Iran’s parliament is considering a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy, IAEA, in response to what it described as it’s unprofessional and politically biased behaviour.
Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, announced on Monday that the legislature is debating a move to cut ties with the IAEA. He stated that Iran’s peaceful nuclear intentions have been ignored, despite a religious decree from the Supreme Leader banning nuclear weapons.
Referring to the IAEA’s failure to honour its commitments, Qalibaf said the has now become a political tool. He stressed that Iran will only resume cooperation once it receives clear guarantees of professional conduct from the UN nuclear watchdog.
Addressing the recent U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Qalibaf called the attacks a direct act of war. He warned that Iran would respond forcefully and make former U.S. President Donald Trump regret initiating hostilities.
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Tensions escalated on June 13 when Israel launched strikes on Iran’s military and nuclear centers. The situation worsened when the U.S. carried out coordinated attacks on three key Iranian nuclear sites – Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan – on Sunday morning.
Iranian officials have declared that Tehran reserves the right to retaliate and will determine its response in line with its national interests and sovereignty.
Meanwhile, tensions have been escalating in the Strait of Hormuz since 2019, when multiple international incidents occurred in the vital maritime corridor. Indeed, around one fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas and about 20% of total global oil consumption passes through this narrow waterway, which links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. The region is also a popular tourist destination, with numerous cruise ships also following the strait’s busy shipping lanes.
But after the unprecedented decision by US President Donald Trump to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites, Iran is now threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s parliament has already approved the move.
With Agency reports
