What happened:
Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told FRONTLINE in an exclusive interview: “If ‘snapback’ mechanisms are enforced, we will end our participation with the IAEA.” His warning comes as the 30-day countdown to reimpose sanctions— frozen since the 2015 nuclear deal— expires this weekend.
Why it matters:
The warning marks a sharp escalation in Iran’s response to Western pressure, particularly following the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign in June that targeted Iranian scientific and energy infrastructure. It also raises the prospect of a breakdown in nuclear diplomacy at a time when international inspectors have already faced restricted access to key sites.
What he's saying:
Ali Larijani: “We have pursued every option and mechanism available for peacefully solving this conflict.”
“Iran will never surrender.”
“Negotiations have become a farce.”
“Once you have discovered a technology, they can’t take the discovery away.”
Between the lines:
Larijani’s remarks reflect Iran’s broader narrative — that Western powers use diplomacy as a cover for coercion. Iranian officials insist that scientific progress and national sovereignty are non-negotiable, while stressing the West's use of double standards on human rights and military aggression.
Hossein Amiri - seyed mohammad kazemi
