The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to convene in Vienna on Monday, where Western members—led by the United States and the so-called “E3” nations (the United Kingdom, France, and Germany)—are expected to propose a resolution declaring Iran in non-compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The resolution follows a critical IAEA report from November alleging that Iran has failed to cooperate with agency inspectors and continues to enrich uranium at 60% purity, a level approaching weapons-grade enrichment. If introduced, the resolution is expected to pass.
In the November vote, a previous resolution accusing Iran of non-cooperation passed with 19 votes in favor, 12 abstentions, and opposition from only three countries: Russia, China, and Burkina Faso. If the new resolution passes, it would mark the first formal declaration of Iranian non-compliance since September 2005.
Such a declaration could trigger the "snapback mechanism," allowing European countries to reimpose pre-2015 sanctions on Iran—sanctions that were lifted under the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Tehran has issued repeated warnings against any move to pass such a resolution or activate the snapback mechanism. Last Tuesday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi cautioned IAEA member-state ambassadors against taking “politically motivated actions.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the warning in a separate meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on June 1 and 2, promising a “harsh response” if the resolution proceeds.
The meeting comes amid a deepening stalemate in nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Iran maintains that its enrichment program is for civilian purposes, as allowed under the NPT, and has refused to make concessions on its current level of enrichment.
A sixth round of indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran had been expected to take place over the weekend, but no official confirmation was given, and no new date has been announced.