In a significant escalation of tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program, Tehran has suspended its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), prompting urgent calls from European powers for a reversal of this decision.

On June 26, 2025, Iranian lawmakers approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA [2]. This move came in response to a June 13 Israeli strike on Iranian territory, followed by US attacks on nuclear sites. Iran accused the IAEA of bias and failing to condemn these assaults [2].

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended the decision in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, describing it as a "natural response" to what he termed unfair treatment by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi [2]. Pezeshkian stated, "This move by lawmakers is rooted in the IAEA's unjust and harmful behaviour." [2]

The suspension of cooperation includes the removal of IAEA surveillance cameras from Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran claims this action was taken because Israel allegedly obtained "sensitive facility data" from these cameras [3].

In response to these developments, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on Monday, June 30, 2025. They urged Iran to "immediately resume full cooperation in line with its legally binding obligations" and to "take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of IAEA personnel." [1][3]

The European powers also condemned what they described as threats against IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. While the specific nature of these threats was not detailed in their statement, it follows an article published in Iran's hardline Kayhan newspaper, which is associated with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [1][5].

President Pezeshkian, in his conversation with Macron, accused the IAEA of maintaining a double standard in its approach to Iran's nuclear activities compared to Israel's atomic weapons program. He emphasized that all Iranian nuclear activities were under IAEA supervision when they were targeted by the US and Israel [4].

The current crisis stems from longstanding tensions over Iran's nuclear program. The 2015 nuclear deal, to which France, Germany, and the UK are parties, allowed the IAEA to access and monitor Iran's nuclear facilities. However, since the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under the Trump administration, Tehran has gradually rolled back its commitments [3].

As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches closely, with concerns rising over the potential implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.