The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors has urged Iran to “extend full and prompt cooperation,” to provide the agency’s inspectors with “precise information” about its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, and to grant access to the country’s nuclear sites.
It was disclosed that nineteen countries on the UN atomic watchdog’s 35-member board voted for the resolution. Russia, China and Niger opposed it, while 12 countries abstained and one did not vote.
The resolution was put forward by France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.
Iran is legally obliged to cooperate with the IAEA under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. However, it has not yet provided IAEA inspectors with access to nuclear sites that were affected by the war with Israel in June.
The agency also has been unable to verify the status of the stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium since Israel and the United States struck the country’s nuclear sites during the 12-day war in June.
Speaking before the IAEA Board of Governors on Wednesday, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that inspections and design information verifications have been conducted “with advance notice, at almost all unaffected facilities in Tehran,” in accordance with a September agreement signed in Cairo.
Iran had earlier reported those inspections, with Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei saying earlier this month that inspectors from the IAEA had visited some nuclear sites as per the country’s NPT obligations.
Grossi, however, said that further engagement is required to restore full access at facilities damaged in the US-Israeli attacks.
“Though I note Iran’s cooperation on inspections at a number of facilities, further constructive engagement is needed. I urge Iran to facilitate the full and effective implementation of safeguards activities in accordance with its NPT Safeguards Agreement, and I reiterate my disposition to work with Iran on this matter.”
Rafael Grossi
He said that the status of Iran’s inventories of low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-enriched uranium (HEU) must be addressed urgently.
“The Agency’s five-month-long lack of access to this nuclear material means that its verification – according to standard safeguards practice – is long overdue.”
Rafael Grossi
Under the Cairo agreement, Iran and the IAEA agreed to develop a new mechanism for inspecting damaged nuclear sites-an unprecedented situation in the IAEA’s history.
However, the process has been effectively suspended following the attempt by the European parties to the 2015 deal to activate the so-called snapback mechanism to restore lifted UN sanctions just before the expiration of the 10-year accord.
Likely Escalation Of Tensions Between IAEA And Iran
The vote at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna sets the stage for a likely further escalation of tensions between the agency and Iran, which has reacted strongly to similar previous resolutions.
In Iran, there has recently been heavy criticism of the IAEA’s conduct, including its accusations that Iran has not cooperated adequately with the Agency, which helped the US and Israel in their attempts to justify their aggression against the country.
The IAEA’s failure even to condemn the US-Israeli strikes has further fueled criticism of the Agency, leading to widespread calls for Iran to sever cooperation with the IAEA entirely and withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
According to the IAEA, Iran maintains a stockpile of 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
Grossi warned in a recent interview that that stockpile could allow Iran to build as many as 10 nuclear bombs, should it decide to weaponize its program.
He added that it doesn’t mean that Iran has such a weapon. Such highly enriched nuclear material should normally be verified every month, according to the IAEA’s guidelines.
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