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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has referred Iran to the United Nations Security Council over what it describes as Tehran’s failure to comply with its nuclear safeguards obligations, marking the first such referral by the UN nuclear watchdog in 20 years.
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The IAEA Board of Governors adopted the resolution by 23 votes to three, with China, Russia and Niger voting against and eight countries abstaining, after inspectors were denied access to key Iranian nuclear facilities and the agency lost vital information about Tehran’s uranium stockpile.
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Iran has rejected the decision as politically motivated, accusing the United States and Israel of attacking its nuclear facilities and then using the disruption of inspections caused by those strikes as justification for the latest international action.
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The referral could pave the way for renewed UN pressure, including possible sanctions and asset freezes, although major punitive measures against Tehran are considered unlikely because Russia and China, both permanent members of the Security Council, have veto powers.
September 10 (THEWILL) – The United Nations nuclear watchdog has escalated its confrontation with Iran, referring Tehran to the UN Security Council for failing to meet its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors approved the resolution on Wednesday at the agency’s headquarters in Vienna, marking the first time in two decades that Iran has been formally referred to the Security Council over its nuclear activities.
The resolution was sponsored by the United States, Britain, France and Germany and secured the backing of 23 of the IAEA’s 35-member Board of Governors.
Russia, China and Niger voted against the measure, while eight countries abstained. One member did not vote after falling into arrears.
The resolution directs IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi to report the agency’s concerns to the UN Security Council and General Assembly, while demanding that Iran urgently address its alleged non-compliance and take measures required to establish that nuclear material has not been diverted from peaceful purposes.
Iran Accused Of Blocking Nuclear Verification
At the centre of the dispute is the IAEA’s inability to verify the current status of Iran’s nuclear material, including its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity.
The agency has also complained about Tehran’s failure to provide sufficient information concerning uranium traces detected at undeclared sites, which Western governments believe could be evidence of a previously undisclosed nuclear weapons programme.
Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, insisting that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and intended for civilian purposes.
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The IAEA, however, has repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of satisfactory explanations for nuclear material detected at sites that Iran did not declare to the agency.
The latest resolution therefore represents a significant escalation in the long-running dispute between Tehran and Western powers over the nature and scope of Iran’s nuclear programme.
440kg Uranium Stockpile Raises Alarm
The IAEA has estimated that Iran possesses about 440.9 kilogrammes (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent purity.
While 60 percent enrichment is below the roughly 90 percent level generally associated with weapons-grade uranium, the stockpile has become one of the major sources of concern for Western governments because it can be enriched further if Tehran decides to pursue nuclear weapons.
IAEA chief, Grossi, has previously warned that Iran’s stockpile could theoretically provide sufficient material for several nuclear weapons if it were weaponised, while stressing that the existence of enriched uranium does not itself establish that Iran possesses a nuclear bomb.
The agency’s inability to physically verify the location and condition of the stockpile has intensified those concerns.
Tehran Blames US, Israel For Inspection Crisis
Iran immediately rejected the IAEA resolution, accusing the agency of allowing military action by the United States and Israel to undermine the normal inspection process and then using the resulting disruption against Tehran.
Iranian Ambassador to the UN in Vienna, Reza Najafi, described the resolution as a “political tool” and accused the IAEA of damaging confidence in its independence, impartiality and credibility.
Najafi argued that Iran had neither suspended nor abandoned its safeguards obligations, but that allowing inspectors into damaged nuclear facilities during continuing military operations would be unsafe.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, made a similar argument, accusing the United States and Israel of attacking Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities and subsequently using the disruption to justify the IAEA action.
“They attack Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities, disrupt the normal verification process, and then use that very disruption as a pretext to pass a resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors”, Gharibabadi said in a post on X.
Tehran has maintained that inspections of the affected sites cannot resume under the present circumstances and has sought to make renewed access part of a broader diplomatic settlement with the United States and Israel.
Inspectors Denied Access Since 2025 Strikes
The IAEA has not had full access to Iran’s nuclear facilities affected by military strikes since Israel and the United States attacked Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day conflict in June 2025.
Facilities at Natanz and Fordo were among those targeted, leaving the agency unable to carry out the level of verification required to establish the status of Iran’s nuclear materials.
Iran has cited security concerns arising from the attacks as the principal reason for restricting access to the sites.
The standoff has left the IAEA without reliable, up-to-date verification of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile at a time when international concerns over Tehran’s nuclear intentions remain high. The situation has also become more complicated amid renewed military confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
