Tehran: Iran remains steadfast in its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its associated safeguards, despite recently passing legislation that curtails direct cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi affirmed on Thursday.
In a statement posted on X, Araqchi clarified that any future interactions with the IAEA would now be overseen by Iran's Supreme National Security Council, citing security concerns. This announcement comes just a day after President Masoud Pezeshkian signed into law a bill passed by Iran’s parliament to suspend certain levels of engagement with the UN nuclear watchdog.
The United States swiftly condemned the move, calling it “unacceptable,” while Germany publicly urged Iran to reverse the decision. Responding to Berlin, Araqchi accused the German government of hypocrisy, pointing to its “open support” for Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, some of which he claimed were under IAEA safeguards.
Tehran has sharply criticized the IAEA, alleging that the agency is biased toward Western nations and has failed to prevent Israeli aggression. Iranian officials argue that the June 13 - 24 Israeli air raids on its nuclear facilities were emboldened by a resolution passed by the IAEA Board of Governors, which accused Iran of non-compliance with its NPT obligations.
Western nations have long expressed concern that Iran’s civilian nuclear program could be a cover for developing nuclear weapons capabilities an allegation Tehran continues to deny. Iranian authorities insist that their uranium enrichment is strictly for peaceful, energy-related purposes.
Under the new law, all future inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities by the IAEA will require prior approval from the Supreme National Security Council, marking a significant shift in oversight protocol.
The IAEA, headquartered in Vienna, has acknowledged Iran’s recent announcement and stated it is waiting for official clarification from Tehran. “We are aware of the reports and are awaiting further information,” the agency said in a brief statement.
Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce reiterated Washington’s stance during a press briefing on Wednesday, urging Iran to resume full cooperation with the IAEA without further delay, stressing that transparency is essential to ensuring non-proliferation compliance.