Iran has announced a change in how it will work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following the implementation of a recent law that limits its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
The shift comes amid growing tensions over the country’s nuclear activities and international monitoring efforts.
According to Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Tehran is not completely ending its cooperation with the IAEA, but rather adjusting the framework under which that cooperation will continue.
Moving forward, Iran will assess monitoring requests individually, with special attention paid to national security and safety concerns.
This development follows a decision by the Iranian parliament aimed at scaling back voluntary transparency measures that were previously in place under the 2015 nuclear agreement.
The new law is viewed as part of Iran’s response to continued economic sanctions and what it describes as a lack of commitment from other parties to the nuclear deal, particularly the United States.
The change in oversight will likely affect the IAEA’s ability to carry out routine checks and inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, but this move adds to concerns among Western nations about the level of access international inspectors will retain.
The announcement marks another turn in the ongoing diplomatic challenges surrounding Iran’s nuclear file.
While negotiations over the future of the 2015 agreement continue, this step could complicate efforts to restore full compliance by all sides.
The IAEA has yet to respond in detail to the shift in policy, but the situation is expected to be a key issue in future discussions between Iran and other nations involved in the nuclear talks.