Iran’s parliament has approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, a move that could further inflame tensions following recent Israeli airstrikes and U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites.
The bill, reported by state-affiliated Nournews on Wednesday, would halt all collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including the installation of surveillance cameras, on-site inspections, and the filing of compliance reports. The legislation still requires approval by the Supreme National Security Council and the Guardian Council, Iran’s top legislative vetting body, before it can be enforced.
A satellite overview shows the Isfahan Nuclear Research Center, as well as nearby tunnels, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Isfahan, Iran, June 24, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. DO NOT OBSCURE LOGO.
Following the vote, Iran’s lawmakers chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” according to state television. The bill passed with overwhelming support—221 votes in favour, one abstention, and no opposition—among lawmakers present in the 290-seat chamber.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, quoted by state media, accused the IAEA of failing to condemn recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and said the agency had “put its international credibility up for sale.”
“The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran will suspend its cooperation with the Agency until the security of the nuclear facilities is guaranteed,” Qalibaf said. He also pledged that Iran would accelerate its peaceful nuclear programme.
The legislative move comes on the heels of a resolution passed earlier this month by the IAEA accusing Tehran of breaching its non-proliferation obligations—a resolution Iran claims provided diplomatic cover for Israeli attacks.
Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes and denies seeking nuclear weapons. However, the decision to halt cooperation with international monitors follows increasing domestic calls for Iran to rethink its role in the global non-proliferation regime after repeated military strikes.
A general view of Haifa port, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in Haifa, Israel, June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Florion Goga REFILE – CORRECTING LOCATION FROM “TEL AVIV” TO “HAIFA”.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the parliament’s national security committee, said the bill reflected a broader desire to assert national sovereignty in the face of external threats.
In a recent interview with Qatar-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi suggested that Tehran’s policy on nuclear oversight may be headed for a fundamental shift.
With the vote in parliament now complete and the bill awaiting final approvals, Iran’s withdrawal from IAEA oversight—if implemented—could mark a major turning point in its relationship with international nuclear governance and further complicate efforts to maintain stability in the region.
