The US called the move "unacceptable" and warned Iran against using it to gain leverage.
Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 2 issued an order to enact a law to suspend the country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with the United States calling the move "unacceptable".
The law, which follows an earlier vote in Iran's parliament to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, calls for a suspension of cooperation with the IAEA until Iran's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its nuclear facilities and scientists are fully guaranteed, said Constitutional Council Spokesman Hadi Tahan Nazif.
According to the Parliament's resolution, depending on the approval of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, unless the security of the nuclear facilities and peaceful nuclear activities is guaranteed, the IAEA inspectors will not be permitted inside the Iranian borders.
The West has raised concerns suggesting that Iran could use the situation to gain an advantage in order to enrich uranium to develop nuclear weapons. The United States has warned Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA "without further delay".
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said this week, "It is unacceptable that Iran chose to suspend cooperation with the IAEA at a time when it has a window of opportunity to reverse course and choose a path of peace and prosperity. Iran must cooperate fully, without further delay."
"Prior to the United States' successful military operation, Iran was amassing a growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium for which there was no credible peaceful purpose, and it was the only state producing highly enriched uranium, up to 60%, that does not have nuclear weapons," Bruce said, adding that Iran must fully comply with its safeguards agreement required under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
