Iran Nuclear Issue Reported to IAEA for First Time in 20 Years; China and Russia Object

Iran nuclear issue reported to IAEA for first time in 20 years; China and Russia object

September 10

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors has referred Iran to the United Nations Security Council for the first time in 20 years, due to Iran's failure to cooperate with investigations into uranium traces found at undeclared locations.

The IAEA Board began considering such a referral to the Security Council after formally determining in June 2025 that Iran was not complying with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

Western countries believe these uranium traces may be evidence that Iran had a secret nuclear weapons program until 2003, but Iran has always insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

At the 35-member Board of Governors meeting held at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, the resolution submitted by the United States, Britain, France and Germany was supported by 23 countries, while China, Russia and Niger objected, and 8 countries abstained.

Because of this referral to the Security Council, there is a possibility that sanctions could be imposed on Iran, but it is said that actual practical sanctions are unlikely to emerge because Iran's allies Russia and China hold veto power.

Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna, Reza Najafi, rejected the resolution as merely a "political weapon" and responded that it undermines confidence in the IAEA's independence and impartiality.

Najafi also said that after the United States and Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities, it is not yet possible under the current circumstances for IAEA inspectors to safely enter and inspect those locations.

According to IAEA data, Iran is said to have stockpiled up to 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has said that if this uranium were used for weapons production, it would be enough to produce up to 10 nuclear bombs.

Ref & Photo; AP

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