• Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian signs a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA.
• This decision follows a 12-day conflict involving U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
• Iran’s parliament overwhelmingly approved the suspension, citing the need to protect national interests.
• Iran has rejected IAEA chief Rafael Grossi's request to visit bombed nuclear facilities.
• The U.S. and other countries have condemned Iran's decision, calling it a step back from nuclear obligations.

On July 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian formally announced the suspension of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after a law was passed by Iran’s parliament. The move came in the wake of military conflicts, particularly following Israeli and U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities earlier last month, which fueled tensions between Tehran and the UN's nuclear watchdog, according to aa and indiatimes.

The bill to halt cooperation was confirmed by Iranian state media, which reported that it had the backing of 221 votes in parliament, with the Guardian Council and then Pezeshkian providing final approval. The legislation emphasizes the need to protect Iran's rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) with a specific focus on uranium enrichment, as highlighted by newsweek and dawn.

In rejecting Grossi's request to visit bombed sites, Iranian officials have criticized the IAEA, accusing it of remaining silent during the recent military actions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Grossi's insistence on visiting the facilities under the pretext of conducting safeguards was deemed to have "malign intent," according to reports from scmp and aljazeera.

The U.S. government condemned Iran's decision, calling it "unacceptable" and expressing disappointment that Iran chose to suspend cooperation at a time when negotiations could have resumed. The U.S. State Department stated that this move undermines Tehran's opportunity for peace and diplomacy. This sentiment was echoed by international bodies and various countries, including Spain, which urged Iran to comply with its international nuclear obligations, as reported by lemonde and aa.

As the situation evolves, the implications for the IAEA and Iran's nuclear program remain uncertain, with significant concerns raised regarding increased opacity and reduced oversight of Iran's nuclear activities, as noted in various reports from reuters and huffpost.