Vienna (HRNW)- The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has passed a resolution calling for Iran’s nuclear issue to be reported to the United Nations Security Council over alleged violations of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
According to international news agencies, 23 of the 35 board members voted in favor of the resolution, while China, Russia and Niger opposed it. Eight countries either abstained or did not participate in the vote.
The resolution was introduced by the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. It marks the first time in nearly two decades that the IAEA Board has taken such a step regarding Iran.
The resolution expresses concern over Iran’s failure to provide complete information about its nuclear activities and its refusal to provide the IAEA with the required access to certain sites.
The IAEA says it lacks complete and up-to-date information about Iran’s nuclear material and facilities. The agency has also sought explanations regarding uranium particles discovered at sites that Iran had not previously declared as locations of nuclear activity.
According to the agency’s previous records, Iran possessed approximately 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent. However, following recent conflicts and attacks on nuclear facilities, the IAEA has been unable to fully verify the current status of the stockpile.
While uranium enriched to 60 percent is below weapons-grade enrichment, it can potentially be further enriched for use in nuclear weapons. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful and that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons.
China opposed the resolution, describing it as an attempt to increase political pressure on Iran rather than advance a diplomatic solution. Beijing argued that continued political confrontation could further escalate regional tensions and said military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities had contributed to the breakdown of normal IAEA monitoring and cooperation.
China, along with Russia and Niger, called for renewed negotiations and diplomatic engagement. The opposition from China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto power, is expected to limit the prospects for any immediate harsh action against Iran.
The latest development follows an IAEA Board resolution adopted on June 12, 2025, which declared Iran to be in violation of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. Israel launched attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities the following day, with the United States later joining the conflict. Damage to several Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran’s subsequent restrictions on IAEA inspectors have made it difficult for the agency to verify Iran’s nuclear stockpiles and facilities.
The latest IAEA resolution does not impose immediate new sanctions on Iran but opens the way for the matter to be taken up by the UN Security Council, where any further measures would require separate diplomatic and legal procedures.
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