TEHRAN – In a move that significantly escalates the high-stakes standoff over its nuclear program, Iran has declared a recent cooperation agreement with the UN's atomic watchdog "no longer relevant." The decision is a direct and defiant response to the reimposition of international sanctions by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
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| Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addresses foreign ambassadors to Iran, in Tehran on October 5, 2025 [Atta Kenare/AFP] |
Speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the collapse of the "Cairo Agreement," a crucial framework signed just last month with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to resume monitoring and inspections of the nation's nuclear sites.
That deal had been a fragile diplomatic breakthrough after Tehran suspended cooperation following debilitating attacks on its nuclear facilities in June, which it attributed to Israel and the United States.
However, its relevance was shattered after the three European powers (E3) all signatories to the original 2015 nuclear accord—triggered the "snapback" of UN sanctions. They accused Iran of breaching its commitments, a charge Tehran vehemently denies.
In a scathing rebuke, Araghchi argued the E3 had miscalculated, fatally overplaying their hand.
"The three European countries thought they had leverage, threatening to take a countermeasure," Araghchi stated. “Now, they have used this leverage and have seen the consequences. The E3 have certainly diminished their role and almost eliminated the reason for negotiating with them.”
He added a stark warning for any future talks, asserting that the European trio “will have a much smaller role than before.”
Accusations of Double Standards
Tehran’s frustration is also aimed squarely at the IAEA itself, which it accuses of applying a damaging double standard. Iranian officials contend that the agency failed to condemn the Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities, a duty they argue is mandated under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
This perceived inaction stands in sharp contrast to the intense scrutiny Iran faces from Western nations, who have long alleged that its program is a front for developing nuclear weapons. Tehran has consistently maintained its program is for purely civilian energy purposes and that it retains the right to enrich uranium under the NPT.
The diplomatic fallout has fueled debate within Iran, with some hardline lawmakers proposing a complete withdrawal from the NPT. However, President Masoud Pezeshkian has insisted that Iran will remain committed to its treaty obligations for now.
An Uncertain Future
The collapse of the Cairo Agreement plunges the future of nuclear oversight into dangerous, uncharted territory. Broader talks between Iran and the United States, which began in April to revive a wider nuclear deal, fell apart after the June attacks. Since then, Tehran has demanded robust guarantees and a full recognition of its rights before any resumption of negotiations.
While noting that Tehran's next decision on its level of cooperation with the IAEA "will be announced," Araghchi left the door slightly ajar. "There remains room for diplomacy," he concluded, leaving the international community to wonder whether a path back from the brink can be found, or if a new, more volatile chapter in the nuclear standoff has just begun.