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Iran scrapped a deal to cooperate with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog group on Monday, with the Islamic republic’s supreme leader taunting President Trump over claims that the US destroyed Tehran’s atomic program.
Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani said his nation was officially done cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency this week after sanctions were reinstated against Iran last month for its failure to work with the watchdog group.
“Following the activation of the Snapback mechanism, as [Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi] has previously stated, we will revise the Cairo Agreement, which we now consider invalid,” Larijani said in a statement.
The so-called “snapback” sanctions process went into effect in September, freezing Iran’s assets abroad, halting arms deals, and penalizing any development of its ballistic missile program.
The sanctions proceeded as Iran kept the IAEA inspectors outside the country since its 12-day war with Israel over the summer, which saw the Jewish state and the US bombard Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
Iran’s top brass had accused the IAEA of working with the US and Israel to target Tehran’s nuclear program, an allegation the independent watchdog group denies.
Despite penning a cooperation deal last month to ease tensions, Larijani said the deal is now void.
“However, if the IAEA presents a new proposal for cooperation, it will be studied by the SNSC,” he added, leaving the door open for future negotiations.
The scrapping of the deal comes as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected an offer to renew nuclear talks with Trump as he slammed America’s involvement in the 12-day war.
“Trump says he is a dealmaker, but if a deal is accompanied by coercion and its outcome is predetermined, it is not a deal but rather an imposition and bullying,” Khamenei said according to state media.
The ayatollah also challenged the assertion that Iran’s nuclear program was destroyed by the US and Israel, a claim Trump has reiterated since the summer bombings.
“The U.S. president proudly says they bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry. Very well, keep dreaming!” Khamenei said.
“What does it have to do with America whether Iran has nuclear facilities or not? These interventions are inappropriate, wrong and coercive,” he added.
Nuclear experts have said that Tehran’s nuclear program has been badly damaged, setting Tehran back by years. The extent of the damage, however, remains unknown without a full analysis from the IAEA.
With Post wires
