Iran’s Guardian Council has approved a new law that will halt the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This decision comes after recent conflicts involving Israel and the United States. The council, which has the power to approve or reject legislation, found that the parliament’s bill aligns with Islamic principles and the Constitution.
The spokesperson for the Guardian Council, Hadi Tahan Nazif, stated that this move is necessary to uphold Iran’s national sovereignty. He emphasized that the decision was influenced by attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities by Israel and the U.S. The legislation will now go to President Masoud Pezeshkian for final approval. Once enacted, it will allow Iran to fully exercise its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, particularly regarding uranium enrichment.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, mentioned that this law is now binding. He criticized continued cooperation with the IAEA, claiming it serves the interests of the "illegitimate Zionist regime" and is not feasible until Iran’s nuclear security is guaranteed.
Despite the approval, the IAEA has not yet received any official notice from Iran about this suspension. Iranian officials have expressed frustration over the IAEA’s lack of condemnation regarding Israeli attacks on their nuclear sites.
Before the recent conflict, Iran had accused the IAEA of sharing information with Israel about its nuclear program, a claim the agency denied. Historically, Iran’s nuclear sites have been closely monitored by the IAEA, but recent military actions have raised concerns about the future of these inspections. Reports suggest that Iran may have moved its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium out of reach of UN observers before the strikes.
U.S. and Israeli officials claim that the military strikes have significantly hindered Iran’s nuclear program. However, suspending cooperation with the IAEA could lead to an escalation of Iran’s nuclear activities, even though Tehran insists it does not seek nuclear weapons.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has dismissed speculation about returning to nuclear negotiations with the U.S. He stated that no discussions or agreements are in place for new negotiations and that the country is still assessing the damage from recent attacks to determine its future nuclear strategy.
Russia has expressed concern over Iran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that it is important for Iran to continue its cooperation with the agency and reiterated that Iran has no plans to develop nuclear weapons.
Germany has also urged Iran not to follow through with this suspension, reflecting international worries about the potential consequences of Iran’s actions. The tensions have escalated significantly since Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran, which resulted in significant casualties and damage.
As the situation develops, both Israel and Iran have claimed victory in the recent conflict, but the long-term implications of Iran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the IAEA remain uncertain.