The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors on Monday approved a resolution calling on Iran to immediately provide information on the status of its enriched uranium stockpiles and to grant the access required for verification activities.
The decision follows months of limited cooperation between Tehran and the UN watchdog, particularly after a series of attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this year. According to a confidential IAEA report cited by AFP, the agency has yet to conduct overdue verification work on Iran’s sensitive inventories of highly enriched uranium.
The report notes that Iran held approximately 44.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity as of June 13 — close to the 90 percent level considered weapons-grade — and up from 32.3 kilograms reported on May 17. Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state currently enriching uranium to this level, according to the agency.
Iran Rejects Resolution as Politically Motivated
Iran’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mohsen Nazifi, criticized the resolution as “political” and “non-constructive,” claiming it reflects an effort by the United States and the European “E3” (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom) to compensate for what he described as their failure to trigger the UN Snapback Mechanism in New York.
Nazifi said the IAEA itself had acknowledged that regular implementation of inspections under the Safeguards Agreement became nearly impossible after the attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, leading the agency to withdraw its inspectors. He argued that Iran has demonstrated “good faith” by agreeing to resume verification activities at facilities that were not affected.
Restricted Access to Bombed Sites
Despite the new resolution, Iran has continued to refuse access to locations damaged in the attacks, including the Natanz uranium enrichment plant and the Fordo underground complex. Senior Iranian official Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran would only cooperate regarding facilities “that have not been affected,” in line with its interpretation of IAEA regulations.
The IAEA has repeatedly stressed the need for full access, particularly to assess the condition of enriched uranium inventories and continuation of activities at the damaged sites.
Broader Context
Western governments and Israel have long accused Iran of pursuing capabilities that could support the development of a nuclear weapon, an allegation Iran consistently denies. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes and argues that security threats have hindered normal cooperation with the IAEA.
The agency has urged Iran to restore full transparency and allow inspectors to verify its enriched uranium stockpiles without delay. Further discussions between Iran and the IAEA are expected in the coming weeks.
Picture Copyright: International Atomic Energy Agency: IAEA emblemDerivative Work: Jesuiseduardo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons