The resolution is adopted amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, following US airstrikes against Iran early Wednesday and retaliatory fire from Tehran targeting regional countries.
On Wednesday, the UN’s nuclear oversight board demanded that Iran fully cooperate with the agency by supplying “complete information” on its near weapons-grade nuclear material stock and granting inspectors unfettered access to nuclear facilities.
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The resolution emphasized that granting information and access is “critical and urgent” to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to confirm no “diversion of nuclear material” is occurring.
According to anonymous diplomats revealing the result of a secret ballot, 21 of the IAEA’s 35 board member countries backed the resolution at the Vienna headquarters.
Against it voted Russia, China, and Niger; meanwhile, 10 nations abstained, and one did not participate due to arrears.
France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States introduced the resolution.
An unnamed senior Western diplomat described the move as an attempt to maintain diplomatic pressure on Iran to align with its legal safeguard commitments.
The resolution was adopted amid increased Middle Eastern tensions following US airstrikes on Iran Wednesday morning and Iran’s subsequent response against regional nations.
The intensifying assaults risk disrupting peace efforts, with US President Donald Trump warning Tehran of consequences for impeding negotiations.
Since Israel and the US targeted Iran’s nuclear sites during a 12-day conflict in June 2025, Iran has denied IAEA inspectors access to the damaged locations despite its legal obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The agency has also been unable to verify the condition of the near weapons-grade uranium stockpile since these bombings.
The IAEA reports that Iran holds approximately 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity, which is a short, technical step from the 90% weapons-grade level.
IAEA director general Rafael Grossi cautioned in a recent interview that this stockpile could suffice to produce up to 10 nuclear bombs if Iran chose to militarize its program, though he clarified that this does not confirm Iran possesses such weapons.
Iran maintains that it does not seek nuclear weapons and asserts its nuclear program serves exclusively peaceful purposes.
The resolution also expresses “deep regret” over Iran’s inability to resolve its breaches of non-proliferation obligations during the past year.
In June last year, the IAEA board formally found Iran non-compliant with its safeguards agreement for the first time in two decades, just before the US and Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
A key concern revolves around a prolonged UN investigation into uranium traces discovered at undeclared sites within Iran.
Since 2019, Iran has not provided the agency with “technically credible explanations” about the source and current whereabouts of this nuclear material.
Western officials suspect these uranium traces could support claims that Iran maintained a clandestine nuclear weapons program until 2003.
The resolution passed on Wednesday did not escalate to referring Iran to the UN Security Council for potential additional sanctions over non-compliance, something last done in February 2006.
Nonetheless, it leaves open the possibility for further measures, affirming that the IAEA board “is prepared to take additional actions,” including determining the “timing and content” of a formal non-compliance report to the UN Security Council.
Additional sources • AP, AFP