Iran’s parliament passed a bill unanimously on Wednesday to end the International Atomic Energy Agency’s access to its nuclear sites.
The bill must be approved by the country’s unelected Guardian Council to be enacted. The passage of the bill was followed by the chanting of “death to” America and Israel by lawmakers.
The legislation would suspend any future IAEA inspections or monitoring unless approved by the Supreme National Security Council. Before the “Twelve Day War,” the IAEA observed Iranian nuclear facilities through site inspections, surveillance equipment, environmental sampling, and satellite imaging. In June, the IAEA board stated that Iran was in breach of its non-proliferation obligations earlier.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said, “The International Atomic Energy Agency, which refused to even marginally condemn the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, put its international credibility up for auction.”
The bill conditions the return of IAEA monitoring on guarantees that Iranian nuclear scientists and sites are safe and Iran’s right to enrich uranium is protected.
The IAEA chief, Director General Rafael Grossi, said on Tuesday, “As I have repeatedly stated – before and during the conflict – nuclear facilities should never be attacked due to the very real risk of a serious radiological accident.”
Grossi also urged the opening of Iran’s nuclear sites to the IAEA, saying, “Resuming cooperation with the IAEA is key to a successful diplomatic agreement to finally resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities.”
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE THREE IRAN NUCLEAR SITES TARGETED IN US STRIKES
The future of the Iranian nuclear program remains uncertain. Some reporting suggests that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites had a limited effect. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has publicly assured the “total obliteration” of the same sites.