“End Nuclear Insanity Before Nuclear Insanity Ends Humanity” ~llaw
May 16, 2025
(See context and description including photo credits in the Newsweek article below ~llaw)
LLAW’s NUCLEAR WORLD NEWS TODAY and the GLOBAL RISKS & CONSEQUENCES TOMORROW
In My Opinion:
Barring any last day or minute of changes or adjustments Trump seems to think the USA/Iran nuclear agreement is complete. (See video at the beginning of this Newsweek/AP article.) At this point we can only wait and see.
However, Iran has said in this article, for the first time so far as I know, that the U.S. is not capable of destroying their nuclear facilities despite Trump’s threats to do so. That statement makes me a bit nervous because Trump might choose to take offense and attempt to prove Iran wrong about their understanding of a nuclear agreement based partially on the USA’s lack of military mite. So stay tuned.
Listening to Trump in this video, it does not seem that both sides have actually agreed, by handshake or otherwise, that the “deal” is done . . . ~llaw
Iran Issues Fiery Response to Donald Trump’s Military Threats
Published May 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM EDTUpdated May 15, 2025 at 5:57 PM EDT
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By Sonam Sheth and Gabe Whisnant
Evening Politics Editor
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
15
Iran issued a sharp response Thursday to U.S. President Donald Trump‘s suggestion that Tehran could suffer significant military consequences if a nuclear deal isn’t reached soon.
Why It Matters
Washington and Tehran have engaged in multiple rounds of talks as part of the United States’ effort to get Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. Iran has insisted that its stockpiling of enriched uranium is strictly for peaceful purposes, but the U.S., European nations and Israel have voiced significant concerns over Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
The issue took center stage this week, as Trump visits Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in his first major foreign trip since taking office in January. The president has repeatedly appealed to the leaders of all three nations to help facilitate a U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement.
What To Know
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Thursday that the U.S. has not engaged in military action and is choosing diplomacy because Iran’s military is serving as a deterrent.
“If the other side—whether during the earlier talks with the P5+1 or now with the United States—were able to destroy our nuclear facilities through military means, they would have done so,” Araghchi said. “They came to the table because they cannot impose their will by force.” White House special envoy Steve Witkoff is leading the talks from the U.S. side.
The foreign minister’s remarks come as Trump says the U.S. is “very close” to reaching a nuclear deal with Iran after Tehran “sort of” agreed to the Trump administration’s terms.
Hours after Trump’s comments, Araghchi said the ability to enrich uranium is a core right for Iran and one that it will not give up.
“We have said repeatedly that defending Iran’s nuclear rights—including enrichment—is a fundamental principle,” Araghchi said, according to the Associated Press. “This is not something we concede, either in public discourse or in negotiations. It is a right that belongs to the Iranian people, and no one can take it away.”
Read more Iran
- Trump Reshapes the Middle East with Israel’s Foes
- Iran Reacts to Trump Speech: ‘Pure Deception’
- Iran Prepares Forces for War As Doubt Hangs Over US Nuclear Talks
- Iran Lawmaker Urges Nuclear Breakout if US Talks Fail
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, another top Iranian official offered one of the clearest signs yet that Iran is willing to negotiate a tenable nuclear agreement with the U.S. in which Tehran would give up its nuclear goals.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior political and military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told NBC News that Tehran will commit to never making nuclear weapons, getting rid of its stockpiles of enriched uranium which can be weaponized, agree to enrich uranium only to the lower levels needed for civilian use and allow international inspectors to supervise the process.
Shamkhani said Iran wants all economic sanctions lifted in return. When NBC asked him if Iran would sign an agreement with those terms today, Shamkhani replied, “Yes.”
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday: “Iran has sort of agreed to the terms: They’re not going to make, I call it, in a friendly way, nuclear dust. We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran.”
What Happens Next
Trump has insisted throughout the talks that the U.S. will not sign an agreement with Iran unless it includes Tehran giving up its nuclear ambitions.
“They can’t have nuclear weapons. That’s the only thing,” he said this week. “It’s very simple. It’s not like I have to give you 30 pages worth of details. It is only one sentence. They can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
But he suggested Wednesday that he’s also looking for Tehran to make other concessions as part of a deal.
Iran “must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars and permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons,” Trump said in Saudi Arabia. “They cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article.
Update 5/15/25, 5:57 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.Subscribed
ABOUT THE FOLLOWING ACCESS TO “LLAW’s ALL NUCLEAR DAILY DIGEST” RELATED MEDIA
There are 7 categories, with the latest addition, (#7) being a Friday weekly roundup of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) global nuclear news stories. Also included is a bonus non-nuclear category for news about the Yellowstone caldera and other volcanic and caldera activity around the world that play an important role in humanity’s lives. The feature categories provide articles and information about ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links with headlines concerning the most important media stories in each category, but sometimes fewer and occasionally even none (especially so with the Yellowstone Caldera). The Categories are listed below in their usual order:
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TODAY’s NUCLEAR WORLD’s NEWS DIGEST, Friday, (05/16/2025)
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
Trump Says U.S. and Iran Are Close to a Nuclear Deal – WSJ
WSJ
… Things with Kim Strassel Newsletter · All Things with Kim Strassel … View All · 3:02. WSJ Retail Reporter: How Walmart’s Price Hikes Affect …
Is Trump about to score ‘DEAL OF ALL DEALS?’ – YouTube
YouTube
Deputy special envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus discusses U.S. nuclear talks with Iran and attempts to secure peace between Russia and …
One Nuclear War Can Ruin the Whole Climate – WSJ
WSJ
All Things with Kim Strassel Newsletter · All Things with Kim Strassel … When we think about nuclear apocalypse, we tend to think of the …
Nuclear Power
NEWS
America’s AI future hinges on nuclear energy – Utility Dive
Utility Dive
Artificial intelligence makes nuclear safer, more efficient and affordable, while nuclear provides the energy AI needs to thrive.
Company Pursues Early Site Permit Tied to Potential New Nuclear Generation at Wisconsin Site
American Public Power Association
The company is working with WEC Energy Group to explore new nuclear generation in Wisconsin. The Kewaunee Power Station, a nuclear power plant, shut …
House Republicans are about to wreck Trump’s nuclear–powered dream – The Washington Post
The Washington Post
“The long-awaited American nuclear renaissance must launch during President Trump’s administration,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright wrote in …
Nuclear Power Emergencies
NEWS
Nuclear leak at Pakistan’s Kirana Hills: Why even one gram of plutonium … – The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Flight tracking tools showed a U.S. Department of Energy aircraft—usually deployed in nuclear emergencies like Fukushima—operating near Pakistan.
Kirana Hills nuclear site: Pak nukes are under the scanner – The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Never has one nuclear power struck so hard at another nuclear power. … Sighting of a US nuclear emergency aircraft flying near the area fuelled …
Utah nuclear energy: State praises Trump’s fast-tracking of uranium mine permit
The Salt Lake Tribune
… energy emergency.” By Anastasia Hufham. | May 16, 2025, 5:00 a.m.. Comment. State leaders have nothing but praise for the Trump administration’s …
Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
Iran Issues Fiery Response to Donald Trump’s Military Threats – Newsweek
Newsweek
Nuclear weapons · U.S. Foreign Policy. Iran Issues Fiery Response to Donald Trump’s Military Threats. Published May 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM EDT Updated …
Macron’s Eurobomb offer increases nuclear risks across Europe – CND
CND
Macron should focus on securing a ceasefire not escalating nuclear threats which puts millions of lives at danger.” … war · For Pead Planet ..
When Richard Nixon Threatened to Nuke North Vietnam – Trench Art | David Axe
Trench Art | David Axe – Substack
Knowing that the Soviets were not looking for a fight, especially a nuclear one, Kissinger wanted to threaten a bigger war that would drag Moscow in …
Nuclear War
NEWS
Trump Says Talks on Iran’s Nuclear Program Are ‘Very Serious’ – The New York Times
The New York Times
… nuclear activities through diplomacy and are keen to avert a war. … war between Iran and Israel. She is based in New York. A version of this …
Trump calls on Iran to ‘move quickly’ on nuclear proposal | Politics News | Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
War on Gaza · Syria · Russia-Ukraine war · India-Pakistan tensions · News … United States President Donald Trump says that Iran has his …
Trump says Iran needs to move quickly on nuclear proposal | Reuters
Reuters
Israel and Hamas at War · Japan · Middle East · Ukraine and Russia at War … May 16 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Friday said Iran had a U.S. …
IAEA Weekly News
IAEA Weekly News is not available at this time . . .