TEHRAN: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf announced that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran will suspend all cooperation with the IAEA unless the security of its nuclear facilities is ensured. The decision, he said, does not affect Iran’s peaceful nuclear ambitions, which will continue to advance rapidly.

Under the new legislation, IAEA inspectors will be barred from entering the country unless the Supreme National Security Council authorizes access based on guarantees that Iran’s nuclear facilities and peaceful operations remain secure.

In response, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned that halting inspections is unacceptable to the international community. He stressed the urgency of resolving the issue diplomatically, calling the current window a “golden opportunity” that must not be missed.

Grossi also noted that Iran had informed the agency of “preventive measures” taken with its enriched uranium stockpile and acknowledged Iran’s undeniable technological and industrial nuclear capabilities.