Iran Moves To Suspend Cooperation With UN Nuclear Watchdog Amid Escalating Tensions

As regional tensions escalate, Iran has announced plans to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The decision comes in the wake of recent Israeli and US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and a new resolution from the IAEA Board of Governors declaring Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations.

Iranian Parliament targets IAEA ties

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf confirmed on Monday that the Islamic Consultative Assembly is preparing to approve legislation that would halt Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA.

He shared the update via a post on a social media platform, where he accused the UN agency of abandoning ‘professional’ standards.

“We are seeking to approve a plan to halt cooperation with the agency until we receive concrete guarantees of its professional behaviour,” Ghalibaf stated, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Backdrop of Israeli and US strikes

The announcement follows a series of military strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites.

On June 13, Israel launched targeted airstrikes inside Iran, striking nuclear and defence installations and killing several senior commanders, scientists, and civilians.

Days later, the United States launched its air campaign early Sunday, striking key nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

These coordinated attacks significantly escalated tensions in the region and drew widespread international concern.

IAEA declares Iran non-compliant

The diplomatic conflict intensified further after the IAEA’s Board of Governors passed a resolution labelling Iran as non-compliant with its nuclear commitments for the first time since 2005.

This move followed an IAEA report alleging that Iran had failed to clarify the presence of nuclear material at three undeclared locations.

The agency also described Tehran’s level of cooperation as ‘less than satisfactory’.

Rafael Grossi confirms damage at Fordow site

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi addressed the Board of Governors during an emergency meeting on Monday.

He confirmed that the US airstrikes caused visible destruction at Iranian nuclear facilities.

Grossi stated that satellite imagery showed craters at the Fordow nuclear site, confirming extensive damage following the American bombing campaign.

Iran’s decision to reduce transparency with the IAEA is expected to raise alarm among world powers, especially as diplomatic avenues for salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) continue to unravel.

The global community now watches closely as Tehran signals a harder line on nuclear oversight in response to rising military pressure.

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