IAEA Cooperation Ends: Iran's Parliament Passes Bill to Suspend Nuclear Monitoring
Tehran (The Uttam Hindu): Iran's parliament took an important step on Wednesday by approving a bill under which Iran will end its relationship with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and suspend nuclear cooperation. Reuters has given this news quoting the state news agency Noor News. The report said that the final approval of Iran's Supreme National Security Council is also required to implement this decision. This decision has come at a time when a tense situation prevailed between Iran and Israel for 12 days recently.
Israel has repeatedly reiterated that it will stop its arch rival Iran from developing nuclear weapons at all costs. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told state media that Iran will further accelerate its civilian nuclear program. However, Tehran has consistently denied allegations of making nuclear weapons. Iran says that a resolution passed by the IAEA this month, declaring Iran a violator of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has tarnished Iran's international image. Iran has also alleged that Israel attacked Iran only after this move by the IAEA.
According to the speaker of the Iranian parliament, the attitude of the IAEA has always been problematic as this global body did not even condemn the attacks on Iran's nuclear plants, which raises questions about its international credibility. He said that this is the reason why Iran has decided to give up all kinds of security guarantees with the IAEA and suspend its cooperation with the agency.
It is worth noting that earlier this week, the National Security Committee of the Iranian Parliament approved the main provisions of this bill. The committee's spokesman, Ibrahim Rezai, said that according to the passed bill, the IAEA will not be allowed to install surveillance cameras and conduct inspections in Iran, and Iran will also not submit its reports to the IAEA. He clarified that all these restrictions will remain in force until the IAEA guarantees the safety of nuclear facilities. However, this bill is yet to be approved by another full session of the Parliament to become a law.
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