Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Saturday that Tehran will ban Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), from entering the country and will no longer permit the installation of surveillance cameras at its nuclear facilities.

“We will not allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to install cameras at our nuclear sites, and the agency’s chief will be banned from entering the country,” Araghchi declared, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

The decision follows escalating tensions between the Islamic Republic and the IAEA over intrusive monitoring demands—particularly after Israel’s recent criminal aggression against Iranian sovereign sites, including peaceful nuclear installations.

Iran’s Parliament responded decisively earlier this week by passing legislation suspending further cooperation with the IAEA, citing the agency’s failure to uphold neutrality and its silence in the face of attacks on Iran’s civilian nuclear infrastructure.

The move comes in the wake of a 12-day confrontation that began on June 13, when the Israeli regime launched unprovoked airstrikes on Iranian military, civilian, and nuclear sites, killing at least 606 people and injuring over 5,300, according to the Iranian Health Ministry.

In a proportionate and strategic response, the Islamic Republic launched a series of powerful missile and drone strikes against Israeli military bases and key infrastructure, killing 29 and wounding more than 3,400, according to figures from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The hostilities came to a halt under a US-brokered ceasefire that took effect on June 24. However, Iranian officials continue to warn against any illusion of de-escalation without genuine accountability for Israeli crimes and Western complicity.

Iranian lawmakers and military officials emphasized that Tehran will continue to protect its technological and scientific sovereignty. The latest move against the IAEA is viewed as a necessary measure to prevent espionage and external manipulation under the guise of international oversight.

Iran reiterated its commitment to peaceful nuclear development, while making clear that it will not tolerate selective enforcement, double standards, or foreign interference disguised as diplomacy. (ILKHA)