Iran’s parliament has unanimously voted to suspend all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following a series of joint US and Israeli airstrikes on key nuclear sites. The decision significantly limits independent oversight of Iran’s nuclear facilities and the tracking of enriched uranium stockpiles. While the move awaits final approval by the Guardian Council, it reflects a hardening of Iran’s stance in the wake of 12 days of attacks—support for which from European allies has varied. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed the IAEA had become “a political tool”, and MPs declared future cooperation would only resume under new security guarantees.
++ The surprising function of fish scales
The suspension is part of a wider internal debate in Iran, where officials are balancing defiance with concern over strategic vulnerability. Esmail Baghaei of the foreign ministry admitted for the first time that the strikes had caused substantial damage. While Donald Trump claimed the Iranian nuclear programme had been “obliterated”, US intelligence suggests the impact was limited to a few months’ delay. Meanwhile, diplomatic talks remain on hold, with no set date for new negotiations between the US special envoy and Iranian foreign minister. The government’s celebratory tone, critics argue, risks obscuring serious long-term security challenges.
Tensions with the IAEA have escalated further, as Iran’s parliament denounced the agency’s latest censure motion and accused its director general, Rafael Grossi, of acting on behalf of foreign intelligence. Some MPs called for Grossi to be prosecuted, while the national security committee alleged the agency’s latest reports were used as a pretext for military aggression. The Kremlin has voiced concern over the collapse of IAEA credibility, warning that the likelihood of resuming nuclear negotiations has diminished. Iran’s leadership, meanwhile, maintains its civil nuclear programme will continue “at a rapid pace”.
++ Heightened US surveillance amid fears of Iranian sleeper cells
Broader questions now surround Iran’s future relationship with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Some officials argue the treaty has failed to protect Iran from foreign aggression or sanctions, and debate is growing over a possible withdrawal. Although the government insists nuclear weapons remain unIslamic, ambiguity may now serve as a deterrent. Domestically, the attacks have generated a temporary sense of national unity, but critics say this is rooted in anger rather than trust. Former President Hassan Rouhani warned against triumphalism, urging the government to seek a rational path to peace, while security experts highlight systemic vulnerabilities in Iran’s defences and refugee policy that require urgent review.
, following a...){kind=link}