CND's Press Round-Up - 27th May 2021
Posted: 27th May 2021
Dear all,
Please find today’s press round up below. Thank you to all for their continued help and support.
Nuclear Weapons
The presence of uranium at undeclared sites in Iran has provoked concern on the part of the IAEA whilst participants in the Vienna talks express guarded optimism.
Iran Nuclear Talks
The director general of the IAEA has said it is ‘a big problem’ that Iran cannot account for traces of uranium found at two sites, the Guardian reports. Rafael Grossi also said that the gains in Iranian nuclear technology and expertise since the collapse of the JCPoA had to be accounted for in any future deal. The IAEA is not a direct party to the Vienna talks but provides technical advice to the participants.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that the Iranian government has expressed optimism that a deal would be reached at Vienna soon. The official spokesman of the Iranian government said that ‘general agreements have been reached on major disputes. On the lifting of sanctions, the remaining cases are very minor, and given the negotiation process, we are optimistic about resolving the remaining minor and practical cases’. Robert Malley, the U.S’s Special Envoy for Iran said injected a note of caution, saying on social media that ‘The latest round of talks was constructive and saw meaningful progress. But much work still needs to be done’.
IAEA-UK Relations
In a meeting with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in London, the director general of the IAEA said that the UK is ‘a steadfast partner of the IAEA in advancing nuclear safeguards and the use of peaceful nuclear applications globally’, according to a press release put out by the organisation. They also discussed the Iran nuclear deal and the COP26 summit. Director General Grossi praised nuclear energy as one source of ‘green’ supply.
Anti-War
The latest chapter of long running legal investigations into the South African arms deal has begun with Jacob Zuma pleading not guilty whilst Russian long-range bomber have started training exercises in Syria.
Arms Trade Corruption
Former South African President Jacob Zuma appeared in court yesterday and entered a plea on corruption charges relating to a multi-billion dollar arms deal in the late 1990s, according to Al Jazeera. Zuma is accused of accepting regular bribes from the Thales arms company in order to protect it from investigation. Charges were first filed more than a decade ago. Several senior ANC politicians have been jailed over the years for corruption relating to the 1999 deal, the investigation into which forms the centre-piece of arms trade campaigner Andrew Feinstein’s 2007 memoir ‘After the Party’.
Russia in Syria
According to Russian state media, three nuclear-capable long-range bombers have been deployed to Syria for training exercises over the Mediterranean. The Tu-22M3 bombers will operate out of the Hmeymim airbase south of Latakia, where the runway was recently upgraded to accommodate them.
Climate Change
One of the largest oil companies in the world has been ordered by a Dutch court to reduce its carbon emissions drastically.
Fossil Fuel Company Emissions
In what is being reported as a landmark decision, a Dutch court has ruled that an oil company, Royal Dutch Shell, is legally liable for the carbon emissions produced by the use of its products. Al Jazeera reports that the court has ordered the corporation to cut its emissions by 45% by 2030. A coalition of environmental and human rights organisations, as well as 1,700 individual Dutch citizens filed the case in 2017. The Netherlands has emerged as a key site for using the courts to try to achieve environmental ends. Shell said it intends to appeal the ruling.
With best wishes,
Michael Muir
Press and Communications Officer
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament