Iran suspends cooperation with IAEA over nuclear site security concerns

Iran’s parliament has formally approved a bill to suspend the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), citing unresolved security concerns following recent attacks on its nuclear facilities.

According to Iranian lawmaker and Praesidium member Alireza Salimi, both the general framework and the specific provisions of the draft legislation were passed by the Majlis (Iran’s parliament).

The bill stipulates a halt to collaboration with the IAEA until Tehran is assured of the full protection of its nuclear infrastructure.

“The general scheme and details of the bill on suspending the Islamic Republic of Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency have been approved by the Majlis,” Salimi was quoted as saying by ISNA.

The resolution mandates a comprehensive freeze on key forms of engagement with the IAEA, including denying inspectors access to Iranian facilities, halting installation of surveillance cameras, blocking inspections, and refraining from submitting reports to the Agency. These measures will remain in place until Iran receives credible guarantees ensuring the safety of all its nuclear sites.

This move comes amid heightened tensions following US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has expressed concern over the breakdown in monitoring and urged Iran to resume cooperation without delay.

Speaking to Fox News, Grossi emphasised the importance of renewed inspections: “I believe it would benefit everyone to understand what can be done with the uranium enriched to 60 per cent that may have been removed from the site attacked by the US.”

He reiterated the urgency of restoring oversight. “Determining the whereabouts of uranium is only possible through resumption of inspections in Iran,” Grossi said, calling for this process to begin “as soon as possible.”

Grossi also disclosed new findings from the IAEA’s assessment of the damage caused by the US airstrikes. “According to our assessment, there was a localised radioactive and chemical release inside the affected facilities, which contained nuclear materials—mostly uranium enriched to varying degrees — but there were no reports of increased radiation levels outside the sites,” he noted.

By Tamilla Hasanova