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Iran’s parliament approves a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to state-linked outlet Nournews. The bill, however, still requires final approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to be enforced.
This move follows the recent 12-day air war with Israel, during which Israeli officials said their goal was to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran has denied seeking nuclear weapons and says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, as quoted by state media, said Iran would now speed up its civilian nuclear programme.
He added that a resolution passed earlier this month by the IAEA.
The resolution claimed that Iran was breaching its non-proliferation commitments, and thus opened the door for Israel to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Qalibaf criticised the IAEA for failing to condemn the attacks, saying: “The Agency has put its international credibility up for sale.”
He further stated, “For this reason, the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran will suspend its cooperation with the Agency until the security of the nuclear facilities is guaranteed, and move at a faster pace with the country’s peaceful nuclear programme.”
The bill also includes measures to stop the installation of new surveillance cameras, block inspections and halt the filing of reports to the IAEA.
Details Confirmed by the National Security Committee’s Spokesperson
These details were confirmed earlier this week by the national security committee’s spokesperson, Ebrahim Rezaei. He stated that the committee had approved the bill’s general outline.
Meanwhile, Iran is also under pressure to reconsider its commitments to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime after the recent US and Israeli attacks on its underground nuclear sites.
In an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said: “I think that our view on our nuclear programme and the non-proliferation regime will witness changes, but it is not possible to say in what direction.”