The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has referred Iran to the UN Security Council for non-compliance with its obligations under the non-proliferation treaty, marking the first such action in 20 years. This decision was made during a board of governors meeting in Vienna, where a resolution was passed citing a lack of information regarding Iran's nuclear material, including its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and restricted access to nuclear facilities for IAEA inspectors.
Iran condemned the IAEA's decision, attributing the disruption of inspections to US and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities. Despite the referral, new sanctions are considered unlikely due to the veto powers held by Iran's allies, China and Russia, in the Security Council.
The resolution, proposed by the UK, France, Germany, and the US, received support from 23 countries, while eight abstained, and China, Russia, and Niger voted against it. The IAEA chief, Rafael Grossi, has been asked to report Iran's situation to the Security Council.
Iran had previously warned the IAEA against passing such a resolution, with Iranian deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stating that the strikes on Iran's safeguarded nuclear facilities disrupted normal verification processes, which were then used as justification for the resolution.
The IAEA has not had access to Iran's nuclear facilities since strikes by Israel and the US during a conflict in June 2025. Iran claims that these attacks, particularly on uranium enrichment plants in Natanz and Fordo, are the reason for the lack of access for IAEA inspectors. Tehran has expressed a desire for such access to be part of a broader settlement with the US and Israel to end ongoing hostilities.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes, a claim that has been met with skepticism from the US, Israel, and several European nations, who are concerned that Iran may be pursuing the development of a nuclear weapon. At the onset of the latest conflict, US officials reported that Iran possessed approximately 440 kg (970 lb) of uranium enriched to 60%, which can be rapidly further enriched to the 90% level required for weapons-grade uranium.