Iran’s Parliament convened an emergency session on Saturday to review the agreement reached earlier this week between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which resumes limited cooperation with the UN watchdog. The extraordinary session, called during Parliament’s recess, came amid mounting conservative criticism that the accord may undermine legislation passed in June restricting IAEA access to Iranian nuclear sites.
The session was requested by conservative lawmaker Hamed Yazdian, who insisted that Parliament examine whether the agreement violates the law enacted after the 12-day war with Israel in June. That legislation suspended cooperation with the IAEA and required approval from the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) before international inspectors could be deployed inside the country.
During the debate, Araghchi defended the Cairo accord signed on September 9, stressing that it safeguards Iran’s nuclear rights and security. He reassured lawmakers that the deal does not grant inspectors access to sensitive nuclear facilities that were targeted by U.S. airstrikes on June 22. According to parliamentary sources, his explanations were sufficient to convince a majority of lawmakers that the accord adheres to the June law and does not compromise Iranian sovereignty.
Araghchi also emphasized that Iran’s commitment to the deal is conditional. He warned that any hostile actions, including the reinstatement of UN Security Council sanctions, would nullify the agreement. “I said clearly in the negotiations that if cancelled resolutions are reinstated, Iran will consider these practical steps null and void,” he told lawmakers.
Despite Araghchi’s assurances, the future of the accord remains uncertain. The UN Security Council is expected to vote before September 27 on whether to permanently lift sanctions under the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Diplomats expect the United States, and possibly the United Kingdom, to veto the measure, making the reimposition of so-called “snapback sanctions” highly likely.
Tehran has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if sanctions are reinstated, a move that would further escalate tensions and potentially destabilize the broader non-proliferation framework. The outcome of the UN vote later this month could therefore determine not only the fate of the IAEA accord but also the trajectory of Iran’s nuclear diplomacy.