Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced on Saturday that the country will suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog if European nations push to reinstate UN sanctions. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by President Pezeshkian. State TV reported this development. The council stated that the Europeans' actions "will in practice lead to a suspension of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog." This move comes as Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister had previously warned European states to be cautious and accused them of using the snapback of UN sanctions as a "pretext for escalation." Iran's President had also stated that the snapback "can't stop" the nation from building "far more important than Natanz." Previously, reports indicated that Iranian and US officials had engaged in direct contact over the past several days regarding a nuclear deal roadmap, with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister submitting a plan to US envoy Witkoff. However, the Deputy Foreign Minister subsequently denied recent contact, citing "fierce domestic hardliner backlash over Iran's new deal with IAEA," though other sources confirmed the exchanges. Separately, one person was killed in a targeted vehicle strike in Khardali, southern Lebanon, between 2:07 PM and 2:37 PM UTC on September 20th. Additionally, Hezbollah's al-Manar Channel broadcast a recording reportedly featuring discussions on military strategy against Israel between Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Radwan Force commander Ibrahim Aqil during a meeting within the past year.
