Iran halts cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog, US calls move unacceptable

The US has urged Iran to resume full cooperation with the IAEA after President Pezeshkian signed a law halting inspections. The US called the move "unacceptable" and warned Iran against using it to gain leverage.

In Short

• US warns Iran to fully cooperate with IAEA without delay
• Iran's President signs law to stop IAEA cooperation
• West fears Iran may use this to advance uranium enrichment

The United States has warned Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "without further delay" after Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a new law to stop working with the nuclear watchdog. The law follows an earlier vote in Iran's parliament to suspend cooperation with the IAEA.

Reacting to this development, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Wednesday, "It is unacceptable that Iran chose to suspend cooperation with the IAEA at a time when it has a window of opportunity to reverse course and choose a path of peace and prosperity. Iran must cooperate fully, without further delay."

"Prior to the United States' successful military operation, Iran was amassing a growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium for which there was no credible peaceful purpose, and it was the only state producing highly enriched uranium, up to 60%, that does not have nuclear weapons," Bruce continued.

"Iran must fully comply with its safeguards agreement required under the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons), including by providing the IAEA with information required to clarify and resolve long-standing questions regarding undeclared nuclear material in Iran, as well as provide unrestricted access to its newly announced enrichment facility," she added.

On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian put into effect a law passed by parliament last week to suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, Iranian state media reported.

The law signed by President Pezeshkian means Iran will no longer allow IAEA inspectors to monitor its nuclear program. The West has raised concerns who worry that Iran could use the situation to gain an advantage in order to enrich uranium to develop nuclear weapons.

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Tehran rejected the Trump administration's offer to resume diplomatic negotiations with Iran. Due of this, the two nations do not currently have any plans to negotiate on the nuclear issue.

Iran has been accusing the IAEA of siding with Western countries and providing a justification for Israel's air strikes, which began a day after the IAEA board voted to declare Iran in violation of obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran's nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency needs approval by Tehran's Supreme National Security Council.

"We are aware of these reports. The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran," the IAEA said in a statement.

- Ends
With inputs from Reuters