Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday signed into law a parliamentary bill passed last week that suspends cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

The “Law on obligating the government to suspend cooperation with the IAEA,” was passed during a parliamentary session and garnered the overwhelming support of the 223 lawmakers present, with 221 votes in favor of the bill. Pezeshkian approved the legislation in accordance with Article 123 of the Iranian Constitution, which requires the president to sign laws passed by the Assembly once all legal procedures are completed. The directive has since been sent to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the Supreme National Security Council, and the Foreign Ministry for prompt implementation.

This legislation marks a significant escalation in Tehran’s defiance amid ongoing tensions over its nuclear program, further straining relations with the international community and raising concerns about transparency and regional security.

At present, Iran is caught up in a high-stakes crossfire with Israel and the United States over its nuclear program, covert operations, and proxy conflicts across the Middle East, fueling a cycle of retaliation and heightened military tensions. In light of this, Tehran has refused to cooperate with the IAEA until it receives guarantees that the safety of its nuclear sites and scientists is ensured and that it still retains the right to enrich uranium domestically. After the apparently targeted killing of at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists at the hands of Israel, Iran has become increasingly cautious about engaging with Western countries.

The IAEA’s most recent report presented evidence that Iran was producing uranium enriched to 60 percent, amounting to hundreds of kilograms, without offering any legitimate explanation for such large-scale enrichment. According to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement signed between Iran, the UK, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US, Iran was required to keep its enrichment activities below the agreed 3.67 percent. Iran expressed dissatisfaction with the IAEA’s findings, accusing the organization of lacking impartiality and being influenced by Western powers.

Severing ties with the IAEA would prevent the agency from carrying out crucial monitoring and inspections, including satellite surveillance and on-site assessments. Without this oversight, if Iran fails to meet its obligations, the IAEA can report the violations to the UN Security Council, potentially triggering diplomatic pressure and sanctions, measures designed to ensure that nuclear energy is not diverted for harmful purposes.

This comes after US President Donald Trump announced that American warplanes had bombed three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan, stating that the bombings were to deter Iranian aggression in the Middle East. The long-term consequences of Iran’s refusal to cooperate with the IAEA are yet to unfold, but they promise significant implications for regional stability and global nonproliferation efforts.