The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Friday that it safely withdrew a team of inspectors from Iran after the country decided to suspend cooperation with the agency. The inspectors will return to the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the staff was pulled out of Iran amid safety concerns.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the next "crucial" step is starting negotiations with Iran to allow inspectors to return and resume "indispensable monitoring and verification" of Iran's nuclear program.