Iran's constitutional watchdog, the Guardian Council, on Thursday approved parliament's move to suspend Iran's cooperation with UN's nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The bill prohibits the entry of IAEA inspectors unless the security of nuclear facilities is guaranteed.
IAEA authorities will now not have the right to enter Iran for inspections "as long as the security of Iran's nuclear facilities and the country's peaceful nuclear activities are not guaranteed," according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei.
Iran's Parliament on Wednesday approved a bill suspending cooperation with IAEA. According to local media reports, the move followed recent strikes by the U.S. on three Iranian nuclear establishments in Esfahan, Fordow, and Natanz. The bill prohibits the entry of IAEA inspectors unless the security of facilities is guaranteed.
During an open session of Parliament on Wednesday, lawmakers unanimously approved on the general outline of a plan calling for the suspension of cooperation with the IAEA.
Of the 223 representatives present at the session, 221 voted in favor, one voted against, and one abstained. Iran stated that it has every right to protect its sovereignty, interests, and people.
Ahead of the vote by lawmakers, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf slammed the IAEA for what he called was the UN nuclear watchdog’s failure to “even pretend to condemn attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities” and alleged it of “putting its international credibility up for sale.”
After the vote, members of the Parliament shouted slogans of “Death to America” “Death to Israel”
