Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists. Read more below.***IranRelations between Iran’s government and the U.N. nuclear watchdog had been on a downward spiral even before last month’s Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iran’s nuclear program, and they have taken a turn for the worse since a ceasefire took effect. Over the years, Tehran has limited the International Atomic Energy Agency’s access and accused it of biased reporting but still allowed some degree of cooperation. However, following the attacks, Iran’s government quickly moved to implement a unanimously passed parliamentary bill suspending cooperation with the agency and, on July 4, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that its inspectors had been withdrawn. Among other reasons for the decision, the move reflected Iranian concerns that the United States and Israel could use information gathered by U.N. inspectors to plan future strikes.Iran has left room for a future reversal, subject to recognition of its right to enrichment and the safety of its nuclear facilities and personnel. However, only negotiations with the Trump administration could offer credible commitments along those lines and, while talks between Washington and Tehran could be on the horizon, the prospects for a deal are hardly rosy. Which means that, for the time being, whatever nuclear activities Iran might be undertaking are happening in the dark — though American, Israeli, and allied intelligence services are very likely keeping a close eye on what the International Atomic Energy Agency can no longer see.Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, delivers remarks after Israel launched attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Image: IAEA Imagebank via Wikimedia Commons.RussiaIn the past two weeks, Russian forces gained more territory and continued heavy air attacks on Ukraine
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Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists. Read more below.***IranRelations between Iran’s government and the U.N. nuclear watchdog had been on a downward spiral even before last month’s Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iran’s nuclear program, and they have taken a turn for the worse since a ceasefire took effect. Over the years, Tehran has limited the International Atomic Energy Agency’s access and accused it of biased reporting but still allowed some degree of cooperation. However, following the attacks, Iran’s government quickly moved to
