International Atomic Energy Agency

Iran's parliament speaker said on May 23 that international inspectors may no longer access surveillance images of the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites, escalating tensions amid diplomatic efforts in Vienna to save Tehran's atomic accord with world powers.

Iran on April 11 described a blackout at its underground Natanz atomic facility an act of "nuclear terrorism," raising regional tensions as world powers and Tehran continue to negotiate over its tattered nuclear deal.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief announced on Feb. 21 a "temporary solution" to allow Iranian facility inspections to continue after days of talks with officials, giving some much needed breathing space for diplomatic negotiations.

European powers on Jan. 16 voiced deep concern over Iran's plans to produce uranium metal, warning that Tehran has "no credible civilian use" for the element.

"The production of uranium metal has potentially grave military implications," said the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany in a joint statement.

Iran plans to enrich uranium up to 20% at its underground Fordo nuclear facility, international inspectors said on Jan. 2, pushing its program a technical step away from weapons-grade levels as it increases pressure on the West over its tattered atomic deal.

An Iranian scientist that Israel alleged led the Islamic Republic's military nuclear program until its disbanding in the early 2000s was killed in a shootout on Nov. 27, state television said.

"Our donation of a state-of-the-art COVID-19 diagnostic machine to Bulgaria will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 with accurate and quick testing. This donation demonstrates our commitment to the long-term U.S.-Bulgaria partnership." ~ Ambassador Herro Mustafa

President Klaus Iohannis on Saturday had a telephone conversation with United States President Donald J. Trump, at the request of the U.S. side, the discussions having focused on the epidemiological crisis generated by the novel coronavirus and the manners to consolidate the transatlantic relations and the Romanian-U.S. Strategic Partnership.

No change has been observed in the levels of radioactivity in Greece's atmosphere as a result of a recent forrest fire in Chernobyl that caused radiation to spike in the area, Greece's Atomic Energy Commission (EEAE) said on Thursday.

The U.N. atomic agency is sending an initial batch of equipment to about 40 countries with which they will be able to perform a standard test for the coronavirus involving a technique derived from nuclear science, it said on April 1.