UN Atomic Watchdog Pressures Iran for Compliance on Nuclear Program

The U.N. atomic watchdog’s board on Wednesday urged Iran to fully cooperate with its inspectors. The demand includes providing comprehensive information about its near weapons-grade nuclear material stockpile. Access to Iranian nuclear sites is also required.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) board passed a resolution emphasizing the urgency and necessity of information and access. These are needed to ensure no nuclear material diversion.

Out of 35 members, 21 countries voted for the resolution at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna. Diplomats, who spoke anonymously about the closed-doors vote, disclosed this outcome. Russia, China, and Niger opposed the resolution; 10 countries abstained and one failed to vote due to arrears.

France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States sponsored the resolution. A senior Western diplomat noted it aims to maintain diplomatic pressure on Iran. The goal is compliance with its legal obligations under nuclear safeguards.

The resolution comes amid rising Middle East tensions. The U.S. launched airstrikes against Iran, with Tehran retaliating against regional countries. These attacks risk derailing peace efforts. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran would “pay the price” for stalled peace negotiations.

Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear sites in June 2025, Iran has barred IAEA inspectors from those sites. Under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Tehran must cooperate. The IAEA has been unable to verify near weapons-grade uranium stockpile status since June’s bombing.

According to the IAEA, Iran holds 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity. This level is close to weapons-grade enrichment of 90%. IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi warned this stockpile could enable Iran to make 10 nuclear bombs if weaponized. He clarified Iran does not have such a weapon.

Iran asserts its nuclear program is peaceful and denies seeking nuclear weapons. Outside the IAEA boardroom, Iran’s ambassador, Reza Najafi, condemned the resolution. He claimed it misrepresents Iran’s situation as “quite normal.” Najafi stressed attacks and threats undermine normal safeguards application. He noted Iran’s IAEA cooperation included access to all unaffected facilities.

The resolution “deeply regrets” Iran’s ongoing noncompliance with nonproliferation commitments over the last year. The IAEA board cited Iran’s noncompliance in June for the first time in 20 years, before U.S. and Israeli attacks.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog’s investigation continues into uranium traces found at undeclared Iranian sites. Since 2019, Iran has not provided credible explanations for this nuclear material’s origin and current location.

Western officials suspect these traces indicate a secret nuclear weapons program until 2003. However, Wednesday’s resolution stops short of referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions. This last occurred in February 2006 over Iran’s noncompliance.

The resolution maintains the option of future action. It states the IAEA board “will stand ready to take further action,” including potential Security Council referral.

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