Iran announced on Saturday that it has barred Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), from entering the country and will no longer permit the agency to install surveillance cameras at its nuclear facilities.
The move was confirmed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who told state media that Tehran would not compromise on national sovereignty and security.
“We will not allow the IAEA to place cameras at our nuclear sites, and its director will be denied entry,” Araghchi stated.
The decision follows escalating tensions between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog after a 12-day conflict with Israel that began on June 13. The hostilities erupted when Israel launched airstrikes targeting Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian locations, resulting in at least 606 deaths and over 5,300 injuries, according to Iran’s Health Ministry.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, which reportedly killed 29 people and injured more than 3,400, based on data from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A US-mediated ceasefire came into effect on June 24, ending the immediate confrontation.
In response to the conflict, Iran’s parliament passed new legislation on Wednesday suspending cooperation with the IAEA, effectively reversing earlier commitments related to transparency and international monitoring of its nuclear program.
