BERLIN

Germany on Wednesday criticized a new Iranian law to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling it a "devastating signal."

Iran's cooperation with the IAEA is "essential" for reaching a diplomatic solution, said Martin Giese, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, during a press briefing in Berlin.

“Terminating cooperation with the IAEA, or rather implementing this step, would send a devastating signal because the Iranian nuclear program would be exempt from any international oversight.

"Iran, like all non-nuclear weapon states that operate a civilian nuclear program, is obliged under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to have its nuclear program fully verified by the IAEA. We call on Iran once again to immediately revoke the decision to suspend cooperation with the IAEA,” he added.

Giese urged Iran again to “verify its nuclear facilities through the IAEA.”

Asked about remarks by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who called for an “end to Iran’s nuclear program” on Tuesday, Giese replied: “I do not believe that the call was intended to exclude the possibility of, for example, the civilian use of nuclear energy.”

Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the suspension of his country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the official Press TV and Mehr news agency reported.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency also said that the president approved the law requiring the government to suspend ties with the IAEA.

Last week, Iran’s parliament passed legislation to suspend cooperation with the IAEA.

The move comes after growing tensions between Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog over monitoring access and transparency in the wake of recent military confrontations with Israel and the US.