"The President of the United States [Donald Trump] definitely knows that the Islamic Republic of Iran, backed by one of the longest human civilizations, is now, under the guidance of a wise, brave, and great leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) and a faithful and determined people, and as one of the powerful and independent countries in the world that will continue to peacefully advance its nuclear industry and legitimate defense power without the need for any foreign assistance, and will always support peace and stability in the region," Velyati wrote in a post on his Twitter account in Farsi on Tuesday after the US and Israeli leaders reiterating their military threats against the country's nuclear facilities.
Tensions between Iran and the IAEA escalated sharply after "Israel" launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13, 2025, followed by US strikes on June 22. Iranian officials accused the IAEA of failing to condemn these attacks and of enabling them by sharing sensitive facility data with aggressor states.
In response, Iran’s Parliament backed emergency legislation to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. By July, President Masoud Pezeshkian had issued an official decree ending Iran’s active collaboration, and all IAEA inspectors were ordered to leave the country.
A temporary diplomatic breakthrough came in September, when Iran and the IAEA signed the Cairo Agreement, mediated by Egypt, to restore limited inspections under new conditions. The deal included a critical clause that limited inspections to those approved by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
On November 19–20, 2025, the IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution that reignited hostilities. The resolution demanded immediate access to bombed sites and clarity on enriched uranium. It passed with 19 votes in favor, 3 against (Russia, China, and Niger), and 12 abstentions.
Tehran condemned the move as "politically motivated" and accused the IAEA of failing to acknowledge Iran’s continuous cooperation or to condemn the criminal aggression by the US and "Israel."
As a result, Iran formally terminated the Cairo Agreement and informed IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi that it was "no longer in force".
Despite these tensions, Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami, reaffirmed that Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful and continues under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) framework, albeit under a more restricted and nationally controlled inspection policy.
MNA
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