ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iran’s top security body said on Saturday it will suspend cooperation with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, citing the “ill-considered actions” of European powers, state media reported. 

“The ill-considered actions of three European countries regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, despite the cooperation of the foreign ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] and the presentation of plans to resolve the issue, will effectively suspend the path of cooperation,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said, as cited by state media. 

It was referring to Britain, France, and Germany, and the decision came a day after a UN Security Council vote to reimpose nuclear sanctions on Iran after the European powers activated the “snapback” mechanism, accusing Tehran of non-compliance. 

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, slammed the council’s vote to reimpose sanctions as “hasty, unnecessary, and unlawful,” stressing that Tehran “recognizes no obligation to implement it.” 

Iran has until September 28 to convince the UN Security Council of its cooperation, according to the vote, otherwise, crippling sanctions that were withheld as part of the landmark 2015 nuclear accord will be reinstated. 

Under the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the snapback mechanism permits the reactivation of UN sanctions if Iran is deemed in violation of its nuclear obligations.

The decision to suspend cooperation with the IAEA was made during a meeting chaired by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the snapback mechanism takes effect. 

Earlier in September, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signed an agreement with the IAEA in Cairo, allowing the watchdog access to Iran’s nuclear facilities and permitting it to resume work in the country after cooperation was suspended in the wake of the 12-day war with Israel.