A draft resolution submitted by Western powers to the UN's nuclear watchdog demanding Iran's full cooperation has heightened tensions, with Iran warning of a "fundamental review" of its relationship with the agency if the measure is adopted. The move comes amid a delicate backdrop where Iran has resumed some inspections but continues to block access to nuclear sites damaged in military attacks.
The United States, Britain, France, and Germany have submitted a draft resolution to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-nation Board of Governors. The text urges Iran to "provide the agency without delay with precise information on nuclear material accountancy and safeguarded nuclear facilities in Iran, and grant the agency all access it requires to verify this information". This follows a recent IAEA report that stated accounting for Iran's stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity is "long overdue".
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has confirmed that inspectors have resumed work at facilities unaffected by the June attacks, acknowledging this cooperation as "welcome". Since a September agreement signed in Cairo, Iran has facilitated access for inspections at "almost all unaffected facilities". However, Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have firmly rejected any cooperation with the IAEA "regarding the bombed sites," stating they only comply with regulations for unaffected facilities. Iran maintains that "no enrichment" is currently happening because the sites were damaged.
The core of the current dispute stems from a 12-day war in June that saw Israeli and US strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordo and Natanz. In the aftermath, Tehran suspended broader cooperation and restricted inspector access to the damaged sites. Iranian authorities have sharply criticized the IAEA for its failure to condemn the attacks, which they state has fueled distrust and widespread domestic calls to sever cooperation with the agency entirely.
Iran has warned that the adoption of the new resolution would "unavoidably and adversely affect the positive course of cooperation". Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Tehran would be forced to "conduct a fundamental review" of its approaches and relations with the IAEA should the resolution pass. This perspective is supported by other nations; a joint statement from eight countries, including Iran, China, and Russia, warned that such a resolution is a "provocative action" that risks undermining the constructive momentum between Iran and the Agency.
The situation remains at an impasse. While the IAEA acknowledges Iran's cooperation on uninspected sites, it urgently needs access to the attacked facilities to verify nuclear material inventories. With Western powers pushing for stricter oversight and Iran promising a firm response to any censure, the path forward for diplomatic engagement appears increasingly narrow.