Credited from: DAWN
Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) amidst allegations of "malice" directed at Germany for criticizing Iran's decision to suspend its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized on social media that "Iran remains committed to the NPT and its Safeguards Agreement," responding to Germany's foreign office which labeled Iran's suspension as a "devastating message" that undermines international oversight of Iran's nuclear program according to Dawn and TRT Global.
On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, prompting the Iranian parliament to pass a law mandating the suspension of cooperation with the IAEA. The law was seen as a response to perceived failures by the IAEA to condemn such attacks. Araghchi criticized Germany for its endorsement of Israeli military actions, stating that "the explicit German support for the bombing of Iran has obliterated the notion that the German regime harbors anything but malice towards Iranians," according to Al Jazeera and Dawn.
The 12-day conflict resulted in significant casualties, with reports indicating that over 900 people were killed in Iran. The heightened military confrontations include strikes on key facilities like Fordow and Natanz, and Araghchi stated that Germany's calls for zero enrichment amount to a repudiation of the 2015 nuclear deal concluded with Iran, which allowed for low-level uranium enrichment under international supervision according to Al Jazeera and TRT Global.
In related developments, the US has imposed sanctions targeting a network that allegedly smuggles Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil. These sanctions are part of a broader effort to curb Iran's financial resources amidst ongoing tensions regarding its nuclear program. The US Treasury emphasized that it will target Tehran's economic avenues to limit funding for what it describes as its destabilizing activities in the region, highlighted in reports from Dawn.