Iran will not be able to completely stop its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This was stated by the country's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, after the parliament passed a law requiring high-level approval for future inspections of nuclear sites, quoted by "Reuters", reports BTA.
IAEA inspectors have not been able to access Iranian nuclear facilities since the Israeli and US strikes in June, although the head of the agency, Rafael Grossi, said that inspections remain essential. Last month, Iran's parliament passed legislation suspending cooperation with the IAEA and stipulating that all future inspections would require authorization from Tehran's Supreme National Security Council.
The legislative changes followed Iran's accusations that the IAEA had aided the Israeli-American attacks in a May 31 report that prompted the agency's Board of Governors to declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations.
However, Araqchi said at a briefing that Tehran "cannot completely stop cooperating with the agency... Therefore, the inspectors must be there to do this work."
As for resuming talks with Washington, the foreign minister said they must reach "maturity." The sixth round of talks between Tehran and the United States was suspended after the Israeli and American strikes in June.