Iran Confirms Significant Nuclear Decision

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law suspending his country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, state media outlet Tasnim has reported. Iran's parliament had voted to suspend cooperation previously.

"We are aware of these reports," an IAEA spokesman told Newsweek. "The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran."

Iran could use the suspension of IAEA cooperation as leverage in future negotiations on its nuclear program, though no talks are currently due after Tehran rejected President Donald Trump's offer to restart diplomacy immediately on the issue.

On Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said that Iran "must cooperate fully, without further delay" after Iran's move.

The Iranian foreign ministry had earlier warned that it was unrealistic for the IAEA to expect a return to normal cooperation so soon after the strikes by the U.S. and Israel, and that it could not guarantee the safety and security of nuclear inspectors.

Trump has said the strikes caused "total obliteration" of Iran's nuclear facilities. Senior Iranian officials have acknowledged serious damage to the sites. But international inspectors have not yet been given access to fully assess the situation.

The three main nuclear sites involved are at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

Tehran accuses the IAEA of making politically-motivated decisions, and blames the May resolution by its 35-nation board of governors that found Iran in non-compliance with its nuclear obligations for creating the pretext for recent Israeli and American military action.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has repeatedly said that nuclear facilities should not be struck, warning of the potential for devastating consequences, and urged leaders to find a diplomatic solution instead.

Ali Mozaffari, deputy head of Iran's judiciary, accused Grossi of "deceptive acts," reported Iran International, an independent publication, and said the IAEA director could be tried in absentia because "he must be held accountable."

Trump Would Strike Iran Again

Israel accuses Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, which it says poses an existential threat that it could not tolerate, forcing its hand into striking Iranian nuclear facilities. The U.S. also took part in strikes designed to destroy the Iranian nuclear program.

Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes, and so peaceful. But it had enriched uranium to a near weapons-grade level, and well beyond what is needed for energy, putting it close to developing a bomb if it opted to do so.

Trump said the U.S. would intervene militarily again if Iran continues to enrich uranium and tries to rebuild its nuclear facilities.