Iran's president signs new order cutting ties with UN nuclear watchdog
Iran has stopped cooperation with the IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog that monitors nuclear programs for peaceful use
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made a bold move on Wednesday, directing the nation to halt participation with the International Atomic Energy Agency following US and Israeli airstrikes that damaged key nuclear sites.
These facilities had previously seen uranium enrichment close to military-grade levels. Pezeshkian issued the decree without laying out a timetable or specific actions to cease cooperation.
However, in an attempt to keep diplomatic channels open, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested in his CBS News interview that Tehran would maintain readiness for talks with the USA.
In response to President Donald Trump's anticipation of prompt dialogue resumption, Araghchi cautioned: "I don't think negotiations will restart as quickly as that," but asserted, "The doors of diplomacy will never slam shut."
Traditionally employing restricted IAEA inspections as leverage in Western negotiations, Iran currently rejects any immediate intention to resume discussions with the United States, staggered by the 12-day conflict with Israel.
Iranian state TV broadcast Pezeshkian's mandate, which is rooted in legislation approved by Iran's parliament to end IAEA collaboration.
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As of Thursday, the bill had already gained the backing of the Guardian Council—the constitutional authority—and is presumed to garner support from the Supreme National Security Council helmed by Pezeshkian himself.
"The government is mandated to immediately suspend all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency under the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its related Safeguards Agreement," the bill was quoted by state television.
"This suspension will remain in effect until certain conditions are met, including the guaranteed security of nuclear facilities and scientists."
The implications for the Vienna-based IAEA, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, were not immediately clear. The agency has long overseen Iran's nuclear program and stated that it was awaiting official communication from Iran regarding what the suspension entailed.
A diplomat familiar with IAEA operations, who requested anonymity to discuss the situation in Iran, confirmed that IAEA inspectors remained in the country following the announcement and had not been instructed by the government to depart, the Associated Press reported.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar swiftly condemned Iran's decision. "Iran has just issued a scandalous announcement about suspending its cooperation with the IAEA," he declared in an X post. "This is a complete renunciation of all its international nuclear obligations and commitments."
Saar called on European nations involved in Iran's 2015 nuclear deal to activate its so-called snapback clause. This would reinstate all U.N. sanctions originally lifted by Tehran's nuclear agreement with world powers, if one of its Western parties declares the Islamic Republic is not complying with it.
Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, and the IAEA doesn't have access to its weapons-related facilities.
