Iran’s parliament approves a bill to halt collaboration with the UN nuclear watchdog amid tensions with the US and Israel
Iran’s parliament voted to halt collaboration with the United Nations nuclear watchdog IAEA in response to US and Israeli attacks on nuclear sites.
Following recent military attacks on its nuclear sites by Israel and the United States, Iran’s parliament approved a bill on Wednesday to halt cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog, according to state-affiliated outlet Nournews.
Tehran’s increasing dissatisfaction with international organizations and what it perceives as unfair treatment of its nuclear program is reflected in the measure, which still needs final approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to go into effect. Iran affirms that it has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons and that its nuclear activities are completely peaceful.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the speaker of the parliament, criticized the IAEA for not denouncing the airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and declared that Iran would now “accelerate its civilian nuclear program.” According to him, the organization had “put its international credibility up for sale.”
Qalibaf was quoted as saying, “Consequently, the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization will halt its collaboration with the Agency until nuclear facility security is ensured and accelerate the nation’s peaceful nuclear program.”
Earlier this week, the general framework of the bill was approved by the national security committee of the parliament. According to its spokesperson, Ebrahim Rezaei, the action would stop surveillance camera installations, inspections, and IAEA reporting.
Following the IAEA’s resolution accusing Iran of violating its non-proliferation obligations—a move Tehran says paved the way for Israel’s attacks—the vote was held. Last weekend, US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities further escalated the situation.
In an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed of Qatar on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi alluded to a possible change in Tehran’s strategy: “It is impossible to predict which way our perspective on the non-proliferation regime and our nuclear program will shift, but I believe it will.”
