nur Farah Kartini selamat dikebumikan di Pekan
Jenazah Allahyarham Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah selamat dikebumikan pada 5.20 petang di Tanah Perkuburan Kampung Nyiur Manis, di sini hari ini.
![Rishi Sunak akui kekalahan, ucap tahniah kepada Keir Starmer Rishi Sunak akui kekalahan, ucap tahniah kepada Keir Starmer](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720156983_RishiSunak.jpg)
Rishi Sunak akui kekalahan, ucap tahniah kepada Keir Starmer
Perdana Menteri Britain, Rishi Sunak, mengakui berdepan kekalahan dalam pilihan raya Britain dan menyatakan bahawa Parti Buruh pembangkang telah menang pada Jumaat.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Charles bangga keberanian Kate dedah rawatan kanser Charles bangga keberanian Kate dedah rawatan kanser](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71711145796_KingCharles.jpg)
Charles bangga keberanian Kate dedah rawatan kanser
Charles sangat bangga dengan Kate dan telah terus berhubung rapat dengan menantu kesayangannya itu selama beberapa minggu kebelakangan ini.
![Kate Middleton sahkan hidap kanser Kate Middleton sahkan hidap kanser](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51711145339_PrincessofWales.jpg)
Kate Middleton sahkan hidap kanser
Isteri pewaris takhta Putera William itu menyifatkan penemuan kanser itu sebagai "satu kejutan besar".
![Raja Charles III terharu terima ribuan kad, titip ucapan dan doa Raja Charles III terharu terima ribuan kad, titip ucapan dan doa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/41708738320_BritainsKingCharl.jpg)
Raja Charles III terharu terima ribuan kad, titip ucapan dan doa
Istana Buckingham mengeluarkan gambar baginda yang kelihatan terhibur dan terharu membaca nota yang ditulis pada kad-kad ucapan.
![Britain, Finland pula tangguh biaya UNRWA susulan dakwaan Israel Britain, Finland pula tangguh biaya UNRWA susulan dakwaan Israel](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/81704782823_Palestinians.jpg)
Britain, Finland pula tangguh biaya UNRWA susulan dakwaan Israel
Britain dan Finland telah menyertai negara-negara lain dalam menangguhkan pembiayaan kepada UNRWA.
![Britain dakwa serangan ke atas Houthi tiada kaitan konflik di Gaza - PM Rishi Sunak Britain dakwa serangan ke atas Houthi tiada kaitan konflik di Gaza - PM Rishi Sunak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61705367147_UKPrimeMinisterRi.jpg)
Britain dakwa serangan ke atas Houthi tiada kaitan konflik di Gaza - PM Rishi Sunak
Serangan itu adalah tindakan mempertahankan diri dan disasarkan dengan berhati-hati, kata Rishi Sunak.
![Guna AI tentukan umur penonton kandungan lucah di bawah garis panduan baharu UK Guna AI tentukan umur penonton kandungan lucah di bawah garis panduan baharu UK](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-03/81553353884_kanakporno.jpg)
Guna AI tentukan umur penonton kandungan lucah di bawah garis panduan baharu UK
Britain mencadangkan garis panduan baharu semakan umur bagi melindungi kanak-kanak daripada mengakses pornografi dalam talian.
![China nafi intip Parlimen Britain, gesa henti sebar maklumat palsu China nafi intip Parlimen Britain, gesa henti sebar maklumat palsu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/41694427844_HousesofParliament.jpg)
China nafi intip Parlimen Britain, gesa henti sebar maklumat palsu
China menafikan dakwaan Britain mengenai kemungkinan kes pengintipan di Parlimen London, lapor Agensi Berita Jerman ( dpa ).
![Kelewatan perjalanan udara UK mungkin berterusan beberapa hari Kelewatan perjalanan udara UK mungkin berterusan beberapa hari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/61693281777_950x600.jpg)
Kelewatan perjalanan udara UK mungkin berterusan beberapa hari
Gangguan sistem kawalan udara United Kingdom (UK) memaksa ribuan penumpang syarikat penerbangan terkandas pada Isnin, dengan potensi gangguan berlanjutan.