Iran’s Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), escalating tensions with the global nuclear watchdog in the wake of recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
According to Iranian state media, the bill passed on Tuesday with 222 votes in favor, none against, and one abstention. It bars IAEA inspectors from accessing Iranian nuclear facilities unless the safety and security of those sites—and the personnel involved—are fully guaranteed.
The legislation is seen as a direct response to what Tehran describes as hostile conduct by the IAEA, particularly in light of its perceived silence following recent military aggression targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said the decision reflects deep dissatisfaction with the IAEA’s handling of recent events and its failure to ensure impartiality or protection for Iran’s civilian nuclear program.
Under the new law, Iran may halt several core elements of cooperation with the IAEA, including the installation of surveillance cameras, routine inspections, the admittance of inspectors, and the submission of compliance reports—unless assurances are provided regarding the safety of its nuclear facilities.
The bill was fast-tracked following attacks launched by the United States on Iran’s Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan nuclear facilities on Sunday. Those strikes came in the wake of Israel’s broader military campaign against Iran, which began on June 13. Iran has condemned both the Israeli and American actions as violations of international law and the United Nations Charter.
In response, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has vowed to continue the development of its peaceful nuclear program and declared that the recent attacks violated the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which Iran remains a signatory.
Iranian officials have emphasized that all options remain on the table to defend the nation’s sovereignty and scientific achievements.
