Stephanie Liechtenstein
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stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
Stephanie Liechtenstein
@stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
90 followers 84 following 73 posts
Freelance journalist based in Vienna, Austria, with focus on: Multilateral diplomacy/Foreign policy/Arms control/Austria.
Get in touch: [email protected]
More info: www.stephanieliechtenstein.com
Usual caveats.
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stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
Former Austrian intelligence official on trial for spying for Russia in what is described as Austria’s biggest espionage case in decades: Cash in McDonald's bags. Stolen phones. Encrypted laptops. Queries in police databases. My first story for @euractiv.com

www.euractiv.com/news/trial-b...
Trial begins for Austrian ex-spy accused of working with Wirecard fugitive for Russia | Euractiv
The affair has added pressure on the Austrian government to tighten the country’s espionage laws
www.euractiv.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:55 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
NEW: As Iran’s 440.9 kg of highly-enriched uranium remains unaccounted for, analysts warn the stockpile could potentially be stolen, sold to non-state actors, or diverted to a covert program in the event of internal upheaval in Iran. My story for @apnews.com

apnews.com/article/iran...
Analysts warn that Iran crisis carries potential nuclear risks
In the wake of spiraling tensions between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s violent crackdown of protests, analysts warn that internal upheaval or a potential collapse of the Iranian government...
apnews.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Stephanie Liechtenstein
apnews.com
Trump said Tuesday he’s canceled talks with Iranian officials amid a protest crackdown, telling Iranian citizens “help is on its way.”
Trump cancel meetings with Iranian officials and tells protesters 'help is on its way'
President Trump says he’s canceled talks with Iranian officials amid a protest crackdown, telling Iranian citizens “help is on its way.”
bit.ly
January 13, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Stephanie Liechtenstein
apnews.com
BREAKING: Death toll from nationwide protests in Iran spikes to at least 2,000, activists say.
Iranians able to make some calls abroad while internet access is still out after protests
Mobile phones in Iran were able to call abroad Tuesday after a crackdown on nationwide protests in which the internet and international calls were cut.
bit.ly
January 13, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Stephanie Liechtenstein
apnews.com
BREAKING: At least 203 people have been killed in Iran during nationwide protests, with fears the death toll could be far higher, activists say.
Iran's parliament meets to discuss the ongoing protests shaking the nation
Iran’s parliament met to discuss the ongoing protests shaking the nation, with lawmakers at one point rushing to the front of the assembly to chant: “Death to America!”
bit.ly
January 11, 2026 at 2:29 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
NEW: At a closed-door CTBTO meeting in Vienna, a U.S. official defended President Trump's nuclear testing plans, citing rising nuclear tensions and expressing concerns that Russia and China have violated the nuclear testing moratorium. My latest for @apnews.com

apnews.com/article/nucl...
US official defends Trump’s nuclear test comments by citing mounting risks from other states
The United States has announced it will resume nuclear testing if other countries do the same. The U.S.
apnews.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by Stephanie Liechtenstein
erikaschlager.bsky.social
"Absence is acquiescence: US can’t afford to step back from the global stage"
Meaghan Mobbs, via The Hill

thehill.com/opinion/inte...
December 11, 2025 at 1:02 AM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
The OSCE Ministerial in Vienna laid bare mounting challenges and the OSCE’s struggle for relevance: no budget deal, no 2027 Chair, US demands for budget cuts. But the OSCE says it's "ready" to monitor a Ukraine ceasefire if a deal is agreed. My latest. 1/

www.shrmonitor.org/ministerial-...
Ministerial Council lays bare the OSCE’s mounting challenges and struggle for relevance
The 32nd OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, held in Vienna, was dominated by a frantic search for relevance amid mounting challenges.
www.shrmonitor.org
December 9, 2025 at 10:51 AM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
Three OSCE staffers remain in detention despite ministerial appeals. After more than 3 years, there seems to be no apparent progress on their release. One of them, Maksym Petrov, has recently been hospitalized. Read the full story here. #OSCEMC2025

www.shrmonitor.org/three-osce-o...
Three OSCE officials continue to languish in detention despite appeals by the OSCE Ministerial Council
www.shrmonitor.org
December 6, 2025 at 2:17 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
The U.S. threatens to leave the OSCE unless the organization reforms #OSCEMC2025

www.shrmonitor.org/the-us-threa...
The US threatens to leave the OSCE unless the organization reforms
www.shrmonitor.org
December 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
Another OSCE Ministerial, another round in my love-hate relationship with the organization. 😅

Read here about the unusual venue shift, notable absences, and why there's still no 2027 OSCE Chair. #OSCEMC2025

www.shrmonitor.org/osce-ministe...
OSCE Ministerial Council convenes in Vienna amid war in Ukraine, budget crisis and leadership gap
The 32nd OSCE Ministerial Council meeting will convene in Vienna on December 4-5, bringing together foreign ministers from all 57 OSCE participating states.
www.shrmonitor.org
December 3, 2025 at 10:24 AM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
Russia and the U.S. threatened to resume #nuclear testing after several decades.

My story explaining the role of the Vienna-based @CTBTO and the implications of what a resumption of atomic testing could mean.

apnews.com/article/nucl...
Russia and the US threatened to resume nuclear testing after several decades. Here is why it matters
The U.S. and Russia have both recently threatened to resume nuclear testing, alarming the international community and jeopardizing a global norm against such tests.
apnews.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:24 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
The U.N. atomic watchdog board on Thursday demanded that Iran fully cooperate with the agency and provide “precise information” about its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, as well as grant its inspectors access to Iranian nuclear sites.

My story 👇

apnews.com/article/iran...
UN atomic agency demands Iran provide full information about its nuclear stockpile
The U.N. atomic watchdog’s board of governors is demanding Iran fully cooperate and provide the agency's inspectors with “precise information” about its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, and al...
apnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
UN nuclear watchdog hasn’t been able to verify Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons grade uranium in months

My story for @apnews.com

apnews.com/article/iran...
UN watchdog hasn't been able to verify Iran's stockpile of near-weapons grade uranium in months
The International Atomic Energy Agency has been unable to verify Iran's near weapons-grade uranium stockpile since Israel struck its nuclear sites in June.
apnews.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:21 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
Ukraine: Wie sich ein Krimi um das AKW Saporischschja entspinnt

Meine Story für @profil.at

www.profil.at/ausland/ukra...
Ukraine: Wie sich ein Krimi um das AKW Saporischschja entspinnt
Das Atomkraftwerk Saporischschja in der Ukraine läuft auf Notstrom. Was führt Russland im Schilde?
www.profil.at
October 16, 2025 at 9:59 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
The UN nuclear watchdog seeks a local truce to restore external power to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant that has been running on Diesel emergency generators for three weeks.

My story for @apnews.com

apnews.com/article/zapo...
The UN nuclear watchdog seeks a local truce to restore power to the Zaporizhzhia plant
Diplomats say the U.N. nuclear watchdog is pushing Ukraine and Russia to agree to local ceasefires so that external power can be restored to Ukraine’s huge nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia.
apnews.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:31 AM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
UK, France and Germany initiate ‘snapback’ sanctions on Iran over status of nuclear program

apnews.com/article/iran...
UK, France and Germany initiate 'snapback' sanctions on Iran over status of nuclear program
France, Germany and the United Kingdom have moved to reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
apnews.com
August 29, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by Stephanie Liechtenstein
nahaltoosi.bsky.social
lol it’s only Tuesday
August 26, 2025 at 8:56 AM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
As the OSCE marks the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, 3 Ukrainian #OSCE workers continue to languish behind bars. Dmytro Shabanov, Maksym Petrov & Vadym Golda were seized in April 2022 while working for the OSCE monitoring mission. 1/ My story: apnews.com/article/russ...
Concerns grow for 3 OSCE workers jailed since shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine
More than three years after they were seized from their homes, concerns are growing for three Ukrainians who worked for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
apnews.com
July 31, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Reposted by Stephanie Liechtenstein
euroconcern.bsky.social
IAEA's Rafael Grossi "said the main concern inside Natanz is the chemical toxicity of uranium hexafluoride. It’s extremely volatile, will quickly corrode, can burn the skin and is especially deadly if inhaled"

By @stephliechtenstein.bsky.social

apnews.com/article/iran...
UN nuclear agency warns of possible contamination inside Iran's Natanz site after Israeli strikes
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says there is a possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination within Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz.
apnews.com
June 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Stephanie Liechtenstein
aronlund.bsky.social
Interesting comments from David Albright and Fabian Hinz on Israel’s ability to damage Iran’s nuclear program from the air.

@stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
@eburrows.bsky.social
@apnews.com

apnews.com/article/iran...
Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear program are sweeping but can they decimate it?
Israel’s sweeping attack across Iran struck at the heart of Tehran’s nuclear program, delivering a blow to the country’s ability to enrich uranium and potentially setting its nuclear ambitions back by...
apnews.com
June 14, 2025 at 3:25 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
UN nuclear watchdog board censures Iran, which retaliates by announcing a new enrichment site.

New story for @apnews.com on today's IAEA non-compliance resolution.

apnews.com/article/iran...
UN nuclear watchdog board censures Iran, which retaliates by announcing a new enrichment site
The U.N. nuclear watchdog’s board of governors has formally found that Iran isn’t complying with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years.
apnews.com
June 12, 2025 at 3:38 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
OSCE Secretary General Meets Russia’s Foreign Minister, Offers Support for Ukraine Settlement.

My latest story. 👇

www.shrmonitor.org/osce-secreta...
OSCE Secretary General Meets Russia’s Foreign Minister, Offers Support for Ukraine Settlement
OSCE Secretary General Sinirlioğlu met Russian FM Lavrov in Moscow, offering OSCE support for a Ukraine settlement.
www.shrmonitor.org
March 13, 2025 at 12:42 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
BREAKING: Austria gets a new govt without the far-right election winner. "Talking brings people together," said a visibly relieved Christian Stocker, as he unveiled the new coalition agreement after the longest coalition talks in post-WWII history. My story: apnews.com/article/aust...
Austria is getting a new coalition government without the far-right election winner
Three parties have reached a deal to form a new centrist Austrian government, five months after a far-right party won an election but later failed in an attempt to form an administration.
apnews.com
February 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
stephliechtenstein.bsky.social
Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium as tensions between Tehran and Washington rise after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog. My story.
apnews.com/article/iran...
Iran accelerates production of near weapons-grade uranium, IAEA says, as tensions with US ratchet up
A report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog says Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium as tensions between Tehran and Washington rise after the election of U.S.
apnews.com
February 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM