Iran Cuts Ties with IAEA After U.S., Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
On the 3rd of July, Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian President, directed his nation to halt their collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This transpired in the wake of the US’s bombing of three critical Iranian nuclear locations, concurrent with an air attack on Iran by Israel. The Iranian Foreign Ministry mentioned that the subsequent discussions between Iran and the IAEA would be ‘complex’ and ‘technical, considering their fresh tensions with the organization just a month prior.
Ties had been dramatically strained between Iran and the IAEA following a 12-day period in June, characterized by aggressive air raids executed by the US and Israel. This operational offensive targeted essential components of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The board of the IAEA declared on June 12 that Iran was in violation of its non-proliferation commitments, a statement made just one day before Israel’s series of aerial attacks over Iran commenced.
The subsequent war was a direct result of these aggressive strikes. An apparent veil of silence covered the IAEA, as no prompt commentary was made regarding the visit of their deputy chief, or the fact that this visit would not involve any premeditated inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites.
Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, hinted at the possibility of a meeting with Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, though he remained cautious about predicting any concrete outcomes of these ostensibly complex and technical discussions.
Baghaei didn’t hesitate, however, to voice his disapproval of the IAEA’s apparent passivity during the war with Israel in June. He specifically pointed out how surprisingly quiet the agency remained, despite the targeted bombing of a nation’s peaceful facilities under their 24-hour surveillance.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, previously expressed that future collaboration with the IAEA, which would require the Supreme National Security Council’s authorization, should focus on re-establishing the terms of their cooperation.
This shift in dynamics is expected to further restrict IAEA inspectors in terms of monitoring Tehran’s nuclear program. Earlier, Tehran had been enriching uranium to levels just short of the weapons-grade category.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, once again on July 3, commanded the country to suspend its ties with the IAEA, post three key Iranian nuclear sites being bombed by the US. This took place while Israel continued to unleash its air attacks over Iran. The actions resulted in the unfortunate deaths of nearly 1,100 individuals, many of whom were military commanders.
In a countermeasure, Iran launched strikes on Israel, which resulted in 28 causalities. Over the past, Iran has often allowed IAEA to run limited inspections as a negotiation strategy against the West.
It remains uncertain as to when the talks between Tehran and Washington will recommence concerning a new deal over Iran’s nuclear program. This uncertainty exists despite the presence of a not so distant past characterized by active negotiations.
Previous assessments by various U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA itself have observed that Iran last maintained a cohesive nuclear weapon’s program back in 2003. However, recent insights reveal that Tehran had been enriching uranium to a 60% level recently, which is only a small technical step away from reaching the weapons-grade 90% threshold.
Thus, the situation between all the involved parties is complex and nuanced, with intense political, national security, and international relations implications. Although past events provide a framework for understanding, the intricate dynamics and the current escalation at the global stage add endless layers of complexity to the scenario.
Looking forward, how all the stakeholders will respond and navigate this tense landscape remains to be seen. The implications for global security, nuclear non-proliferation, and peace in the region are hanging in the balance.