On the 3rd of July, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian directed the nation to discontinue its partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This decision was a consequence of the U.S.’s forceful attack on three critical Iranian nuclear facilities amid an ongoing aerial conflict between Iran and Israel.
The ensuing discussions between Iran and the IAEA are predicted to be intricate and replete with technical nuances, as stated by the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic. This announcement was made as the nuclear regulator gears up to make its first visit since Tehran terminated its relationship with the agency a month prior.
The bond between the IAEA and Iran deteriorated primarily due to an aerial assault initiated by the U.S. and Israel in June, which targeted key nuclear locations in Iran. This 12-day conflict led to increased pressure and strained relations between the involved parties.
On June 12, the board of the IAEA made a statement that Iran had violated its commitments towards non-proliferation. This was a day before Israel initiated an airstrike over Iran, which ignited the warfare. The IAEA, however, remained silent on the visit by the agency’s deputy chief, which does not encompass any scheduled visits to the disputed Iranian nuclear sites.
Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, expressed the possibility of an interaction with Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi. However, he noted it is too early to predict any concrete outcomes from these discussions due to their complex and technical nature.
Baghaei further expressed discontent with the passive stance held by the IAEA during the war against Israel in June. He criticized the agency for not voicing stronger condemntation when sites under 24/7 surveillance were targeted and attacked.
Aragchi previously stated that any future cooperation with the IAEA would require the green light from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which is Iran’s apex security body. He conveyed that both entities need to redefine the terms of how they interact and work together in the future.
This decree, if put into effect, would limit the abilities of inspectors to monitor Tehran’s controversial programme that potentially enriches uranium close to weapons-grade levels. This critical issue stirs considerable tension and complication within global diplomatic and security circles.
For the second time, on July 3, President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an order instructing the nation to halt all collaborative efforts with the IAEA. This was as a retaliation to bombing events in which the U.S. targeted three major Iranian nuclear sites, during the air warfare between Iran and Israel, which led to the death of approximately 1,100 individuals, including several high-ranking military officers.
The Iranian retaliation to these bombings led to the death of 28 individuals in Israel. These events further showcase the escalating tensions and complex dynamics in play during the ongoing conflict between these nations.
In the past, there have only been negligible inspection efforts by the IAEA in Iran, largely intended as a negotiation tactic with the West. The resumption and terms of the imminent negotiations between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear programme remain to be seen at this stage.
Both the U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA have deduced that Iran maintained an active nuclear weapons programme up until 2003. However, there has been concern and speculation due to Iran’s uranium enrichment progressing up to 60%, potentially placing it just a technical step away from a level of 90%, which would be weapons-grade.
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