(MENAFN) Iran has decided to pause the execution of the Cairo agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a recent discussion aired on state-run television.

While collaboration with the agency hasn't been fully terminated, Araghchi clarified that it has been “temporarily put on hold.”

The accord, originally signed in September, was intended to permit the IAEA to resume inspections of Iran's atomic sites.

These inspections had been stopped by Tehran following bombing campaigns carried out by the United States and Israel in June.

However, the significance of the deal diminished shortly thereafter when Britain, France, and Germany—key participants in the 2015 nuclear agreement—initiated steps to reinstate United Nations sanctions against Iran.

During a Saturday interview, Araghchi emphasized that Tehran remains open to reviving the Cairo agreement if “fair proposals are presented in a way that safeguards the rights of the Iranian nation.”

This indicates a willingness to return to the accord, provided the conditions align with Iran’s national interests.

The minister further stated that under the present circumstances, Iran finds no justification to carry on nuclear discussions with Britain, France, and Germany.

“We see no basis for negotiations with the Europeans,” he remarked, suggesting a deepening rift between Tehran and the Western European powers.

For years, Western governments have accused Iran of attempting to acquire nuclear weapons—claims Tehran firmly rejects.

Iranian officials maintain that their nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes and reaffirm their entitlement to enrich uranium, as permitted under the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

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