Iran has officially suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with top officials in Tehran demanding assurances from Washington that military force will not be used during ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

Speaking on Friday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi emphasized Iran’s preference for diplomatic solutions but underscored the need for clear commitments from the United States.

“The most important issue for us is to get an answer from the United States: they must convince us that they will not use military force again during the negotiation period,” Ravanchi said. “This is essential for our country so we can make an informed decision about the future of the negotiations.”

Ravanchi, who is also a member of Iran’s nuclear negotiating team, confirmed that Tehran had communicated its position directly to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi via its ambassador in Vienna.

IAEA Inspectors Withdraw, Grossi Urges Talks

The IAEA confirmed that its team of inspectors had left Iran safely on Friday and returned to Vienna, following Tehran’s formal suspension of cooperation.

“The resumption of monitoring and verification activities must be discussed with Iran as soon as possible,” Grossi stated, urging a return to talks.

The agency announced via its official channels that inspectors remained in Tehran throughout the recent conflict before departing. Their exit marks a significant escalation in the ongoing standoff between Iran and the international community over its nuclear activities.

Iran's move follows the enactment of a parliamentary law signed by President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday, which mandates a halt to cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog in response to what Tehran describes as biased treatment by the agency and the West.

Fallout from 12-Day War with Israel

Tensions with the IAEA surged after a 12-day war between Iran and Israel, during which Israeli strikes—supported by the United States—targeted multiple Iranian military and nuclear facilities and reportedly resulted in the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists. The U.S. also launched unprecedented airstrikes on three of Iran’s most critical nuclear sites, further inflaming Tehran’s distrust of Western intentions.

According to Ravanchi, prior to the outbreak of hostilities, IAEA inspectors had already visited sensitive Iranian sites containing highly enriched uranium and were fully briefed on the state of Iran’s nuclear materials.

Tehran Cites Double Standards

Iran has accused the IAEA of acting in favor of Western powers and using its findings to justify military aggression. Iranian lawmakers argue that the agency’s decision last week to declare Tehran in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) emboldened Israeli attacks and undermined the credibility of international oversight.

“We will suspend our cooperation with the IAEA,” Ravanchi warned, adding that future engagement would depend on “clear steps” to restore trust and ensure the agency’s neutrality.

With inspectors gone and monitoring halted, nuclear diplomacy faces renewed uncertainty, as both Tehran and Washington appear locked in a growing standoff amid regional volatility.