IAEA takes Iran to the Security Council for the first time since 2006

Uthe majority of 23 of 34 members with voting rights of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today adopted the resolution in Vienna, criticising Tehran for not cooperating in a long-term investigation into traces of uranium detected by inspectors in several undeclared locations in Iran.

China, Russia and Niger opposed, while eight countries abstained, according to diplomats quoted by the Associated Press (AP) agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the outcome of the closed vote.

The text, presented in Vienna by the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, urges Iran to remedy “urgently” the violation of the IAEA Safeguards Agreement.

From the Israeli and American attacks on Iranian nuclear installations, Iran has restricted access to UN atomic agency inspectors who are still unable to determine the whereabouts of about 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, a material close to military use.

According to the resolution, the Director-General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, needs access to the premises to “provide the necessary guarantees regarding the correction and completeness of Iran’s statements”.

The decision marks the first time since 2006 that a resolution of the IAEA Board of Governors on Iran is referred to the UN Security Council, where China and Russia, both allied with Iran, have veto power.

The resolution marks a further diplomatic escalation in the Western powers' attempt to pressure Iran to allow greater access to IAEA inspectors and provide information on the whereabouts of their highly enriched uranium.

This material, enriched to 60%, is close to what is needed for military use.

The IAEA expressed concern that it was unable to determine where this material is currently, after attacks on Iranian nuclear installations in June 2025 and since the end of February.

After the first attacks, Iran restricted access to inspectors in the summer of 2025, claiming security reasons.

Grossi himself insisted that inspectors' access is indispensable even after the attacks, in order to enable the IAEA to verify Iran's compliance with its safeguard obligations and determine whether all nuclear material is being used for peaceful purposes.