Iran Suspends IAEA Cooperation Amid U.S.-Israel Strikes, E3 Sanctions

In response to recent U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iranian civilian nuclear sites, Iranian lawmakers have voted to suspend Tehran's ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This move comes amid escalating tensions and the reinstatement of UN nuclear sanctions on Iran by Germany, France, and the UK, despite a Russia-China proposal for a delay.

The decision by Iranian MPs to suspend cooperation with the IAEA is a significant development in the ongoing nuclear dispute. This action follows the U.S.-Israel bombing campaign and the reimposition of sanctions by the E3 (Germany, France, and the UK) after the collapse of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).

Meanwhile, Iran and Russia have been strengthening their nuclear cooperation. Less than two weeks after signing agreements in September 2025, the two countries have begun implementing discussions for nuclear reactor construction. These agreements, signed during Iranian Atomic Energy Organization chief Mohammad Eslami's visit to Moscow, cover small modular reactors (SMRs) and the Iran-Hormoz nuclear power plant project. Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev is set to visit Iran to follow up on these agreed issues, including progress at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant's Units 2 and 3. The first nuclear power plant in Iran's Bushehr province, built by Rosatom, has a capacity of 1000 Megawatts.

Iran's suspension of IAEA cooperation and the ongoing nuclear tensions with the West highlight the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding Iran's nuclear program. Despite these challenges, Iran and Russia continue to advance their nuclear cooperation, with Russia's Rosatom playing a key role in Iran's nuclear power development. The future of Iran's nuclear program and its relations with the international community remain uncertain, with potential implications for regional and global security.