Iran Cuts Ties with IAEA Amid Rising Tensions
Tehran: Iran’s parliament has approved the suspension of all cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), until the full security of Iran’s nuclear facilities is guaranteed.
According to Iranian state media, the law now needs to be ratified by the Supreme National Security Council for its implementation.
The move comes in the wake of recent attacks by Israel and rising tensions. Israel had accused it of taking action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on the occasion that Iran would accelerate its peaceful nuclear program,
and that Iran would not cooperate with the IAEA until the security of its nuclear facilities is ensured.
He accused the IAEA of supporting the Israeli narrative instead of condemning the attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, and that its impartiality has become questionable.
Earlier, the parliament’s National Security Committee approved the basic points of the bill.
According to committee spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei, the law will suspend measures such as the installation of surveillance cameras, inspections and the provision of reports.
Iran has once again made it clear that it does not intend to acquire nuclear weapons, while Tehran maintains that IAEA resolutions gave Israel the right to attack Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview with the Qatari daily Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that a change in Iran’s position on its nuclear program and the global non-proliferation regime is expected, although he did not specify in which direction this change would take place.
