Iran Suspends IAEA Cooperation Post-US Airstrikes on Nuclear Sites

Dubai, July 2 (AP) - On Wednesday, Iran's president reportedly directed the suspension of the country's collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), subsequent to American airstrikes on its pivotal nuclear facilities. President Masoud Pezeshkian's decision was communicated through state media. The move follows a law passed by Iran's parliament to halt such cooperation, a measure that had already secured the approval of a constitutional watchdog. The implications for the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, headquartered in Vienna, remain uncertain as the agency has yet to issue a comment. After the law's passage, oversight of the bill and its implementation fell to Iran's Supreme National Security Council. While the council has not publicly commented, Pezeshkian, as the council's head, appears poised to enforce the bill. However, Iran's theocratic government allows the council flexibility in implementing the bill, suggesting that full compliance with lawmakers' demands is not guaranteed. Under a 2015 nuclear deal orchestrated with world powers during President Obama’s administration, Iran was permitted to enrich uranium up to 3.67%, a level sufficient for powering a nuclear plant but far below the 90% needed for weapons-grade material. This agreement significantly curtailed Iran's uranium reserves and its use of centrifuges and required Tehran to submit to enhanced IAEA oversight to ensure compliance. However, tensions escalated in 2018 when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the accord, arguing it was insufficiently robust, particularly regarding Iran's missile program and support for militant groups regionally. This decision catalyzed subsequent years of unrest, featuring maritime and terrestrial attacks. Iran has since enriched uranium to as much as 60%, approaching weapons-grade levels, and amassed sufficient stockpiles to construct multiple nuclear weapons if it so chooses. While Iran maintains that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, skepticism persists among the IAEA, Western intelligence, and other entities, all of which contend that Tehran conducted an organized weapons program as recently as 2003.

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