In Vienna, the United Nations atomic watchdog’s board has demanded that Iran fully cooperate with the agency. The board urged Iran to provide comprehensive information on its stockpile of near weapons-grade nuclear material and allow inspectors access to its nuclear sites.
A resolution passed by the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) emphasized the need for transparency. It stated that access and information are “essential and urgent” to verify that there is no “diversion of nuclear material.” Twenty-one countries in the IAEA’s 35-member board voted for the resolution, as reported by diplomats who preferred anonymity due to the closed-door nature of the voting.
Opposed by Russia, China, and Niger, the resolution saw ten countries abstain, while another refrained from voting due to financial arrears. Proposed by France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States, the resolution aims to maintain diplomatic pressure on Iran to fulfill its legal safeguards obligations, according to a senior Western diplomat.
This resolution arises amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Early Wednesday, the U.S. conducted airstrikes against Iran, and Iran responded with attacks on regional countries. Such escalating conflicts risk undermining peace efforts, with U.S. President Donald Trump warning Iran of consequences if peace negotiations stall.
Following attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites by Israel and the U.S. during a 12-day conflict in June 2025, Iran has not allowed IAEA inspectors access to the impacted sites. Under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Tehran is legally obligated to cooperate with the IAEA. The agency has been left unable to verify the status of Iran’s near weapons-grade uranium since the June strikes.
The IAEA reports that Iran holds a 440.9-kilogram (972-pound) stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity. This level is a short technical step away from weapons-grade at 90%. IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi recently stated that if weaponized, Iran’s stockpile could produce up to 10 nuclear bombs. However, he clarified that this does not confirm the existence of such weapons.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful and denies pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, criticized the resolution, claiming it misrepresents the situation in Iran as normal. He cited continued threats and attacks as destroying the legal, technical, and operational foundations for implementing safeguards.
Najafi noted that Iran has allowed IAEA access to unaffected facilities, arguing the resolution ignores Iran’s cooperation under challenging conditions. The resolution also expresses “deep regret” over Iran’s “failure to remedy” its noncompliance with its nonproliferation duties over the last year. In June, the IAEA declared Iran in noncompliance with its safeguards agreement for the first time in two decades.
The ongoing issue hinges on a long-standing investigation into uranium traces detected by U.N. inspectors at undeclared sites in Iran. Since 2019, Iran has not provided “technically credible answers” regarding the origin and location of the material. Western officials suspect these traces indicate Iran had a covert nuclear weapons program until 2003.
Wednesday’s resolution stops short of referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council for additional sanctions. This last occurred in February 2006 when Iran was also found in noncompliance. However, the resolution keeps this option available, stating the IAEA board “will stand ready to take further action,” including preparing a formal noncompliance report for the U.N. Security Council’s consideration.
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