برلمان إيران يعلق التعاون مع الوكالة الدولية للطاقة الذرية

The Iranian Shura Council (parliament) approved the suspension of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and ratified, today (Wednesday), a draft law to halt collaboration with the agency, according to the ISNA news agency, and referred the matter to the Supreme National Security Council, which gives the final approval for this step.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that "the atomic agency, which refused to issue even a limited condemnation of the attack on the country's nuclear facilities, has sold its international credibility for the cheapest prices," as he put it. He said that "the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization will suspend its cooperation with the agency until the security of the nuclear facilities is guaranteed."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other officials have made numerous accusations against IAEA Director Rafael Grossi of collusion and participation in the Israeli attack on their country, following the report issued by the IAEA Board of Governors more than two weeks ago, as they considered this "politicized" report to have provided justification for Israel to launch its unprecedented attack. The Iranian Atomic Energy Agency announced that it would file a complaint with the United Nations against the agency's Director General, and several politicians also called for Grossi to be banned from entering Iran.

In another context, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf announced that his country would be more prepared than ever to respond to any attack.

Qalibaf stated that the Iranian nuclear program would advance at a faster pace than before, according to the Mehr News Agency.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the strikes ended Iran's nuclear program, adding that the important nuclear sites were "completely and utterly destroyed."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the effectiveness of those strikes that were carried out last Saturday. In an interview with Politico, published today (Wednesday), he stated that significant and substantial damage had affected a variety of pillars of the nuclear program in Iran.

He noted that Tehran is now further away than ever from nuclear weapons than it was before U.S. President Donald made his bold decision to destroy the three nuclear sites (Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan).

However, an intelligence assessment prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the main intelligence arm of the Department of Defense (Pentagon) and one of 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, and published by U.S. media yesterday, stated that the American strikes did not significantly destroy the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities, but only delayed the Iranian nuclear program by a few months.