Iran enacts law suspending cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
Iran has threatened to halt cooperation with the IAEA, accusing it of siding with Western countries and providing a justification for Israel's air strikes, which began a day after the IAEA board voted to declare Iran in violation of obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran's nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency needs approval by Tehran's Supreme National Security Council. "We are aware of these reports. The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran," the IAEA said in a statement. Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview with CBS News that the U.S. bombing of Iran's key Fordow nuclear site has "seriously and heavily damaged" the facility.
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Observer
13 hours ago
- Observer
Iran enacts law suspending cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian put into effect on Wednesday a law passed by parliament last week to suspend cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, Iranian state media reported. Iran has threatened to halt cooperation with the IAEA, accusing it of siding with Western countries and providing a justification for Israel's air strikes, which began a day after the IAEA board voted to declare Iran in violation of obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran's nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency needs approval by Tehran's Supreme National Security Council. "We are aware of these reports. The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran," the IAEA said in a statement. Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview with CBS News that the U.S. bombing of Iran's key Fordow nuclear site has "seriously and heavily damaged" the facility.
Times of Oman
20 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Iran's President approves law to suspend cooperation with IAEA
Tehran: Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has approved a law to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Press TV reported. Pezeshkian officially communicated the law mandating the government to suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, which was approved during a public session of Iran's Parliament on June 25. Considering violation of Iran's national sovereignty and territorial integrity by Israel and the United States regarding the country's peaceful nuclear facilities, the Iranian government is hereby obligated to immediately suspend all cooperation with the IAEA, Press TV reported, citing a parliament resolution. As per the resolution, IAEA inspectors will not be allowed to enter Iran until the security of the country's nuclear facilities is ensured and the peaceful nuclear activities are guaranteed, which is subject to the approval of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Earlier, Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, criticised the IAEA for not condemning the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Furthermore, Iran is also contemplating imposing a ban on the entry of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who has faced criticism for facilitating the actions of Israel and the US against Iran, according to Press TV. Based on Grossi's reports, the IAEA Board of Governors passed an anti-Iran resolution days before Israel's strikes in Iran. The resolution proposed by the UK, France, and Germany, and backed by the US, prompted strong condemnations from Iran and resulted in announcements of a new nuclear facility and upgrade of centrifuges to an advanced level at the Fordow enrichment plant, Press TV reported. On June 22, the US conducted strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in Iran - Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. According to the news report, Grossi did not condemn the US action and faced criticism from Iranian officials.
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Iran's resilience, Israel's disarray: Who won?
It is far too early to determine a victor in the 12-day confrontation between Iran and Israel. Though both sides declared success, the conflict is likely still in its early stages. Supporters on either side tend to view the events emotionally, seeing victory through the lens of allegiance rather than facts. The real measure of success lies in whether either side achieved its stated goals. Israel entered this confrontation with the intention of toppling the Iranian regime in a single night - eliminating top leaders, including the Supreme Leader and the President, and paving the way for exiled figure Reza Pahlavi to assume power. Backed and publicised by the West, Pahlavi himself admitted that these ambitions failed, blaming US President Donald Trump for abandoning the plan. Israel also aimed to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme and provoke internal uprising. Yet Tehran stood firm, its leadership intact, its nuclear capability preserved, and its people — regardless of their political stance — unified in opposition to what they saw as foreign aggression. However, one cannot ignore the painful blows dealt by Israel. It exposed significant weaknesses in Iran's air defence, destroyed drone launch sites and carried out deep infiltration operations. That Mossad managed to establish a three-storey drone factory in the heart of Tehran is a staggering indicator of internal vulnerability. And yet, despite this, Iran managed to strike back with unexpected resilience, shaking Israel's confidence in its famed defence systems and targeting strategic facilities. Disappointingly, several Arab countries acted as a shield for Israel's defence - serving as a real 'Iron Dome.' This episode reinforced a long-standing truth: the world only respects strength. Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to accept a ceasefire before fulfilling his grand vision of neutralising Iran's nuclear ambitions is an implicit admission of failure. The cost of continuing outweighed the potential gains. Israel, for the first time, found itself forced to retreat from a direct military confrontation without achieving its objectives. The war exposed vulnerabilities in its internal cohesion and confirmed that Israel's deterrence narrative is far from invincible. The idea that it can easily subdue Iran has been severely undermined. While the current round may have ended, the tension is far from over. Israel will remain uneasy as long as Iran holds on to its sovereign decision-making power and nuclear capability. The failure to dismantle the Iranian regime or nuclear facilities, and the rallying of the Iranian people around their leadership, are outcomes that Tel Aviv did not anticipate. Nonetheless, the confrontation revealed alarming security gaps in Iran. The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in what was claimed to be an Iranian safe zone, the mysterious crash of President Raisi's aircraft, the killings of nuclear scientists, and the exposure of internal drone factories all point to a deeply compromised intelligence environment. More worrying still is the wider regional context. The silence - or worse, complicity of many Arab states has become strikingly apparent. Israel has not only penetrated these governments politically, but also garnered their open or covert support. Once forced to conceal their collaboration, some Arab regimes now show it openly, even proudly, though they lack the legitimacy to justify such alignment. It is telling that the ceasefire was reportedly requested by Israel itself, realising that prolonging the battle could lead to collapse from within. With an estimated two million Israelis having emigrated since the beginning of Al Aqsa operation, and rising dissent within the Knesset and public, internal pressures are mounting. The damage in Tel Aviv, despite tight media restrictions, has not been witnessed since 1948. Iran's strikes successfully targeted key Israeli intelligence and military centres, including the Mossad HQ in Herzliya, military intelligence units and Haifa Port — effectively dismantling Israel's 20-year deterrence narrative. Had Israel succeeded in its plan to dismantle Iran's regime and nuclear programme, Netanyahu would have emerged as the architect of a new Middle East, having eliminated the resistance axis and reshaped the region. For now, Iran has managed to halt that trajectory. Above all, the Iranian people deserve recognition. The same nation that once resisted the Shah's tanks has again closed ranks, temporarily setting aside internal disputes to defend national sovereignty. It is a reminder that legitimacy ultimately stems from the people. So, who won? While Iran's performance may inspire admiration, one cannot claim it has achieved total victory. Likewise, Israel has suffered a strategic setback. What is clear, however, is that the war is not over. This is but an uneasy pause. As long as Iran remains strong, scientifically advanced, and nuclear-capable, this fragile truce could collapse at any moment. Translated by Badr al Dhafri The original version of this article was published in Arabic in the print edition of the Oman daily newspaper on June 30.
