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Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip opened fire early Monday as people headed toward an aid distribution site a kilometer away, killing at least three and wounding dozens, health officials and a witness said. The military said it fired warning shots at “suspects” who approached its forces. The shooting occurred at the same location where witnesses say Israeli forces fired a day earlier on crowds heading toward the aid hub in southern Gaza run by the Israeli and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Hungry Palestinians in Gaza block and offload dozens of UN food trucks The Israeli military said it fired warning shots on Monday toward “several suspects who advanced toward the troops and posed a threat to them,” around a kilometer (1,000 yards) away from the aid distribution site at a time when it was closed. The army denied it was preventing people from reaching the site. The United Nations and major aid groups have rejected the foundation's new system for aid distribution. They say it violates humanitarian principles and cannot meet mounting needs in the territory of roughly 2 million people, where experts have warned of famine because of an Israeli blockade that was only slightly eased last month. In a separate incident Monday, an Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed 14 people, according to health officials. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals confirmed the toll from the strike in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, saying five women and seven children were among those killed. The military said it had struck “terror targets” across northern Gaza, without elaborating. Israel says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militant group is entrenched in populated areas. Also Monday, the Palestinian Authority said a 14-year-old boy was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank in the Palestinian village of Sinjil. In a statement, the Israeli military said troops in the Sinjil area had opened fire and “neutralized” someone who threw two bottles containing a dangerous substance at them.   Shooting in southern Gaza A Red Cross field hospital received 50 wounded people, including two declared dead on arrival, after the shooting in southern Gaza, according to Hisham Mhanna, a Red Cross spokesperson. He said most had gunfire and shrapnel wounds. Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis said it received a third body. Moataz al-Feirani, 21, who was being treated at Nasser Hospital, said he was shot in his leg as he walked with a crowd of thousands toward the aid distribution site. He said Israeli forces opened fire as they neared the Flag Roundabout at around 5:30 a.m. “We had nothing, and they (military) were watching us," he said, adding that drones were filming them. On Sunday, at least 31 people were killed and over 170 wounded at the Flag Roundabout as large crowds headed toward the aid site, according to local health officials, aid groups and several eyewitnesses. The witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire on the crowds at around 3 a.m. after ordering them to disperse and come back when the distribution site opens. Israel’s military on Sunday denied its forces fired at civilians near the aid site in the now mostly uninhabited southern city of Rafah, a military zone off limits to independent media. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with procedure, said troops fired warning shots at several suspects advancing toward them overnight. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, said it had delivered aid on both days without incident. On Sunday night, the foundation issued a statement, saying aid recipients must stay on the designated route to reach the hub Monday, and that Israeli troops are positioned along the way to ensure their security. “Leaving the road is extremely dangerous,” the statement said. Gaza ceasefire talks gain momentum as Israel accepts a US proposal ‘Risking their lives for food’ U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza” on Sunday. “It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food.” He called for an independent investigation into what happened. Israel and the United States say they helped establish the new aid system to circumvent Hamas, which they accuse of siphoning off assistance. U.N. agencies deny there is any systemic diversion of aid and say the new system violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control who receives aid and by forcing Palestinians to travel long distances to receive it. Palestinians must pass close to Israeli forces and cross military lines to reach the GHF hubs, in contrast to the U.N. aid network, which delivers aid to where Palestinians are located. No end in sight to Israel-Hamas war The Israel-Hamas war began when Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 58 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive. Israel’s military campaign has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the Hamas-run government. Its toll is seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts, though Israel has challenged its numbers. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli pullout. Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the hostages are returned, and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and sent into exile. It has said it will maintain control of Gaza indefinitely and facilitate what it refers to as the voluntary emigration of much of its population. Palestinians and most of the international community have rejected the resettlement plans, viewing them as forcible expulsion.  

Sicily’s Mount Etna put on a fiery show Monday, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometers (miles) into the air, but officials said the activity posed no danger to the population. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. An official update declared the ash cloud emission had ended by the afternoon. Guatemala's volcano erupts, prompting evacuations Italy’s INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe’s most active volcano was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily’s president, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area “and posed no danger to the population.” Volcano erupts in southwestern Iceland after a nearby town and spa are evacuated The event was captured in video and photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported. The video showed tourists running along a path on the flank of the vast volcano with smoke billowing some distance in the background. Excursions are popular on Etna, which is some 3,300 meters (nearly 11,000 feet) high, with a surface area of some 1,200 square kilometers (about 460 square miles).

According to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Chinese capital welcomed 8.21 million tourists during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, representing a 5.4 percent increase compared to the previous year. Running from May 31 to June 2, the three-day holiday saw 10.77 billion yuan (about 1.49 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue in Beijing, up 6.7 percent from the same period last year. To boost the city's tourism, more than 1,700 cultural tourism events, including dragon boat carnivals, intangible cultural heritage markets and Hanfu (traditional Chinese attire) workshops, were held. This year's Dragon Boat Festival on May 31 overlapped with Children's Day on June 1, driving a high demand for family-friendly outings and educational tours. Meanwhile, 1,119 commercial performances staged across the city attracted an audience of 458,000 with a total box office revenue of 140 million yuan -- representing year-on-year growth of 32 percent, 75 percent and 130 percent, respectively. In the three days, Beijing's inbound tourism market also experienced strong growth, with 67,000 inbound visitors, a 35.8 percent increase year-on-year, and tourism revenue from them rising 41.1 percent year-on-year to 720 million yuan.

Karol Nawrocki, a conservative candidate, emerged victorious in Poland’s presidential runoff over the weekend, securing 50.89% of the vote. His narrow win came against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who earned 49.11%, according to final results released Monday. The tight race reflected Poland’s deep political divisions, highlighted during the initial round two weeks earlier. Initial exit polls had suggested a Trzaskowski win, but subsequent updates swung the outcome in Nawrocki’s favor. Nawrocki's victory signals a likely shift toward a more nationalist and populist stance in Polish politics. He received strong backing from former U.S. President Donald Trump. On Monday, Trzaskowski publicly congratulated Nawrocki and thanked his supporters, expressing regret at not being able to persuade a majority of voters. He emphasized his vision for a stronger and more compassionate Poland. International Reactions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Nawrocki, highlighting Poland's strategic role in supporting Ukraine and promoting regional security. He expressed hope for continued collaboration. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a political ally in terms of ideology, praised Nawrocki’s win. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen extended cautious congratulations, underlining the importance of shared democratic principles and cooperation within the EU. Presidency’s Role in Poland While the Polish prime minister, chosen by parliament, handles most executive duties, the presidency is influential—particularly in foreign policy and legislative vetoes. Nawrocki will take office after current conservative President Andrzej Duda finishes his term on August 6. The presidential term in Poland lasts five years and can be renewed once. Challenges for Prime Minister Tusk Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government, elected in late 2023, includes a broad coalition with diverse ideologies. This internal division, combined with President Duda’s vetoes, has hindered progress on key reforms, such as liberalizing abortion laws and establishing civil unions for same-sex couples. With Nawrocki’s upcoming presidency, Tusk faces even more resistance to delivering on promises to reverse controversial judicial changes that the EU has condemned. The political deadlock could undermine his leadership through to the next election in 2027. Nawrocki’s Background A 42-year-old former amateur boxer and historian, Nawrocki is relatively new to politics. He was chosen by the Law and Justice party to offer a fresh face untainted by past controversies. Most recently, he led Poland's Institute of National Remembrance, known for promoting nationalist interpretations of history and removing Soviet-era monuments—actions that led to his inclusion on a Russian wanted list. Supporters see Nawrocki as a champion of traditional values, especially among those critical of secular and LGBTQ+ movements. Allegations linking him to criminal figures and involvement in a street fight did not significantly harm his popularity; he denied the criminal ties and defended the fight as honorable. Support from Trump Donald Trump openly supported Nawrocki, hosting him at the White House a month ago. The conservative CPAC group also held its first Polish conference shortly before the vote, where prominent Trump ally Kristi Noem endorsed Nawrocki. With around 10,000 U.S. troops stationed in Poland, Noem indicated the potential for stronger defense cooperation under Nawrocki’s leadership. Nawrocki echoed Trump’s rhetoric on several issues, including Ukraine. While vowing continued support for Ukraine, he criticized President Zelenskyy and accused Ukrainian refugees of straining Poland’s public services, pledging to prioritize Polish citizens in areas like healthcare and education.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Turkey on Monday for a new round of peace talks aimed at ending the ongoing war, now in its third year, though expectations remained minimal for any significant breakthrough. According to Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, Ukraine’s delegation, led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, arrived in Istanbul for the meeting. The Russian side, headed by President Vladimir Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky, reached Turkey on Sunday evening, Russian state media reported. Turkish officials said the meeting was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. local time, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan overseeing the proceedings. Representatives from Turkey’s intelligence agency were also reportedly in attendance. However, the Ukrainian side stated the talks would begin at midday, and the timing discrepancy could not immediately be clarified. Despite the diplomatic engagement, both sides appear far apart on the core issues needed to halt the fighting. In the meantime, hostilities have continued unabated along the approximately 1,000-kilometre front line, with each side launching strikes deep into the other’s territory. On Sunday, Ukraine’s Security Service claimed that a drone attack carried out by Kyiv destroyed over 40 Russian aircraft inside Russia. In response, Moscow launched a barrage of missile and drone attacks targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Monday that its air defence systems shot down 162 Ukrainian drones overnight across eight Russian regions, including the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported it had downed 52 of the 80 drones launched by Russia overnight. In a separate incident, two ballistic missiles struck a residential area in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Monday morning, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. One missile landed near an apartment block, while the other hit a road close to a school. “Standing next to the crater, you realize how different it all could have been,” Terekhov wrote in a statement accompanied by a photograph of the site. “A few more meters — and it would have hit the building. A few more minutes — and cars, buses would have been on the road.” No casualties were reported in the incident. The latest round of peace talks marks the second direct meeting between the two countries in just over two weeks, but with little movement on either side, a negotiated settlement remains elusive.

Explosions caused two bridges to collapse and derailed two trains in western Russia overnight, officials said Sunday, without saying what had caused the blasts. In one of the incidents, seven people were killed and dozens were injured. The first bridge, in the Bryansk region on the border with Ukraine, collapsed on top of a passenger train on Saturday, causing the casualties. The train's driver was among those killed, state-run Russian Railways said. Hours later, officials said a second train derailed when the bridge beneath it collapsed in the nearby Kursk region, which also borders Ukraine. Explosion at Iranian Port tied to missile fuel kills 25, injures 800 In that collapse, a freight train was thrown off its rails onto the road below as the explosion collapsed the bridge, local acting Gov. Alexander Khinshtein said Sunday. The crash sparked a fire, but there were no casualties, he said. Russia’s Investigative Committee, the country’s top criminal investigation agency, said in a statement that explosions had caused the two bridges to collapse, but did not give further details. Several hours later, it edited the statement, which was posted on social media, to remove the words “explosions” but did not provide an explanation. The committee said that it would be investigating the incidents as potential acts of terrorism. Rescue workers cleared debris from both sites, while some of those injured were transported to Moscow for treatment. Photos posted by government agencies in Bryansk appeared to show train carriages ripped apart and lying amid fallen concrete from the collapsed bridge. Other footage on social media was apparently taken from inside vehicles on the road that had managed to avoid driving onto the bridge before it collapsed. Bryansk regional Gov. Alexander Bogomaz announced three days of mourning for the victims, starting Monday. Damage to railway tracks was also found Sunday by inspectors working on the line elsewhere in the Bryansk region, Moscow Railway said in a statement. It did not say whether the damage was linked to the collapsed bridges. In the past, some officials have accused pro-Ukrainian saboteurs of attacking Russia’s railway infrastructure. The details surrounding such incidents, however, are limited and cannot be independently verified. Ukraine’s military intelligence, known by the Ukrainian abbreviation GUR, said Sunday that a Russian military freight train carrying food and fuel had been blown up on its way to Crimea. It did not claim the attack was carried out by GUR or mention the bridge collapses. Russia and Ukraine swap hundreds more prisoners hours after a massive attack on Kyiv The statement said Moscow's key artery with the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region and Crimea has been destroyed. Russia forces have been pushing into the region of Zaporizhzhia in eastern Ukraine since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia took Crimea and annexed it in 2014.

Six people were injured Sunday in what the FBI immediately described as a “targeted terror attack” at an outdoor mall in Boulder, Colorado, where a group had gathered to raise attention to Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, yelled “Free Palestine” and used a makeshift flamethrower in the attack, said Mark Michalek, the special agent in charge of the Denver field office. Soliman was taken into custody. No charges were immediately announced but officials said they expect to hold him “fully accountable.” Soliman was also injured and was taken to the hospital to be treated, but authorities didn’t elaborate on the nature of his injuries. Video from the scene showed a witness shouting, “He’s right there. He’s throwing Molotov cocktails," as a police officer with his gun drawn advanced on a bare-chested suspect with containers in each hand. The attack took place at the popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall, a four-block area in downtown Boulder, where demonstrators with a volunteer group called Run For Their Lives had gathered to raise visibility for the hostages who remain in Gaza as a war between Israel and Hamas continues to inflame global tensions and has contributed to a spike in antisemitic violence in the United States. It occurred more than a week after the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington by a Chicago man who yelled "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza” as he was being led away by police. FBI leaders in Washington said they were treating the Boulder attack as an act of terrorism, and the Justice Department — which leads investigations into acts of violence driven by religious, racial or ethnic motivations — decried the attack as a "needless act of violence, which follows recent attacks against Jewish Americans." US defence secy warns Indo-Pacific allies of 'imminent' threat from China “This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts. We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it,” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a post on X. Israel's war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others. They are still holding 58 hostages, around a third believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel’s military campaign has killed over 54,000 people in Hamas-run Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed vast areas, displaced around 90% of the population and left people almost completely reliant on international aid. Police in Boulder were more circumspect about a motive. Police Chief Steve Redfearn said it “would be irresponsible for me to speculate” while witnesses were still being interviewed but noted that the group that had gathered in support of the hostages had assembled peacefully and that injuries of the victims — ranging from serious to minor — were consistent with them having been set on fire. The violence comes four years after a shooting rampage at a grocery store in Boulder, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver, that killed four people. The gunman was sentenced to life in prison for murder after a jury rejected his attempt to avoid prison time by pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. 2 Israeli Embassy staff shot dead near Jewish Museum in Washington Multiple blocks of the pedestrian mall area were evacuated by police. The scene shortly after the attack was tense, as law enforcement agents with a police dog walked through the streets looking for threats and instructed the public to stay clear of the pedestrian mall. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that he was “closely monitoring” the situation, adding that “hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable.”

China on Sunday began implementing a trial policy that unilaterally grants visa-free entry to citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. It is the first time that China has extended such access to nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Under the policy, which will remain in effect through May 31, 2026, holders of ordinary passports from these five countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for purposes including business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchange, and transit. The move is part of China's broader efforts to expand visa-free access in line with its commitment to high-level opening-up. With this expansion, China now offers unilateral visa-free entry to 43 countries. Once made difficult by distance and complex visa procedures, travel between Latin America and China is increasingly accessible thanks to improved air connectivity and relaxed entry policies. In 2024, a direct flight was launched between Mexico City and south China's Shenzhen, spanning a distance of over 14,000 kilometers to become China's longest direct international passenger route. Other routes, such as the Beijing-Madrid-Sao Paulo, Beijing-Madrid-Havana and Beijing-Tijuana-Mexico City routes, have also strengthened links between China and Latin America and the Caribbean. Carolina Araya, a Chilean citizen and Spanish instructor at Anhui International Studies University in east China, was quick to share the news on social media after learning of the new policy, garnering many likes from friends and family. "With this visa-free policy, it will be so much easier for my parents to visit us," she said. "I'm looking forward to welcoming them here in China." Carola Ramon with the Argentine Council of Foreign Relations noted that recent years have seen growing cooperation between Argentina and China in areas such as student exchange, cultural collaboration and sports. She believes China's visa-free entry initiative will enhance people-to-people ties and broaden exchange -- not only between China and Argentina but across the broader China-Latin America region. Economic ties between China and Latin America have also deepened significantly. Bilateral trade has doubled over the past decade, surpassing 500 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Chinese exports, including electric vehicles, are increasingly popular in the region, while Latin American goods such as Chilean cherries and Argentine beef have become Chinese household staples. China has been steadily adjusting and optimizing its visa policies to boost cross-border mobility. Since late 2023, the country has rolled out a series of traveler-friendly measures. In late May, it announced that citizens of four Gulf countries -- Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain -- will also enjoy visa-free entry for up to 30 days, from June 9, 2025, through June 8, 2026. Additionally, China's visa-free transit period has been extended to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries. These policies have already had a notable impact. In 2024, China recorded 3.39 million entries under its unilateral visa-free policy, representing a 1,200 percent increase from the previous year. During this year's May Day holiday alone, 380,000 people entered China visa-free, a 72.7 percent year-on-year jump. Yu Haibo, an associate professor of tourism management at Nankai University in Tianjin, said that China's continued expansion of its visa-free policies reflects its commitment to high-standard opening-up. "These measures demonstrate China's resolve to foster a more dynamic, inclusive and resilient form of economic globalization," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling at the peace table while preparing a new military offensive in Ukraine, two senior U.S. senators warned Sunday, arguing that the next two weeks could shape the future of a war that has already smashed cities, displaced millions and redrawn Europe’s security map. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke to The Associated Press in Paris after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and touring neighborhoods shattered by what they called the worst Russian bombardments since the full-scale invasion began. In Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron — who they say is “100% aligned” with them on the war — the senators warned the window to prevent a renewed assault is closing. A sweeping U.S. sanctions bill could be the West’s last chance to choke off the Kremlin’s war economy, they said. "What I learned on this trip was he’s preparing for more war,” Graham said of Putin. Blumenthal called the sanctions proposed in legislation “bone-crushing” and said it would place Russia’s economy “on a trade island.” “It is crunch time for Putin and for the world because Russia is mounting a new offensive,” he said. At the heart of their push is a bipartisan sanctions bill, backed by nearly the entire U.S. Senate but still facing uncertain odds in Washington. It would impose 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports — targeting nations like China and India that account for roughly 70% of Russia’s energy trade and bankroll much of its war effort. Iran FM reaffirms cooperation after IAEA warns on uranium stockpile Graham called it “the most draconian bill I’ve ever seen in my life in the Senate." “The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin,” he said. “We’re going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine.” Peace talks or stalling tactic? Peace talks are scheduled to resume Monday in Istanbul. But Ukrainian officials say Moscow has yet to submit a serious proposal — a delay both senators described as deliberate and dangerous. “Putin is playing President Trump," Blumenthal said. “He’s taking him for a sucker.” The senator said Putin "is, in effect, stalling and stonewalling, prolonging the conversation so that he can mount this offensive and take control of more territory on the ground.” Graham added, “We saw credible evidence of a summer or early fall invasion, a new offensive by Putin. ... He’s preparing for more war.” Trump has yet to endorse the sanctions bill, telling reporters Friday: “I don’t know. I’ll have to see it.” Graham said the legislation was drafted in consultation with Trump’s advisers. Graham backed the president’s diplomatic instincts but said, "By trying to engage Putin — by being friendly and enticing — it’s become painfully clear he’s not interested in ending this war.” Blumenthal hoped the bipartisan support for Ukraine at least in the Senate — and the personal testimonies they plan to bring home to Congress and the Oval Office— may help shift the conversation. “He needs to see and hear that message as well from us, from the American people,” he said of Putin.

The Iranian foreign minister spoke by phone with the director of the UN’s nuclear watchdog agency early Sunday morning after a report from the agency said Iran is further increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Writing on Telegram, Abbas Araghchi said he stressed Iran’s “continuous cooperation” in his conversation with Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA did not immediately return a request for comment about the phone call, reports AP. The confidential IAEA report raised a stern warning, saying that Iran is now “the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material” — something the agency said was of “serious concern.” Araghchi emphasised to Grossi that all of Iran’s nuclear activities are within the framework of agreements and being monitored by the IAEA. The IAEA said in a separate report that Iran’s cooperation with the agency has been “less than satisfactory” when it comes to uranium traces discovered by IAEA inspectors at several locations in Iran that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites. Araghchi also asked Grossi to ensure “that certain parties do not exploit the agency for political agendas against the Iranian people.” European nations could take further steps against Iran based on the comprehensive report, leading to a potential escalation in tensions between Iran and the West. Iran vows to continue US nuclear talks despite trump threats Iran's deputy foreign minister on Sunday published a detailed response, rejecting many of the report's findings. Kazem Gharibabadi noted that out of the IAEA's 682 inspections of 32 states, 493 were carried out in Iran alone. “So long as a country’s nuclear activities are under the IAEA’s monitoring, there is no cause for concern,” he said. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is neither pursuing nuclear weapons nor does it possess any undeclared nuclear materials or activities.” The IAEA report said that as of May 17, Iran has amassed 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent. That’s an increase of almost 50 per cent since the IAEA’s last report in February. The 60 per cent enriched material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.