Tehran has announced it is ceasing "voluntary" cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) outside of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), on Wednesday. The move would see the UN nuclear watchdog's cameras at the Iranian nuclear facilities dismantled if they are not covered by the NPT safeguards, the Iranian authorities have explained.

The announcement came as Iran shut down an On-Line Enrichment Monitor (OLEM) and a flow meter set up by the IAEA at one of its nuclear sites. Tehran has accused the UN watchdog of not "appreciating" the "extensive cooperation" it had with the Iranian authorities.

The IAEA has failed to understand that this cooperation was a result of Tehran's "goodwill," the nation's atomic energy organization (AEOI) has said in a statement, adding that the IAEA has instead "considered it a duty of Iran."

The AEOI then said it decided to disconnect two of the IAEA's monitoring cameras, adding that most cameras are still covered by the NPT safeguards and would "operate as before." According to Iranian media, some 80% of monitoring cameras do fall under this agreement.

The AEOI's spokesman, Behrouz Kamalvandi, who oversaw the dismantling procedure, then told Iran's national TV broadcaster that Tehran would "cease … cooperation that was outside of the [NPT] safeguards agreement."

Tehran is now mulling "additional measures" in the same field, Kamalvandi has told the journalists. "We plan other steps. We expect them [IAEA] to come to their senses, and reciprocate Iran's cooperation. It is not acceptable for Iran to continue cooperation, whilst the other side does not show proper behavior," he said.