In a move that has sparked international concern, Iran's parliament, known as the Majlis, has approved legislation that effectively bans the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from collaborating with the Iranian government.
This includes barring the IAEA from inspecting and ensuring the safety of Iran's nuclear facilities. The IAEA, a subsidiary of the United Nations, is responsible for enforcing international law on nuclear development, preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and assisting countries in their pursuit of peaceful nuclear development.
According to Breitbart, the IAEA passed a resolution on July 12, condemning Iran for the first time in two decades for breaching international legal standards on nuclear development. The agency's director-general, Rafael Grossi, informed the IAEA board that he suspected Iran was concealing "undeclared" nuclear sites from the U.N. body and that the Islamist regime had attempted to "sanitize" these sites in anticipation of inspections.
In response to the resolution, the Iranian regime announced the construction of a new uranium enrichment facility. However, the status of this facility remains uncertain following recent hostilities. The tension between the IAEA and Iran is particularly noteworthy given the United Nations' long-standing history of overt anti-Israel bias. The U.N., through agencies such as the Palestinian Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), has maintained ties with Iran-backed jihadist terrorist organizations like Hamas.
The Majlis, which strictly adheres to the directives of "supreme leader" Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, passed a bill to suspend all cooperation with the IAEA. "According to the parliaments resolution, IAEA inspectors will not be permitted to enter Iran unless the security of the countrys nuclear facilities and that of peaceful nuclear activities is guaranteed," reported Iranian propaganda outlet PressTV, "which is subject to the approval of Irans Supreme National Security Council."
Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf criticized the IAEA before the bill's approval, stating, "The IAEA, which did not even formally condemn the attack on Irans nuclear facilities, has put its international credibility up for sale." He added that Iran's peaceful nuclear program would proceed at an even faster pace and that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) would suspend its cooperation with the Agency until the security of its nuclear facilities is guaranteed. Qalibaf also vowed to "respond forcefully to any aggressor," presumably referring to the IAEA.
Tensions escalated further when Iranian officials openly threatened Rafael Grossi after President Donald Trump announced that he had approved airstrikes to neutralize activities at three Iranian nuclear sites. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was among the first to condemn America after the airstrikes, expressing grave concern over the "direct threat to international peace and security."
Senior Khamenei adviser Ali Larijani warned in a social media post, "Once the war is over, we will settle accounts with Grossi." This followed a 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which began shortly after the IAEA condemnation. The Israeli government launched "Operation Rising Lion," which began with airstrikes eliminating multiple top Iranian officials. Iran retaliated with a barrage of airstrikes targeting civilians in Israel.
Despite the ceasefire announced by Trump and the significant depletion of its military assets and nuclear development, Iran has declared "victory." Qalibaf claimed on Wednesday that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran had "made the Zionist regime miserable by aggravating its existential crisis and deterred the US from further aggression against Iran."
Grossi offered to assist Iran in assessing the damage to its nuclear facilities following the Israeli attack, but Tehran rejected the offer. The extent of the damage remains unclear, with conflicting reports from American, Israeli, and Iranian sources. Grossi stated in an interview that the destruction was significant and had set back Irans nuclear development considerably.
Grossi has been a vocal critic of Tehran's behavior towards his agency, warning in November that Iran was running out of time to find a diplomatic solution to tensions surrounding its nuclear program. He also admitted that Iran had been violating the 2015 nuclear deal for years, contrary to Iranian regime propaganda, and expressed concern about illicit development.
The recent developments underscore the escalating tensions between Iran and the international community, particularly the IAEA. As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution that ensures the safety and security of all nations involved.
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