Iran Urges UN Nuclear Watchdog to end ‘Double Standards’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog should abandon its “double standards” if Tehran wants to resume cooperation with it, according to Reuters.
Iranian- IAEA Relations
Last week, Pezeshkian issued a law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Meanwhile, the agency had withdrawn its last remaining inspectors from Iran.
Iranian relations with IAEA have deteriorated since the United States and Israel attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June in order to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program.
“The continuation of Iran’s cooperation with the agency (IAEA) depends on the latter correcting its double standards regarding the nuclear file,” state media quoted Pezeshkian as telling European Council President Antonio Costa by phone.
Pezeshkian also stated that Iran will face any repeated attack with a more decisive and regrettable response.
Moreover, Iran accused the agency of failing to denounce the attacks by the United States and Israel and paving the way for the bombing by issuing a resolution declaring that Iran is breaching its non-proliferation obligations.
“Failure to observe the principle of impartiality in reporting is one of the examples that casts doubt on the status and credibility of the IAEA,” Pezeshkian said.
Israel Iran Conflict
On June 13, 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.
As a response, Iran launched a retaliatory wave of missiles against Israel and targeted Tel Aviv. Israel also killed several Iranian nuclear scientists in line with its goal to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program.
US Involvement
The US became directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran on June 22 after launching airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
Crucially, Israel announced that it was hit by over 50 missiles during the 12-day war with Iran, resulting in 28 deaths. However, the real extent of the damage may never be known because of strict media restrictions.
The Israeli airstrikes on Iran killed at least 1000 people and injured approximately 4,900.
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