IAEA: Verweigerte Atominspektionen – Iran muss vor UN-Sicherheitsrat

Wien - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is considering referring Iran's nuclear program to the United Nations Security Council due to Tehran's widespread refusal to cooperate with international nuclear inspectors. The IAEA's Board of Governors in Vienna decided to escalate the situation by bringing the issue to the UN Security Council in New York. This decision was initiated by the United States, Germany, France, and Britain.

The Board expressed deep concern that IAEA inspectors had no current information on Iran's uranium reserves and no access to nuclear facilities in the country. They emphasized the urgent need for Iran to provide full transparency to confirm that no nuclear materials were being diverted for military purposes. Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons.

The resolution, supported by 23 out of 35 member states in the Board, faced opposition from Russia, China, and Niger. The remaining countries either abstained or did not participate in the vote. Due to Moscow and Beijing's refusal to support the resolution, it is unlikely that the UN Security Council will now take action against Tehran, according to Western diplomatic sources.

Iranian cooperation with IAEA inspections has been increasingly restricted over the past years, in response to the United States' decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. Following the first US and Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last year, Iran almost completely halted cooperation with the IAEA, denying access to over 400 kilograms of nearly weapons-grade uranium produced in recent years.

Inspections are deemed impossible in the current situation of ongoing military operations, according to Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Resa Nadschafi.