Monday, 25 May 2026
Irani's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi (PRESSTV)
Iran affirms commitment to Non-Proliferation Treaty
TEHRAN - Iran remains dedicated to upholding the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its associated safeguards agreement, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated on Thursday, according to Reuters. This affirmation came just a day after Tehran enacted legislation suspending its cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog.
“Our cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) will now be overseen by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council for clear safety and security reasons,” Araqchi posted on X.
On Wednesday, President Masoud Pezeshkian enacted a law, previously approved by parliament, that halts collaboration with the IAEA—a move the United States has condemned as “unacceptable.”
Araqchi’s remark on X came in direct response to Germany’s Foreign Ministry, which had called on Iran to reconsider and restore its cooperation with the IAEA.
In his statement, Araqchi accused Germany of “expressly supporting Israel’s illegal attack on Iran, including strikes against safeguarded nuclear facilities.”
Iran has criticized the IAEA, alleging the agency has sided with Western countries and justified Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites between June 13 and 24. These attacks commenced a day after the IAEA’s board of governors declared Tehran in breach of its NPT obligations.
Western nations have long suspected that Iran aims to develop nuclear weapons capabilities under the guise of its civilian atomic energy program. Tehran has consistently maintained that its uranium enrichment efforts are strictly for peaceful purposes.
The role of IAEA inspectors is to verify that signatory nations comply with the NPT and do not divert nuclear programs towards military ends.
Under the new law, any future IAEA inspections of Iranian nuclear sites will require authorization from the Supreme National Security Council in Tehran.
“We are aware of these developments. The IAEA is awaiting formal notification from Iran,” the Vienna-based agency said in a statement.
Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce reiterated at a Wednesday briefing that Iran must promptly and fully cooperate with the IAEA.