News Brief
Iran Formally Suspends Cooperation With UN Nuclear Watchdog After Israel-US Strikes
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian (File Photo)
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has granted final approval to a law suspending cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, reported The New Indian Express.
State TV reported, "Masoud Pezeshkian promulgated the law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency," making the measure, which came after last month's Iran-Israel war, effective immediately.
Last week, Iranian lawmakers voted for a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA.
They cited Israel's 13 June attack on the Islamic republic and subsequent US strikes on nuclear facilities.
On Monday (30 June), Pezeshkian informed French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Tehran halted cooperation due to the IAEA chief's "destructive" behavior.
According to a presidency statement, Pezeshkian told Macron, "The action taken by parliament members... is a natural response to the unjustified, unconstructive, and destructive conduct of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency."
France, Germany, and Britain condemned "threats" against IAEA chief Rafael Grossi after Iran rejected his request to visit bombed nuclear facilities.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated on Monday that the parliament's decision reflected the "concern and anger of the Iranian public opinion."
He also criticised the United States and European powers for their "political approach" toward Iran's nuclear program.
Baqaei questioned the safety of IAEA inspectors: "One aspect of this issue is how to ensure the safety and security of the agency's inspectors, in a situation where there is still no accurate assessment of the severity of the damage."
