Iran announced that the Deputy Head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog will visit Tehran in an attempt to revive the bilateral relations that witnessed souring tensions since Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, according to Reuters.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency will not have any access to inspect Iran’s nuclear facilities during the visit.
Today’s visit marks the first tour following Israel and Iran’s 12-day war in June that had struck Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Iran & IAEA Relations
Iranian relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have deteriorated since the United States and Israel attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June in order to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program.
In June, the Iranian Guardian Council approved a law suspending Tehran’s cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, Arab News reported.
According to the new law, the IAEA should have approval by the Supreme National Security Council for any future inspection of Iran’s nuclear sites.
“For us, IAEA inspectors approaching nuclear sites has both a security aspect … and the safety of the inspectors themselves is a matter that must be examined,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said.
He also told Tehran-based diplomats that Iran’s cooperation with the nuclear watchdog has not stopped. However, it will take a new form and will be guided and managed through the Supreme National Security Council.
This legislative move came as a response to a series of escalations that began on June 13, when Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran under the name of Operation Rising Lion. The military campaign targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and nuclear scientists. Consequently, the US launched several airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
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