Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has officially signed into law a bill suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s state media announced on Wednesday. The move marks one of the most significant escalations in Iran’s nuclear standoff with international powers, following a recent flare-up of military conflict involving Israel and the United States.
The bill, which passed overwhelmingly in Iran’s Parliament with 221 votes in favor and one abstention, was approved by the country’s constitutional watchdog before reaching the president’s desk. With the president’s signature, the legislation has now come into full effect, suspending Iran’s cooperation with the UN’s nuclear monitoring agency.
According to state broadcaster Press TV and news agencies Mehr and Tasnim, the decision is directly linked to the recent 12-day military conflict that erupted after Israel carried out strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13. Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks on Israeli targets, prompting the United States to strike key Iranian nuclear installations at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 22. A US-mediated ceasefire brought the fighting to a halt on June 24.
Iran has accused the IAEA of failing to respond or condemn the attacks on its nuclear facilities during the conflict. Iranian officials argue that the agency’s silence undermined its credibility and impartiality, triggering the move to cut off cooperation. The suspension raises serious questions about the future of international oversight over Iran’s nuclear activities and could further strain diplomatic efforts in the region.
The IAEA’s access to Iranian sites and its ability to verify the peaceful nature of Tehran’s nuclear program are now in jeopardy, heightening concerns among global powers about unchecked nuclear development in an already volatile region.
