Iran’s parliament on Wednesday approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, following recent military strikes on its nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States, according to state-affiliated outlet Nournews.
The bill, which must still be ratified by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to become law, reflects Tehran’s increasing dissatisfaction with international oversight and perceived double standards regarding its nuclear programme. Iran insists its nuclear activities are strictly for peaceful purposes and denies any intention to develop nuclear weapons.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf announced that Iran would now “accelerate its civilian nuclear programme” and sharply criticised the IAEA for not condemning the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. “The Agency has put its international credibility up for sale,” Qalibaf said. He added that the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran would halt cooperation with the IAEA until the safety of its nuclear facilities is assured.
“The organisation will proceed more quickly with the peaceful development of our nuclear capabilities,” he said.
Earlier in the week, the bill’s general framework was approved by the parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee. Committee spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei stated the legislation would suspend the use of IAEA surveillance cameras, inspections, and routine reporting.
The parliamentary vote follows a recent IAEA resolution accusing Iran of violating its non-proliferation obligations. Tehran has blamed this resolution for setting the stage for the Israeli airstrikes, which were followed by U.S. military strikes over the weekend.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, speaking to Qatar’s Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Tuesday, hinted that Tehran’s broader approach to its nuclear programme and the global non-proliferation regime may be shifting. “I think our view on the nuclear programme and the non-proliferation regime will witness changes,” he said, “but it is not possible to say in what direction.”
The move to suspend cooperation with the IAEA signals a potential turning point in Iran’s nuclear diplomacy, raising concerns of heightened regional tensions and reduced transparency around its nuclear activities.
