The United Nations nuclear watchdog’s board of governors formally declared on Thursday that Iran is failing to meet its nuclear obligations, marking the first such finding in two decades. The move could escalate tensions and pave the way for renewed sanctions against Tehran later this year.
Nineteen countries on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board voted in favor of the resolution, according to diplomats speaking anonymously due to the closed-door nature of the session. Russia, China, and Burkina Faso opposed the measure, while 11 nations abstained and two did not vote.
The resolution, drafted by France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, urges Iran to provide answers "without delay" regarding uranium traces found at several undeclared sites. Western officials suspect these traces may indicate a covert nuclear weapons program prior to 2003.
Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran is legally required to disclose all nuclear activities and allow IAEA inspections to ensure materials are not diverted for military use. The resolution states that Iran’s repeated failures to cooperate since 2019 constitute a breach of its safeguards agreement.
The vote comes at a delicate moment, with regional tensions already heightened. The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday it was reducing non-essential personnel in the Middle East. Meanwhile, indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s advancing nuclear program continue, with a sixth round of negotiations set for Sunday in Oman.
The resolution explicitly supports diplomatic efforts, emphasizing the need for a solution addressing international concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities. However, Iran has previously warned of retaliation.
In a joint statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry and Atomic Energy Organization condemned the resolution as "politically motivated" and lacking legal or technical basis. They announced plans to escalate uranium enrichment, replacing first-generation centrifuges with advanced models at the Fordow facility.
Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesperson for Iran’s atomic agency, called the resolution a "strategic miscalculation," vowing that pressure would not force Tehran to retreat from its positions.I