Russia Backs Iran’s Decision to Suspend IAEA Cooperation after US Strikes

“The Parliament of Iran decided today to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. No surprise. It was a natural development caused by unlawful strikes at the Iranian nuclear facilities under the IAEA safeguards,” Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, said in a post on X Wednesday.

He also criticized Washington’s anti-Iran approach, writing, “The US is obsessed with banning uranium enrichment in Iran. This goes against the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and elementary common sense. A totally ideologized and unjustifiable approach which is fraught with constant danger to international peace and security.”

Iran’s parliament passed a bill on Wednesday approving the temporary suspension of cooperation with the IAEA.

Russian media described the move as aligned with current realities and a legitimate response to Western provocations.

Separately, Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s envoy to the UN, told a Security Council meeting on Iran’s nuclear file that the actions of the United States and Israel constituted a direct and dangerous blow to the NPT’s credibility. He said their conduct violates the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions, the IAEA Statute, and the General Conference resolution.

“These actions strike at Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy, including uranium enrichment, a right guaranteed under Article IV of the NPT,” Nebenzya stated.

He stressed that a member of the NPT has been “attacked without justification” by the US and Israel — one of which is a depository of the treaty and the other refuses to join it altogether.

Nebenzya reiterated Moscow’s firm condemnation of attacks on Iranian territory, particularly against peaceful nuclear infrastructure under IAEA safeguards. He also questioned Israel’s participation in a non-proliferation meeting, expressing hope it may signal readiness to join the NPT.