Tehran (TDI): Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog of adopting a “destructive” stance toward Iran, blaming his conduct for the country’s decision to suspend cooperation with the agency.
During a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Pezeshkian defended the Iranian parliament’s move to cut ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying it was a direct response to the behavior of its director general, Rafael Grossi.
“The step taken by our lawmakers is a natural reaction to the unjustified, harmful, and unconstructive approach of the IAEA leadership,” Pezeshkian said, according to a statement from his office.
Read More: Iran Can Resume Uranium Enrichment Within Months, Says IAEA
Macron urged Iran to respect the ceasefire and resume diplomatic engagement over its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. He also emphasized the need for Iran to allow the IAEA to resume full access and oversight.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the suspension of cooperation with the nuclear watchdog reflected “deep frustration and outrage among the Iranian public.”
Read More: Iran’s Parliament Passes Bill to Suspend Cooperation with IAEA
Meanwhile, the human cost of Iran’s recent conflict with Israel continues to emerge. On Monday, judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir revealed that at least 935 people were killed during the 12-day war, according to state media.
“The total number of martyrs identified from the recent aggression by the Zionist regime has reached 935,” Jahangir said.
The war, which ended with a ceasefire last week, marked one of the most intense escalations between the two countries in recent memory and has left regional diplomacy hanging in the balance.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
