Iran parliament to adopt law suspending IAEA cooperation

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – Iran parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Thursday said that a law suspending the country’s cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog has been submitted to the government for implementation, following approval by the Constitutional Council.

The move, which halts Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency came after heightened regional tensions in recent military exchanges with Israel and the United States, media reported.

Ghalibaf said in a post on social media platform X “Today, after the Constitutional Council’s approval, the law suspending cooperation with the IAEA was handed over to the administration”.

He accused the IAEA of acting as a “guardian of Israel’s anti-human interests” and said continued cooperation would be impossible until the security of Iran’s nuclear facilities could be guaranteed.

According to ICANA, the parliament’s official news agency, the bill was passed in an open session on Wednesday with 221 votes in favor and one abstention.

The legislative move follows a series of escalations that began on June 13, when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, killing several senior commanders, scientists, and civilians. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets.

US airstrikes hit Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

In response, Iran targeted the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday with missiles.

A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took effect on Tuesday, ended the 12 days of hostilities.