The United Nations atomic watchdog has called for Iran to fully cooperate with the agency. This includes providing detailed information about its near weapons-grade nuclear material and allowing inspectors access to Iranian nuclear sites. The resolution, passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board, emphasized the urgency of these measures to ensure nuclear material is not diverted.
Out of 35 members on the IAEA’s board of governors, 21 countries supported the resolution. It was held at IAEA headquarters in Vienna. Those opposing the resolution included Russia, China, and Niger. Ten countries abstained, and one abstained due to arrears.
France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States proposed the resolution. A senior Western diplomat explained that it aims to maintain diplomatic pressure on Iran to comply with legal safeguards. This comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Recent U.S. airstrikes against Iran have heightened these tensions, with Iran retaliating against regional countries.
Iran has barred IAEA inspectors from accessing certain nuclear sites since June 2025, following U.S. and Israeli strikes. The IAEA has not verified the status of Iran’s uranium stockpile since then. The stockpile, consisting of 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity, could potentially produce up to 10 nuclear bombs if weaponized, according to IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful.
Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, criticized the resolution. He stated it misrepresented the situation in Iran, neglecting the country’s cooperation even amidst conflict. However, the resolution expressed regret over Iran’s ongoing noncompliance with its obligations.
The IAEA board had previously found Iran in noncompliance last June for the first time in two decades. The discovery of uranium traces at undeclared sites has fueled suspicions of a secret nuclear weapons program. Despite the resolution, Iran was not referred to the UN Security Council for further sanctions, although this remains a possibility depending on Iran’s actions.
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