On Wednesday, Iran officially announced the suspension of its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following President Masoud Bezhakian’s endorsement of a law passed by parliament in response to US and Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities during the conflict with Israel.
Tensions between Tehran and the UN agency have escalated after an unprecedented attack by Israel that began on June 13. Throughout the 12-day conflict, Israel targeted military and nuclear sites, assassinating Iranian scientists, while US forces bombed three key nuclear locations in Iran.
On June 25, following the implementation of a ceasefire, the Iranian parliament approved legislation to halt collaboration with the IAEA, whose inspectors were monitoring various declared aspects of Iran’s nuclear program. However, the law did not specify the procedural steps for this suspension.
The Guardian Council, the body responsible for reviewing legislation in Iran, ratified the bill and forwarded it to the executive authority for implementation. National television reported that Bezhakian “approved the law to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.”
According to Iranian media, the legislation aims to “fully support Iran’s essential rights” under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, specifically regarding uranium enrichment.
Western nations and Israel suspect that Iran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon; however, Tehran denies these claims, asserting its right to pursue a civilian nuclear program. While Israel remains ambiguous about its nuclear arsenal, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that Israel possesses around 90 nuclear warheads.
In response to Iran’s announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called on the international community to “take decisive action” to halt the Iranian nuclear program.
Sa’ar urged Germany, France, and Britain to “reinstate all sanctions on Iran.” He added, “The international community must act swiftly now and employ all available means to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”
Europeans initiated the diplomatic efforts regarding Iran’s nuclear program nearly two decades ago, leading the way.
The only remaining option for Europeans, as acknowledged by diplomacy experts, is to activate the “snapback” mechanism specified in the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, from which President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018. This mechanism allows for the reimposition of international sanctions on Iran, offering a means of pressure.
A New and More Dangerous Phase
German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Geise stated that Iran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the nuclear agency is a “catastrophic signal.”
Nuclear Threat Initiative researcher Eric Brewer remarked on Tehran’s announcement, indicating that “after decades of strict IAEA access to Iran’s nuclear program, we are now entering a new and more dangerous phase.”
He continued in a post on X, “The responsibility for understanding what is occurring at Iranian nuclear sites, both new and old, will entirely fall to intelligence agencies.” Iranian officials have previously condemned the “silence” of the IAEA regarding the American and Israeli strikes.
Iran criticized the agency for its adoption of a resolution on June 12 condemning Tehran’s “non-compliance” with its nuclear obligations.
Iranian officials stated that this resolution was one of the “pretexts” for the Israeli attack. On Wednesday, judicial official Ali Mozaffari stated that the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi “must be held accountable” for what he described as “preparing a crime” against Iran, accusing him of “deceptive actions and fraudulent reporting,” according to Tasnim news agency.