Iran Cuts Ties With UN Nuclear Watchdog — Is the Bomb Closer Than Ever?
Israel Sounds the Alarm as Tehran Threatens Inspectors and Shuts the Doors on International Oversight
Masoud Pezeshkian ratifies law severing cooperation with the IAEA as Tehran threatens safety of inspectors; Israel calls on Europe to act decisively
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has signed into law a dramatic bill passed by the Iranian parliament last week, officially ending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The move signals a sharp escalation in Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West, and may lead to the expulsion of IAEA inspectors from the country—an unprecedented step that would violate Iran’s obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared: "The IAEA has compromised its credibility. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization will suspend all cooperation with the agency until the security of our nuclear facilities is guaranteed and the peaceful progress of our nuclear program is accelerated."
As a signatory to the NPT, Iran is required to grant full access to its nuclear sites for international inspections. The new law directly contradicts that commitment and raises concerns of a deliberate Iranian attempt to obscure its nuclear activities.
Israeli Response: “Activate Snapback Now”
In response to the Iranian announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar issued a strong statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling on the E3 nations—Britain, France, and Germany—to immediately trigger the UN Security Council’s "snapback" mechanism, which would reinstate all previous international sanctions on Iran.
“Iran just announced it is ending cooperation with the IAEA. This is a blatant violation of its international nuclear obligations. Now is the time to act—decisively and without delay,” Sa’ar wrote.
The Israeli government views the move as proof that Iran is rapidly advancing its nuclear weapons ambitions under the guise of a “peaceful” program. Officials in Jerusalem have reportedly been in close coordination with Washington regarding possible next steps.
Iran’s Threats Against Inspectors Draw Condemnation
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani further escalated tensions, saying: “How can we guarantee the safety of IAEA inspectors after attacks on our peaceful nuclear sites?” —a statement widely interpreted as an implicit threat.
The IAEA’s Director General Rafael Grossi has been personally targeted by some of these verbal attacks, drawing international condemnation.
The E3 issued a joint statement earlier this week, saying: “The threats made against Mr. Grossi are unacceptable. We strongly condemn them and urge Iranian authorities to refrain from any actions that could undermine cooperation with the IAEA.”
The European powers also demanded that Iran immediately resume full compliance with its legal obligations and ensure the safety of all IAEA personnel operating within the country. They warned that any disruption in transparency could severely damage regional stability and erode global trust.