Iran to Suspend Cooperation with IAEA after European Move on UN Sanctions

Iran’s top security body announced on Saturday that the actions taken by Britain, France, and Germany to reimpose UN sanctions would effectively result in the suspension of Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This move comes as a response to the European countries’ decision to trigger a dispute resolution mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The decision to reimpose sanctions has escalated tensions between Iran and the European signatories of the JCPOA, further complicating efforts to salvage the agreement. Despite efforts by the Iranian foreign ministry to maintain cooperation, the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) concluded that the European actions would leave Iran with no choice but to suspend its cooperation with the IAEA. The SNSC emphasized that this decision was a direct consequence of the European countries’ failure to uphold their commitments under the JCPOA. The move to suspend cooperation with the IAEA marks a significant escalation in Iran’s response to the reimposition of UN sanctions by the European signatories. The SNSC’s announcement underscores Iran’s frustration with the lack of progress in resolving the nuclear deal’s issues and the country’s growing disillusionment with the JCPOA’s remaining parties.