The council of the UN atomic monitoring body reported Iran to the Security Council on Wednesday for the first time in 20 years for failing to comply with nuclear obligations. A majority of 23 of 34 voting members of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approved the resolution in Vienna, criticizing Tehran for not cooperating in a long-running investigation into uranium traces detected by inspectors at several undeclared sites in Iran. China, Russia and Niger opposed, while eight countries abstained.
The text, presented by the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, urges Iran to urgently remedy the violation of the IAEA Safeguards Agreement. The decision marks the first time since 2006 that a resolution from the IAEA Board of Governors on Iran has been referred to the UN Security Council, where China and Russia, both allies of Iran, have veto power.
Since Israeli and American attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, Iran has restricted access to inspectors of the United Nations atomic agency, which still cannot determine the whereabouts of approximately 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium. This material, enriched to 60%, is close to what is needed for military use.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi needs access to the facilities to provide the necessary assurances regarding the correctness and completeness of Iran's declarations. Grossi insisted that inspector access is indispensable to allow the IAEA to verify Iran's compliance with its safeguards obligations and determine whether all nuclear material is being used for peaceful purposes.
