nuclear-news

Iran cuts ties with UN nuclear watchdog after US and Israeli strikes

Iran’s suspension of co-operation with the IAEA follows its accusations the agency sided with Western countries and provided a justification for Israel’s airstrikes last month.

SBS News,3 July 25

Key Points

• Iran has suspended inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog.
• New legislation requires top security clearance for all access to Iranian nuclear sites by the agency.
• It comes after Iran accused the agency of providing a pretext for Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear sites.

Iran has officially suspended its cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in a move that has drawn sharp international criticism.

It comes after last month’s 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, in which Israel and the United States launched unprecedented strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, and tensions between Iran and the IAEA escalated.

Iran has accused the IAEA of siding with Western countries and providing a justification for Israel’s airstrikes, which began a day after the UN agency’s board voted to declare Iran in violation of obligations under the UN-backed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

………. On 25 June, a day after a ceasefire took hold, Iran’s parliament voted overwhelmingly to suspend co-operation with the Vienna-based IAEA.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian formally enacted the suspension on Wednesday, state media reported.

The law aims to “ensure full support for the inherent rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran” under the NPT, with a particular focus on uranium enrichment, according to Iranian media.

The law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran’s nuclear sites by the IAEA needs approval by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council…………………………………………………………….

Iran has accused IAEA of providing pretext for Israeli attacks

Since the Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Iran has sharply criticised the IAEA, with officials saying that accusations against Iran of non-compliance with its NPT obligations provided a pretext for Israel and the US’ attacks.

Senior Iranian official Ali Mozaffari accused the IAEA chief of “preparing the groundwork” for Israel’s raids and called for him to be held accountable, citing “deceptive actions and fraudulent reporting”. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/iran-cuts-ties-with-un-nuclear-watchdog-us-israeli-strikes/r5j9kqdve

July 3, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, politics international