Iran moves to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
Iran's Guardian Council has ratified a parliament-approved legislation to suspend Tehran's cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, after the war with Israel and the United States.
Iranian news outlets reported on Thursday that the appointed council, which has veto power over bills approved by lawmakers, found the parliament's measure to 'not to be in contradiction to the Islamic principles and the Constitution'.
Guardian Council spokesperson Hadi Tahan Nazif told the official state news agency, IRNA, that the government is now required to suspend cooperation with the IAEA for the 'full respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran'.
Nazif added that the decision was prompted by the 'attacks … by the Zionist regime and the United States against peaceful nuclear facilities'.
The bill will be submitted to President Masoud Pezeshkian for final approval and would allow Iran 'to benefit from all the entitlements specified under … the Non-Proliferation Treaty, especially with regard to uranium enrichment', Nazif said.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf suggested that the legislation is now binding after the Guardian Council's approval.
'Continued cooperation with the agency, which plays a role as a protector of anti-human interests and an agent of the illegitimate Zionist regime through the pretext of war and aggression, is not possible until the security of our nuclear facilities is ensured,' Ghalibaf said in a social media post.
However, the IAEA said on Thursday that it had not received an official communication from Iran regarding the suspension.
Iranian officials have been decrying the IAEA's failure to condemn Israeli attacks on the country's nuclear facilities.
Before the war started, Tehran claimed to have obtained Israeli documents that show that the IAEA was passing off information to Israel about Iran's nuclear programme – allegations that were denied by the agency.
Israel is widely believed to have its own nuclear arsenal, but its nuclear programme has not been monitored by the UN watchdog.
For years, Iranian nuclear sites have been under strict IAEA inspection, including by constant video feed. But it appears that Iran moved its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium from the facilities before they were bombed by Israel and the US during the recent war, putting them out of the view of UN observers for the first time.
US and Israeli officials have argued that the military strikes have set back Iran's nuclear programme for years. But suspending cooperation with the IAEA could escalate the programme, although Tehran insists that it is not seeking a nuclear weapon.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that Moscow was 'interested in Iran's cooperation with the IAEA continuing'.
'We are interested in everyone respecting the supreme leader of Iran, who has repeatedly stated that Iran does not and will not have plans to create nuclear weapons,' Lavrov said.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also told journalists that Berlin 'urges the Iranian government not to go down this path' and cease cooperation with the board.
On June 13, Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign against Iran, striking residential buildings and nuclear sites and military facilities, killing top commanders and scientists as well as hundreds of civilians.
Iran responded with barrages of missiles that left widespread destruction in Israel and killed at least 29 people.
On Sunday, the US joined Israel and launched unprecedented strikes on Iran's Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites.
Following Iran's retaliatory attack on a US military base in Qatar, a ceasefire was reached between the countries.
Both Israel and Iran declared victory after the war.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Jazeera
2 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
‘Feels like heaven': Iranians return to Tehran, uncertain of future
Tehran, Iran – The highways leading into Tehran are busy again, filled with cars carrying families, suitcases, and the cautious hope that home might finally be safe. After 12 days of war that killed more than 600 Iranians and displaced hundreds of thousands from the capital, a ceasefire announced on Monday has begun drawing residents back to a city still scarred by Israeli air strikes. For many returning to Tehran, the relief of sleeping in their own beds is tempered by the constant fear that the bombing could resume at any moment. 'Coming back home after all these days, even from a place where you had physical safety, feels like heaven,' said Nika, a 33-year-old graphic designer who spent nearly two weeks sheltering with her husband at their relatives' home in Zanjan, some 286 kilometres (177 miles) northwest of the capital. 'But I don't know if the ceasefire will last or not,' she said. The conflict that upended millions of lives began at dawn on June 13, when Israeli warplanes launched what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. What followed was an unprecedented exchange of fire between the two regional powers that brought direct warfare to the heart of Tehran for the first time in decades. As Israeli attacks on residential areas intensified and warnings from American and Israeli officials to evacuate Tehran grew louder, many residents, fearing for their lives, were forced to flee the capital for the relative safety of other cities and villages. For many of Tehran's inhabitants, abandoning their lives was a soul-crushing decision. 'I had an incredibly busy life before the war,' said Saba, a 26-year-old university student. 'I lived in Tehran, had a full-time job, was studying, and since I lived alone, I managed all my household chores. When the war started, for a few days, I couldn't believe this routine was coming to a halt. I still went to work, went out for shopping or to a cafe. But at some point, you couldn't deny reality anymore. Life was stopping.' By the fifth day, the war forced her to leave. 'First, my university exams were postponed, then my workplace told us to work remotely, and one by one, all my friends left Tehran. I felt a terrible loneliness,' she recalled. 'I kept myself busy during the day, but at night, when the sounds of bombing and air defences began, I couldn't fool myself any longer.' Unable to secure a car, her father drove from her hometown of Quchan, a city near Mashhad in northeastern Iran, to bring her to the family's house, where she stayed until the ceasefire. 'The nights were unbearable' According to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, at least 610 people were killed and 1,481 wounded during the conflict, with more than 90 percent of the casualties being civilians. 'Initially, I had decided to stay in Tehran and keep the company running,' said Kamran, a businessman and CEO of a private firm in the capital, who requested anonymity due to security concerns. 'There was bombing and the sound of air defence, but life was manageable during the day. The nights, however, were truly unbearable,' said the father of two. Many fled the city in the very first days of the war. At that time, two major obstacles plagued their departure: long queues at petrol stations made it difficult to secure enough fuel for the journey, and the main exit routes from the city were choked with heavy traffic from the sheer volume of cars trying to get out. Now, since the ceasefire was declared, many who had abandoned Tehran have begun to make their way back. 'After 11 days of living in a place where there was no sign of war, but wasn't home – no privacy, no peace of mind – coming back to my own house felt like heaven,' explained Nika. 'After years of being accustomed to the silence of my own home, enduring life with 11 other people in an environment that was never quiet was incredibly difficult,' she said. She returned to her two-bedroom flat in Tehran as soon as the ceasefire was declared. 'I don't know if the ceasefire will last or not,' Nika admitted. 'But even if it doesn't, I don't think I want to leave my home again.' Uncertain future Not everyone was lucky enough to return to an intact home. Keyvan Saket, a renowned Iranian musician, had learned of his home being hit by an Israeli missile while sheltering with his family in a nearby town. Yet, his neighbour's call delivering the grim news did not keep him from rushing back after the ceasefire was declared. According to Saket, one of the bombs fired at his residence failed to detonate, a stroke of fortune that spared further destruction. But it barred him and his family from entering their home due to safety concerns. 'Once the issue was resolved and we were allowed inside, we faced an unsettling scene,' he said. 'The doors and windows were shattered, the building's facade was obliterated, and household appliances like the washing machine and refrigerator were severely damaged. The attack was so intense that even the iron doors of the building were mangled.' Saket's voice carried a deep sorrow as he reflected on the toll of the conflict. 'With every fibre of my being, I despise war and those who ignite it,' he said, lamenting the loss of a home he cherished. 'War is the ugliest of human creations.' Since the ceasefire took effect, both sides have accused each other of violations, and fear of renewed violence has been high. Iran has reported continued Israeli attacks for several hours after the agreement, while Israel claims to have intercepted Iranian missiles post-ceasefire. In the immediate aftermath of the ceasefire announcement, strikes continued on both sides, with Israeli forces hitting targets in Tehran, including the notorious Evin Prison, and Iranian missiles striking areas in Israel. Hamed, a political science student, believes the situation is precarious. 'This feels like a recurring nightmare to me,' he said. He had returned from the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman, where he was displaced to, on the day the ceasefire was announced, but was worried he might have to abandon his home and life all over again. 'I really don't want to have to pack my things and leave my home without knowing when, or if, I can come back.' Despite this underlying anxiety, the streets of Tehran are visibly busier than before the ceasefire. As companies end their remote work policies and recall employees, there is evidence of a cautious, determined return to life in the capital. Infrastructure damage across Tehran was significant, with attacks striking multiple provinces, including Alborz, East Azerbaijan, Isfahan, Fars, Kermanshah, and the capital itself. The Israeli military claimed to have struck more than 100 targets across Iran during the 12-day conflict. In the early mornings, the hum of traffic weaves through Tehran's wide boulevards once more. 'Seeing others return to the city alongside me, watching cafes and restaurants reopen, and feeling life flow back into the streets – it truly lifts my heart,' said Saba, her eyes bright with cautious optimism. Yet, as the city stirs back to life, the shadow of an uncertain ceasefire looms, a quiet reminder that this fragile revival could be tested at any moment. This piece was published in collaboration with Egab.
Al Jazeera
2 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
US Secretary of Defense attacks media for questioning Iran strikes
US Secretary of Defense attacks media for questioning Iran strikes NewsFeed US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used a press briefing to berate the press, attacking the media for questioning the supposed success of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Video Duration 02 minutes 33 seconds 02:33 Video Duration 00 minutes 30 seconds 00:30 Video Duration 02 minutes 00 seconds 02:00 Video Duration 01 minutes 11 seconds 01:11 Video Duration 02 minutes 15 seconds 02:15 Video Duration 00 minutes 35 seconds 00:35 Video Duration 03 minutes 05 seconds 03:05
Al Jazeera
2 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
How Israel launched attacks from inside Iran to sow chaos during war
Gilan, Iran – The Israeli military used hundreds of fighter jets, armed drones and refuelling planes to attack Iran during its 12-day war backed by the United States, but it was also heavily assisted by operations launched from deep within Iranian soil. Just hours after the Israeli army and Mossad spy agency started their attacks before dawn on June 13, they released footage that appeared to have been recorded at night from undisclosed locations inside Iran. One grainy video showed Mossad operatives, camouflaged and wearing tactical gear including night-vision goggles, crouched in what looked like desert terrain, deploying weapons that aimed to destroy Iran's air defence systems to help pave the way for incoming attack aircraft. Others showed projectiles, with mounted cameras, descending to slam into Iranian missile defence batteries, as well as ballistic missile platforms. The projectiles appeared to be Spike missiles – relatively small, precision-guided anti-armour missiles that can be programmed to fly to targets that are out of their line of sight. Iranian authorities also confirmed the use of the weapons, with state media showing images of remnants of customised Spike missile launchers that were discovered in one open area. They said the weapons were equipped with 'internet-based automation and remote-controlled systems' and were operated by 'terrorist Mossad agents'. The move partly echoed an Israeli operation in November 2020 that killed Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a senior figure in Iran's nuclear programme, who was gunned down in a city near Tehran while moving in a vehicle with his wife and bodyguards. Iranian authorities at the time confirmed that the assassination was carried out using remote-controlled and artificial intelligence-guided equipment, with Israeli media reporting that a one-tonne gun was smuggled into Iran in pieces by Mossad and mounted on the back of a pick-up truck, which exploded after Fakhrizadeh was killed. Iran executed three men on Wednesday morning in the northwestern province of West Azerbaijan, accused of being involved in Fakhrizadeh's death and other assassinations. Drone manufacturing inside Iran Israel also appears to have used a large number of explosives-laden small drones and quadcopters during the 12-day war to overwhelm Iranian defences as part of its multipronged assault operations. Iranian media reported throughout the war that air defences across the country were activated to counter the small drones, as well as larger military-grade counterparts like the Hermes 900, several of which Iran claimed to have shot down. However, the exact number of drones launched and how successful they were in hitting their targets cannot be corroborated by Al Jazeera. The smaller drones attracted a lot of attention and forced authorities to muster large-scale search operations to neutralise them, as Israeli warplanes dropped more bombs across the country and US President Donald Trump briefly rhetorically backed the possibility of regime change. Soon, authorities found pick-up trucks with customised cargo beds that were made to accommodate small, pre-programmed drones that they said could be driven close to their intended targets before launching. Such a strategy has been used successfully elsewhere as well, including at the start of June when Ukraine managed to destroy as much as a third of Russia's strategic bomber fleet on the tarmac of four airfields deep inside Russian territory. Iranian authorities organised search parties, particularly at night, consisting of security forces who patrolled the streets on motorcycles or vehicles to look for any suspicious trucks or movement. Armed and masked security forces also set up countless roadblocks and checkpoints in sprawling Tehran and across the country, including in northern provinces where millions travelled after fleeing the capital, which typically stopped and searched pick-up trucks with covered cargo beds. After what the Israelis said were years of preparations, their operatives appear to have been able to set up small production lines of the unmanned vehicles inside Iran. One such operation was discovered in Shahr-e Rey in southern Tehran, where state media said a three-storey building was dedicated to churning out drones, homemade bombs and a large volume of explosives. Security forces located a clandestine drone-manufacturing site in Shahr-e Rey, south of three floors building, was used by Israeli agents to assemble and store UAVs intended for terrorists also found homemade bombs and over 200 kg of explosives. — Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) June 15, 2025 State television also showed another similar operation, in which six Iranian 'Mossad agents' were assembling quadcopters with small bombs attached under them, as well as bombs with timers, grenades and other weapons. There were also reports of vehicles planted with explosives, but there was no official confirmation by Iranian authorities. Some of the arrested suspects were shown confessing on state television with their hands bound and their eyes covered. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohsen-Ejei and Tehran's public prosecutor Ali Salehi personally interrogated one unnamed suspect on state television, who said he tried to film air defences for the Mossad from rooftops. 'We are all under surveillance' The Israeli military's chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, confirmed in a video statement on Wednesday that commando forces 'operated covertly deep in enemy territory and carried out operations that granted us operational freedom of action'. He did not say whether he was referring to the commandos shown at the start of the operation on the first night or other potential operations. Iranian officials have not directly commented on claimed Israeli commando operations from inside Iranian territory. But authorities continue to announce dozens of arrests across Iran in relation to collaboration with Israel and the US, and have so far executed at least six people accused of collaborating since the start of the war. Israeli intelligence operations inside Iran are believed to have been a major contributor to the success of the June 13 surprise attacks that started the war, which killed a large number of top military commanders and nuclear scientists while also incapacitating some air defences and hitting missile launch sites in an effort to limit Iran's retaliation. Huge cyberattacks launched by pro-Israel hacking groups also temporarily took down two of the country's biggest banks, as well as the country's largest cryptocurrency exchange. An undated video circulated by state-linked media this week showed Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the assassinated head of the critical aerospace division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), saying during a speech that 'we are all under surveillance' by Mossad through mobile phones and other communications devices. Hajizadeh, who was killed while holding a meeting with a host of other top aerospace commanders in an underground bunker in or around Tehran, urged others to exercise caution and turn off and periodically replace their mobile phones during the speech. As part of their response to the Israeli offensive, Iranian authorities also cut off internet access, at one point choking off 97 percent of the massive country's connectivity, according to NetBlocks internet observatory. It was one of the most comprehensive internet blackouts ever imposed in Iran – and likely anywhere else in the world. The restrictions imposed during the war were mostly lifted by Thursday, two days after a ceasefire announced by Trump took effect.
