Iran is also considering banning IAEA Chihulafaer Grossi after rejecting his request to visit nuclear sites.
Iranian President Masudo Pezeshkian has signed a law to halt cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) amid growing tensions between Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog following the Israeli and the US attacks last month.
“Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Iranian Television reported on Wednesday.
The announcement comes a week after Iranian parliament passed the law to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, citing Israel’s shocking attack on Iran and subsequently a US strike at Iran’s nuclear facility.
According to a parliamentary resolution, IAEA inspectors will not be permitted to visit nuclear facilities without approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
In response to Peshshkian’s official suspension, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saa urged European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal to launch a “snapback” mechanism and reinstate all UN sanctions in Iran.
The snapback, which is due to expire in October, was part of a nuclear agreement that collapsed after the US withdrawal in 2018. Iran began to reduce its commitment a year later.
Germany said Iran’s decision would send a “disastrous signal.”
“It is essential for Iran to work with the IAEA for a diplomatic solution,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Guys told reporters.
The IAEA in the statement said it was “awaiting more official information from Iran.”
The tension of growing
Tehran has been sharply criticizing the IAEA since Israel launched an attack on Iran last month.
Earlier this week, Iran’s foreign minister said IAEA’s Chihulafaer Grossi is no longer welcome in the country.
Authorities also criticize Grossi for the June 12 resolution passed by the IAEA committee, which accused Tehran of not violating its nuclear obligations.
Iranian officials said the resolution was one of the “excuses” for the Israeli attacks that began on June 13th and lasted for 12 days.
Iran also rejected a request from IAEA Chief Grossi to visit nuclear facilities that were bombed during the war.
“Grossi’s claim to visit locations that were bombed under the pretext of a safeguard is pointless and perhaps intentionally malignant,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragci said on Monday. “Iran reserves the right to take steps to defend its interests, its people and sovereignty.”
Earlier this week, Pezeschkian condemned Grossi’s “destroying” behavior, while France, Germany and the UK condemned the unspecified “threat” committed against the IAEA chief.
Iran’s ultra-conservative Kaihan newspaper recently claimed that the documents showed Grossi was an Israeli spy and should be executed.
Iran has argued that no threat has been raised to Glossy or to the agency’s inspectors.
The 12-day war began when Israel fired a surprising fire to Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, assassinating several top military commanders and nuclear scientists. Tehran responded with waves of missiles and drones in Israel.
On June 22, the United States, an Israeli ally, launched its own unprecedented strike at Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordaw, Isfahan and Natanz. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took hold on June 24th.
Judicial spokesman Asgal Jahangir said at least 935 people have been killed in Israel’s attack on Israel, citing the latest forensic data. The deceased included 132 women and 38 children, Jahangir added.
Authorities say the Iranian retaliatory attack killed 28 people in Israel.
President Donald Trump said the US attack “eliminates” Iran’s nuclear program, but the extent of the damage was not clear.
Araghchi admits that “serious” damage has been caused to the nuclear site.
However, in a recent interview with US media outlet CBS Evening News, he said:
Israel and some Western countries say Iran is seeking nuclear weapons – Tehran has consistently denied it.
