Tensions between Tehran and Washington deepened this week as Iran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), prompting sharp criticism from the United States and its allies and reigniting fears over the future of the country's nuclear ambitions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday signed a law suspending IAEA oversight, a move that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended as necessary for "safety and security reasons" following joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on three of Iran's key nuclear sites-Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The suspension, he added, would not violate Iran's obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). "Fake news," Araghchi posted on X in response to European criticism. "Iran remains committed to the NPT and its Safeguards Agreement."
The U.S. State Department denounced Iran's move. "It is unacceptable that Iran chose to suspend cooperation with the IAEA at a time when it has a window of opportunity to reverse course and choose a path of peace and prosperity," said spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. She added: "Iran cannot and will not have a nuclear weapon."
Iran's deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi reiterated that Iran would not retaliate further against the U.S. for last month's strikes, stating, "We have already responded to that," referring to a missile launched at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar that was intercepted after Iran gave advance warning. "As long as there is no active aggression perpetrated by the United States against us, we'll not respond again," Takht-Ravanchi said in an NBC News interview.
President Donald Trump responded to the missile strike by praising Iran's warning, posting on Truth Social that "they've gotten it all out of their 'system,'" while doubling down on the success of the American strikes. Trump called the attack a "total obliteration" of Iran's enrichment capability, adding that the U.S. "will act again to prevent any future enrichment or reconstruction" if necessary.
Despite Trump's declarations, Iran has continued to assert its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. "Our policy has not changed on enrichment," Takht-Ravanchi said. "Iran has every right to do enrichment within its territory. The only thing that we have to observe is not to go for militarization."
The IAEA has yet to receive official communication from Tehran on the law's implementation. "We are aware of these reports," said an agency spokesman. "The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran."
Analysts warn that the collapse of IAEA oversight could accelerate Iran's nuclear capabilities. The nation has already enriched uranium to levels approaching weapons-grade, raising concerns that a permanent exit from international monitoring could provide cover for a rapid militarization of its nuclear program.
The Trump administration maintains that the strikes have set Iran's program back by years, despite widespread skepticism among nuclear experts who believe Iran had relocated key assets in anticipation of the assault.
Iran's government, meanwhile, signaled that any new talks on its nuclear program remain unlikely, having rejected Trump's offer to resume negotiations. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has argued that international agencies should not expect "normal cooperation" after foreign strikes, stating it cannot ensure the safety of inspectors under current conditions.
