IAEA Board Calls for Full Iranian Cooperation on Nuclear Safeguards

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors adopted a resolution urging Iran to fully cooperate with the agency, supply complete data on its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium and grant inspectors access to all nuclear facilities. The measure, described by a senior Western diplomat as intended to keep diplomatic pressure on Tehran, was supported by 21 of the 35 board members, with Russia, China and Niger voting against it and ten countries abstaining.

The resolution, introduced by France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States, states that providing information and access is “essential and urgent” for verifying that no nuclear material is being diverted. It also notes that Iran has not allowed IAEA inspectors into sites damaged during the June 2025 strikes by Israel and the United States, limiting the agency’s ability to assess the status of a reported 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity.

IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi warned that the quantity of enriched uranium could theoretically enable the construction of up to ten nuclear weapons, though he clarified that this does not indicate that Iran possesses such weapons. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful.

Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, rejected the resolution, claiming it mischaracterizes the situation and overlooks Iran’s cooperation with the agency at unaffected facilities. He argued that the current security environment, shaped by recent attacks, has undermined the normal implementation of safeguards.

The board’s decision stops short of referring Iran to the United Nations Security Council for additional sanctions, a step last taken in 2006, but it leaves the possibility open for future action, including the timing and content of a formal non-compliance report for Security Council consideration.