Vienna: The proposed resolution could be considered by the 35-member Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to diplomats familiar with the discussions. If approved, it would mark a significant escalation in the long-running dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Under its obligations as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran is required to declare its nuclear material and activities and allow IAEA inspectors to verify that nuclear material is not being diverted from peaceful purposes.
The latest draft asks IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to transmit the resolution, along with previously adopted resolutions concerning Iran, to all IAEA member states as well as the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly.
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The move follows previous IAEA resolutions demanding that Tehran address outstanding safeguards concerns and cooperate fully with the agency. Western governments have accused Iran of failing to provide sufficient answers regarding uranium traces detected at previously undeclared locations and of restricting the agency’s ability to verify parts of its nuclear programme.
IAEA inspectors have also been unable to regain full access to key Iranian nuclear facilities or verify the status of some of the country’s enriched uranium stockpile. The agency has previously estimated that Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a level significantly above that required for most civilian nuclear purposes and close to weapons-grade. Iran has repeatedly maintained that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes.
The draft resolution reportedly calls on Iran to urgently remedy its non-compliance and take the steps required for the IAEA to provide assurances over the accuracy and completeness of Tehran’s nuclear declarations.
Diplomats stressed, however, that the resolution remains under negotiation and has not yet been formally submitted to the IAEA board. Its wording could therefore still change as member states consider amendments ahead of a possible vote.
If adopted, the referral would bring Iran’s nuclear activities back before the Security Council at a time of heightened tensions between Tehran and Western powers, adding fresh diplomatic pressure to an already strained nuclear standoff.
