Stephanie Liechtenstein

Stephanie Liechtenstein is a freelance journalist based in Vienna, covering diplomacy and international organizations for more than 15 years. Her articles have appeared in Foreign Policy, the EU Observer, The Washington Post and Austrian daily newspapers such as Die Presse and Wiener Zeitung. http://www.stephanieliechtenstein.com

UN Nuclear Watchdog Is ‘Gravely Concerned’ About Ukraine Plant Held by Russia

Stephanie Liechtenstein

• May 3, 2022

VIENNA — The International Atomic Energy Agency expressed “grave concern” recently about the safety at Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant, in Zaporizhzhia, and said that the situation for the Ukrainian personnel working there was “unsustainable.” The plant was captured by Russian forces in a dramatic assault on March 4. Ever since then, Ukrainian staff …

Nuclear Disarmament, Peace and Security

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TOPIC: WOMEN

Helga Schmid, the Persistent European Negotiator

Stephanie Liechtenstein

• January 10, 2022

VIENNA — The name Helga Schmid probably does not ring a bell beyond diplomatic circles in this very diplomatic city. Nor is the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, which Schmid leads, a household name, either. But the German career diplomat is about to become better known this week. United States …

Peace and Security, US Foreign Relations, Women

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‘We Are on a Ventilator’: IAEA Chief Laments Reduced Access to Iran’s Nuclear Sites

Stephanie Liechtenstein

• June 20, 2021

VIENNA — In an interview here with Rafael Grossi, the 60-year-old director-general of the United Nations nuclear watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — he revealed that he has not had a reply yet from Iran on a possible extension of the agency’s current inspections agreement of the country’s nuclear facilities, which runs out …

Nuclear Disarmament, UN Diplomats, US Foreign Relations

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US Reacts to Alarming New Information From UN Agency on Iran’s Nuclear Activities

Stephanie Liechtenstein

• February 25, 2021

VIENNA — The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in a confidential document, seen by PassBlue, that Iran has added 17.6 kilograms of uranium, enriched up to 20 percent, to its total stockpile. The enrichment process, which had been announced by Iran in January, is occurring at Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility. The 20 percent …

Middle East, Nuclear Disarmament

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The UN Nuclear Watchdog Reaches a Temporary Inspection Plan With Iran

Stephanie Liechtenstein

• February 21, 2021

VIENNA — Iran has told the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, that it will significantly limit inspections of its nuclear facilities as of Feb. 23. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director-general of the Vienna-based agency, traveled to Tehran over the weekend to meet with Iranian officials to try to preserve at …

Middle East, Nuclear Disarmament, Security Council, US Foreign Relations

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Bickering at the Nuclear Test-Ban Organization Reflects Global Hardening

Stephanie Liechtenstein

• October 21, 2020

VIENNA — For the first time in its 24-year history, state parties to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, a multilateral agreement that bans all nuclear testing worldwide, have taken a controversial decision by a two-thirds majority. Decisions in the treaty’s body are usually taken by consensus. The majority decision on Oct. 19 was focused …