Iran will maintain cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, despite recently passed legislation suspending direct access to its nuclear facilities, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday. The announcement comes amid heightened regional tension following last month's war with Israel and offers a measured assurance to the international community that oversight of Iran’s nuclear program has not been entirely cut off.

Supervised Coordination Amid Security Fears

Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that future cooperation with the IAEA will be managed through Iran’s Supreme National Security Council—a powerful body controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and key political figures. The move, he said, is necessary for “obvious safety and security reasons,” especially in light of recent military strikes.

This comes after Germany and other European countries criticized Tehran for passing a law to halt direct collaboration with the IAEA following Israeli attacks. Inspectors remained in Iran during the conflict but were barred from accessing nuclear sites, leading to fears of unmonitored enrichment activities.

Iran Seeks to Ease Global Concern

Araghchi emphasized that Iran remains fully committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the associated Safeguards Agreement, which aim to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and build trust around peaceful nuclear programs.

His remarks are seen as an effort to calm speculation that Tehran may fully withdraw from international oversight, particularly after a deadly 12-day conflict with Israel that killed over 900 Iranians and 30 Israelis. U.S. airstrikes during the conflict reportedly set back Iran’s nuclear program by up to two years, according to Pentagon estimates.

Oversight Still Constrained

While the pledge to continue cooperating offers temporary relief to international watchdogs, practical access remains limited. IAEA inspectors have not visited Iranian nuclear sites since the conflict began. The exact status of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains unknown, raising alarms in Western capitals.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council now holds exclusive authority over all IAEA-related decisions, a move that consolidates nuclear oversight within a tight political circle and limits transparency.