The Iranian Parliament on Wednesday approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following recent airstrikes on the country’s nuclear facilities by the US. The operation, dubbed “Midnight Hammer,” targeted nuclear sites in Esfahan, Fordow, and Natanz.
In a near-unanimous vote during an open session, 221 of the 223 members present supported the proposal, while one voted against and another abstained.
Iran defended the move as a necessary response to safeguard its sovereignty and national interests. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing a peaceful nuclear programme.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticized the IAEA for failing to condemn the attacks, arguing that the agency had lost its credibility. He announced that Iran would halt cooperation with the IAEA until safety guarantees for its nuclear facilities are provided. He added that the pause would accelerate the progress of Iran’s nuclear programme.
The decision comes on the heels of escalating tensions, including Israeli and US strikes on nuclear and military targets inside Iran. It also follows a resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors, which declared Iran non-compliant with its nuclear commitments for the first time since 2005, citing unexplained nuclear material at undisclosed sites and insufficient cooperation.