German authorities today described Tehran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as a “catastrophic signal.” They emphasized that such cooperation is “essential for a diplomatic solution” to the Iranian nuclear issue.
The measure, approved today by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, would “remove the Iranian nuclear program from all international oversight,” German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Giese told reporters.
Pezeshkian gave final approval to the law suspending cooperation with the IAEA, Iran’s state television reported today, adding that he signed the law, and Iran’s Supreme National Security Council is expected to oversee its implementation after adoption.
The 2015 Iranian nuclear deal with world powers, agreed upon during former U.S. President Barack Obama’s tenure, allowed Tehran to enrich uranium sufficiently for nuclear power plant fuel, but well below the threshold needed for weapons production. This agreement drastically reduced Iran’s uranium stockpiles and relied on the IAEA for oversight and control of Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump, during his first term in 2018, withdrew Washington from the deal, arguing it was not stringent enough, which escalated tensions on the issue.
