Speaking on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that no inspections will take place until a “new operational framework” is established between Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog. He also categorically ruled out negotiations with the United States, and dismissed European nations as credible mediators.

“There will be no talks with the U.S., and no country has been selected as a mediator,” Araghchi told Iranian state media. “France, Germany, and the UK have already disqualified themselves by threatening snapback sanctions.”

Araghchi’s remarks signal a deepening rupture in Iran’s relationship with the remaining participants of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. The agreement, already weakened by the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 and Iran’s subsequent enrichment activity, now faces further erosion as Tehran formally halts cooperation with international inspectors.

The IAEA has expressed concern over Iran’s recent moves, warning that full transparency is essential to avoid a nuclear crisis. Despite repeated requests, Tehran has reportedly denied access to multiple sites suspected of hosting advanced centrifuge operations.

The timing of Iran’s announcement just hours before the IAEA meeting is seen by analysts as a calculated effort to pressure the agency and Western powers into accepting new terms on Iran’s timeline.

Conclusion:

With inspections suspended and diplomacy at a standstill, today’s IAEA meeting in Vienna is expected to be tense. The international community now faces growing uncertainty over Iran’s nuclear intentions, and whether a return to meaningful dialogue is still possible.

The inspectors have not been able to carry out monitoring activities at Iranian nuclear sites since military operations targeting these facilities began three weeks ago. The conflict resulted in significant damage to key uranium enrichment sites. In response, Iran’s parliament passed legislation to suspend cooperation with the IAEA until the safety of its facilities and personnel can be ensured.

While Iran has not formally notified the IAEA of a suspension in cooperation, the agency has stated it is unclear when inspections might resume. The inspectors’ departure marks a further setback in efforts to reestablish monitoring and verification measures critical to the implementation of Iran’s non-proliferation commitments.

“An IAEA team of inspectors today safely departed from Iran to return to the Agency headquarters in Vienna, after staying in Tehran throughout the recent military conflict,” the agency said in a statement.

Diplomatic sources indicated that the number of inspectors in Iran had already been reduced significantly following the onset of hostilities on June 13. Concerns over the safety of agency personnel have increased amid strong criticism of the IAEA by some Iranian officials and media outlets.

Tensions have escalated since the IAEA issued a report on May 31 concluding that Iran was not in compliance with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. The report was followed by a resolution from the IAEA’s Board of Governors.

Despite the current challenges, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized the importance of resuming engagement. “The Director General reiterated the crucial importance of the IAEA discussing with Iran modalities for resuming its indispensable monitoring and verification activities in Iran as soon as possible,” the agency stated.

Iran’s Foreign Minister reaffirmed the country’s continued commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Under the NPT, Iran is required to account for all of its enriched uranium stocks. However, the recent military strikes have disrupted the monitoring framework, raising concerns about the status and whereabouts of Iran’s nuclear materials, particularly the more than 400 kilograms enriched up to 60% purity—close to weapons-grade level.

While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, several governments have questioned the civilian justification for such high levels of enrichment. The IAEA has noted that no country has enriched uranium to that level without also developing nuclear weapons capabilities.

“We cannot afford that the inspection regime is interrupted,” Grossi said at a recent press conference in Vienna, underscoring the urgency of restoring monitoring access to ensure transparency and compliance.

Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib announced the alleged acquisition on state media, saying the materials “expose hidden aspects of Israel’s national security infrastructure,” including ties with the United States and European allies.

“We have obtained sensitive documents from within the Israeli regime,” Khatib stated, though no files or proof have been made public. “These documents reveal the full scale of Israeli nuclear capabilities and their covert alliances.”

The claim has not been independently verified and comes at a time of heightened friction over Iran’s own nuclear program. Tehran remains locked in a standoff with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has criticized Iran’s lack of transparency and cooperation.

Analysts suggest the announcement may be a response to Israel’s 2018 operation, when Mossad agents reportedly extracted a large archive of Iranian nuclear documents from a Tehran warehouse  evidence Israel used to accuse Iran of deceiving the international community about its nuclear ambitions.

Iran’s current narrative appears aimed at challenging that precedent and bolstering its image amid diplomatic isolation and domestic unrest.

Neither the Israeli government nor its intelligence services have publicly commented on the latest Iranian claims.