Iran will no longer allow IAEA Director General access to nuclear facilities

The relatively moderate relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have recently changed dramatically. On June 25, Iran’s parliament approved a decision to halt cooperation with the IAEA, according to Mehr news agency.

This move primarily indicates a restriction on international oversight of nuclear facilities, a ban on the entry of foreign inspectors into the country, and an attempt to act independently in its nuclear policy. Officials interpret this step as a precaution following information disseminated by Israel.

According to Iran’s parliamentary vice-speaker Hamid Reza Haji Babaei, some documents that surfaced in Israel contained classified data on key nuclear sites in Iran. This was seen as a serious threat to national security and prompted the need for decisive measures.

As a result, the IAEA will not only be denied access to these facilities, but surveillance cameras for monitoring purposes will also not be installed. This significantly limits the agency’s operations in Iran.

Up to now, Iran has officially remained a member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This status grants the IAEA the right to inspect the country’s nuclear infrastructure. However, if the decision is implemented, this agreement may effectively lose its validity.

In the recent past, IAEA inspectors have regularly monitored Iran’s nuclear sites. Among other tasks, they assessed damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on these facilities.

According to international experts, such drastic decisions pose a serious threat not only to regional stability but also to global nuclear security. Iran, on the other hand, justifies its position by prioritizing “national sovereignty and security.”

At the moment, international organizations and diplomatic circles are calling on Iran to return to transparency and resume constructive dialogue with the IAEA. However, only time will tell which direction Iran’s nuclear policy will take. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!