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Tensions rise in Iranian parliament ahead of IAEA visit
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Tensions rose in Iran's parliament ahead of an upcoming visit by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, with lawmakers opposing the move after President Masoud Pezeshkian ratified legislation earlier in July suspending cooperation with the agency.
'The law approved by the parliament is transparent and clear, so any new movement in the field of suspending the agency must be followed according to the law, and this issue is also being considered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,' Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday, as reported by the state IRNA news agency.
Iran's foreign ministry on Wednesday said that a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to visit within two to three weeks, but will not head to the country's nuclear facilities.
Ghalibaf's comments came after the parliament members criticized reports of a planned visit by the IAEA deputy director-general to Tehran, stressing that parliament had conditioned all cooperation with the agency on ensuring national sovereignty and the security of nuclear facilities.
'You were supposed to give a warning according to the order,' he said, adding, 'for this law, the relevant commission, various departments, and related institutions are in charge, and everyone must do their job.'
Earlier in July, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ratified a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA, effectively blocking inspectors from entering the country until Iran receives guarantees protecting its nuclear infrastructure.
Pezeshkian claimed that Israeli intelligence may have obtained sensitive information from IAEA inspectors.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on Friday he was "encouraged" that Iran had agreed to allow a delegation from the nuclear watchdog to visit the country "within weeks," AFP reported.
On Friday, Iran held its first nuclear talks with European powers since Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities in their 12-day war.
Before the war with Israel, Iran had five rounds of Oman-mediated indirect nuclear talks with the US, which pulled out of the nuclear deal in 2018.
