Tehran
Iran’s Parliament has approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in response to recent U.S. airstrikes on key nuclear sites.
The decision came during an open session of the Iranian Parliament, with 221 out of 223 lawmakers voting in favor. The move follows “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a coordinated strike by the U.S. on Esfahan, Fordow, and Natanz, three major Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iran has strongly condemned the attacks, calling them a violation of its sovereignty and a breach of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) stated it would continue its “peaceful” nuclear program despite external pressure.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the IAEA of failing to denounce the military strikes and claimed the agency has lost its international credibility. He announced that cooperation with the IAEA would be halted until safety guarantees for Iranian facilities are provided.
Ghalibaf also declared that Iran’s nuclear program would advance more quickly without IAEA interference.
The suspension comes shortly after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution declaring Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations—the first such move since 2005. The agency had cited undeclared nuclear material and insufficient cooperation at three locations in Iran.
Tensions are rising as the U.S. and Israel ramp up pressure on Iran, claiming its nuclear activities pose a regional threat. Meanwhile, Iran asserts its program is strictly for peaceful purposes and warns against further aggression.
The international community now watches closely as the nuclear standoff deepens.