Tehran committed to Non-Proliferation Treaty, says foreign minister Araqchi

(Forelines) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated Thursday that Iran is committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its safeguards agreement, a day after Tehran enacted a measure ending cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, according to Reuters report.

“Our cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) will be channeled through Iran’s Supreme National Security Council for obvious safety and security reasons,” Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X, cited by Reuters.

A law suspending collaboration with the IAEA was passed by Parliament last week, and President Masoud Pezeshkian signed it into law on Wednesday. According to the United States, this behavior was “unacceptable,” as per the report.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry called on Tehran to change its mind about suspending cooperation with the IAEA, and Araqchi responded with a remark about X, as per Reuters.

“Explicit backing for Israel’s criminal attack on Iran, including protected nuclear sites” was the charge used by Araqchi against Germany, reported by Reuters.

According to Reuters, a day after the board of governors of the U.N. agency voted to declare Tehran in violation of its obligations under the NPT, Iran accused the IAEA of supporting Western nations and offering an excuse for Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure on June 13–24.

Western nations have long suspected that Iran’s professed civilian atomic energy program aims to develop the technology necessary to produce atomic weapons. Iran has stated on numerous occasions that it is enriching uranium solely for peaceful nuclear purposes.

IAEA inspectors are required to make sure that nuclear programs in treaty nations are not being diverted for military objectives in order to ensure conformity with the NPT. The rule, which took effect on Wednesday, requires Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council to approve any future IAEA inspections of Iranian nuclear sites.

“We are aware of these reports. The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran,” according to the Vienna-based global nuclear watchdog in a statement, cited by Reuters.

At a routine briefing on Wednesday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated, quoted by Reuters, that Iran must immediately and completely cooperate with the IAEA.