Iran’s top security officials have decided to hit pause on their cooperation with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, after a key UN Security Council vote refused to keep international sanctions lifted on the country. The move comes as tensions rise over Tehran’s nuclear program.
The announcement came from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Saturday during a meeting led by President Masoud Pezeshkian. Council members blasted France, Britain, and Germany—known as the E3—for what they called “ill-considered” steps that threaten Iran’s nuclear efforts. Despite Iran’s history of working with the IAEA and offering ways to settle the nuclear dispute, the council said Tehran will “effectively” suspend that partnership in response.
The SNSC also directed Iran’s Foreign Ministry to keep up talks and protect the nation’s interests based on these decisions.
This latest twist follows the E3 activating the “snapback” mechanism in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal, last month. That provision lets UN sanctions snap back into place within 30 days if Iran breaks the rules. The penalties are set to kick in later this month.
The JCPOA has faced rough times since the United States pulled out unilaterally in 2018, leading Iran to scale back its own commitments step by step.
Just a day earlier, on Friday, the UN Security Council shot down a resolution that would have extended sanctions relief for Iran under the deal. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi quickly fired back, telling IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in a phone call that Tehran won’t bow to “political action and unfair pressure” on its nuclear program. Araghchi stressed that Iran sticks to diplomacy and technical teamwork with the agency, calling out a “political atmosphere” at a recent IAEA board meeting for ignoring Iran’s rule-following cooperation.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry echoed the frustration, labeling the E3’s actions “illegal, unjustified, and provocative.” They accused the European trio of sabotaging diplomatic progress on the Iran nuclear program.
As the sanctions loom, all eyes are on how this could heat up global tensions around Iran’s atomic ambitions and the fragile JCPOA framework.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
