"We are interested in continuing cooperation between Iran and the IAEA so that everyone can respect Iran's repeated statements that it does not and will not have plans to develop a nuclear weapon," Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow.
Iran's Shura Council voted on Wednesday to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, following a 12-day war with Israel during which Iranian nuclear sites were subjected to Israeli and American strikes. This decision still needs to be approved by the Guardian Council to take effect.
Tehran criticized what it described as the IAEA's silence regarding the attacks, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stating that "cooperation with the agency will certainly be affected."
In contrast, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that "cooperation with the agency is a legal obligation, not a service provided by Iran," indicating his rejection of Tehran's decision.
Western countries, led by the United States and Israel, suspect that Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran repeatedly denies, emphasizing the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, with support from Moscow.
Russia maintains a technical presence at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southwestern Iran through its state-owned company Rosatom, where hundreds of Russian specialists work.
