Jobaaj Stories
Iran May Cut Nuclear Ties with IAEA If U.S. Keeps Making Military Threats
Tehran, April 10, 2025 — Iran is threatening to end its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) if the United States continues to issue military threats over its nuclear program. The warning comes just days before U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to begin sensitive nuclear talks in Oman.
Iran Sends a Clear Warning
Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that if military pressure continues, Iran may take serious steps that could affect global nuclear monitoring.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shamkhani wrote:
“Continued external threats and talk of military action could lead to measures such as expelling IAEA inspectors and ending cooperation with the agency.”
He also added that Iran may move its enriched uranium—used in nuclear energy and possibly weapons—to undisclosed, secure locations within the country.
Trump Issues Strong Threat Ahead of Talks
Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a public warning to Iran. He said that if nuclear talks fail, Iran would be in "great danger" and hinted that the U.S. could use military force if a deal is not reached. Trump emphasized that he alone would decide if the negotiations are successful or not.
His remarks followed a high-profile meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on April 7, where both leaders discussed Iran and regional security issues.
Talks Set for Oman—But Not Everyone Agrees on the Format
Officials from Iran and the United States are expected to arrive in Oman on Saturday to begin negotiations about Tehran’s nuclear program. However, there is disagreement about how the talks will be conducted.
While the U.S. government has described the talks as direct, Iranian officials insist they will be indirect, with Oman’s foreign minister acting as a mediator between the two sides.
This adds a layer of complexity to the already tense situation.
Background: How We Got Here
During Trump’s first term as president (2017–2021), the U.S. pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal—formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). That agreement had required Iran to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions.
After the withdrawal, the U.S. reinstated harsh economic sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran began to increase its uranium enrichment beyond the levels allowed under the 2015 deal.
The IAEA, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, has since reported that Iran is enriching uranium far above what is necessary for peaceful energy purposes.
Concerns Over a Hidden Nuclear Agenda
Western powers, including the U.S., suspect that Iran’s nuclear program is not entirely peaceful. They argue that Iran may be secretly trying to build nuclear weapons by enriching uranium to high levels of purity.
Iran continues to deny these claims, insisting that its nuclear program is for civilian energy production and medical research.
Still, with both sides exchanging threats and setting red lines, the path to a peaceful resolution appears more fragile than ever.
