SAEDNEWS: A senior Iranian nuclear official has criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for adopting a biased and politicized approach towards Iran's nuclear program, saying such an approach complicates the situation.
In a recent interview with local Iranian media, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI), said, “We are facing a complex situation. Iran is cooperating with the Agency, yet the IAEA has not condemned the attack on Iran. Even Europe and the United States made no reference to the aggression against our facilities in the latest resolution.”
Kamalvandi criticized the agency’s approach, adding, “The fundamental problem is that the Agency is pursuing an entirely political approach instead of acting in a professional and technical manner.”
He explained that Iran’s Safeguards Agreement was “not designed for wartime conditions and does not meet the requirements created by the US–Israeli aggression against Iran. It therefore needs to be revised.” He emphasized that there are multiple ways to ensure Iran’s nuclear program remains on track and that “we can reach an appropriate framework with the IAEA to achieve this.”
Highlighting Iran’s strengths, Kamalvandi said the country’s abundant natural resources, energy capacity, human capital, and strategic location “prevent others from taking action against it.” He added, “Iran will continue moving forward with strength despite mounting pressure and will not allow its power, particularly its nuclear capability, to be weakened,” calling the defense of that capability “a shared responsibility of both the government and the people.”
Lebanese outlet Al-Mayadeen reported that tensions between Iran and the IAEA surged after Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13, 2025, followed by US attacks on June 22. Iranian officials accused the IAEA of failing to condemn the attacks and of enabling them by sharing sensitive facility data with aggressor states.
In response, Iran’s Parliament passed emergency legislation to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. By July, President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a decree ending Iran’s active collaboration, and all IAEA inspectors were ordered to leave the country.
A temporary diplomatic breakthrough occurred 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 crucial clause restricting inspections to sites approved by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
However, on November 19–20, 2025, the IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution demanding immediate access to bombed sites and clarity on enriched uranium. The resolution passed with 19 votes in favor, three against (Russia, China, and Niger), and 12 abstentions.
Tehran condemned the resolution as “politically motivated” and accused the IAEA of ignoring Iran’s ongoing cooperation while failing to condemn attacks 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 the 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), though now subject to more restricted, nationally controlled inspections.
