The head of the UN nuclear agency International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, says his inspectors’ top priority is returning to Iran’s nuclear facilities to assess the impact of recent military strikes on Tehran’s nuclear programme, reports AL Jazeera.
He was speaking to reporters at an Austrian cabinet meeting in Vienna.
Grossi also called for a long-term solution to the Iranian nuclear program, and that the agency’s reports indicate that Israel’s 12 day war and US strikes only set it back by a matter of months.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament has approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, according to Iranian state media.
The bill, passed with 222 votes in favor, none against, and one abstention, also prohibits IAEA inspectors from entering Iranian nuclear facilities unless their security is guaranteed.
The move signals growing tensions between Iran and international nuclear watchdogs following recent regional escalations.
The legislation is seen as Tehran’s response to what it perceives as increasing threats to its nuclear infrastructure.
Earlier, a parliamentary committee has approved a general plan of a bill aimed at suspending Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in response to the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s conduct over the U.S. and Israeli aggression against Iran's soil.
According to Ebrahim Rezaei, the spokesperson for Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, the plan was approved by members after reviewing the details in a session held on Monday.
The bill, if approved, would require the government to suspend cooperation with the IAEA as long as Tehran is not given tangible guarantees of the agency’s professional conduct.
The spokesperson said that Iran, under the plan, might not cooperate with installing cameras at its nuclear sites, inspections, the entry of inspectors, or submitting reports to the Agency, until the security of all nuclear facilities is guaranteed.
Bd-pratidin English/TR
