The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors has issued a resolution condemning the clerical regime in Iran for failing to fully cooperate with the agency. This marks the second condemnation within five months, reflecting heightened international alarm over Tehran’s nuclear advancements and lack of transparency.
During the IAEA’s closed-door session on November 21, 19 members of the board, including the U.S., France, Germany, and Britain, supported the resolution. Russia, China, and Burkina Faso opposed it, while 12 members abstained, and one did not vote, according to diplomats who spoke anonymously. The resolution criticized Iran for its insufficient cooperation in addressing long-standing concerns, particularly regarding uranium particles discovered at undeclared sites.
The IAEA called on the regime to answer questions about the origins of uranium particles found at two undisclosed locations and demanded immediate transparency. A confidential report earlier in the week revealed that Iran had significantly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. The IAEA warned that Tehran’s actions have severely undermined its ability to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.
The resolution passed by the IAEA Board of Governors not only underscores the growing international impatience with Iran’s lack of transparency but also sets the stage for potentially significant geopolitical consequences. By requesting a “comprehensive” report on Iran by spring, the resolution paves the way for heightened scrutiny and pressures Tehran to address long-running disputes, including the presence of unexplained uranium traces at undeclared sites. The resolution’s emphasis on cooperation raises the possibility of referring Iran’s nuclear dossier back to the UN Security Council if compliance does not improve. Such a referral could trigger the “snapback mechanism,” reinstating international sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.
#Iranian Regime’s Posturing During Grossi’s Visit Aims to Avert IAEA Resolution Amid Snapback Mechanism Fearshttps://t.co/EnhA42z2EV
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 17, 2024
Ambassador Laura S.H. Holgate, representing the United States, condemned Iran’s nuclear trajectory, highlighting the regime’s continued enrichment of uranium to 60% and the installation of advanced centrifuges. Holgate emphasized, “Iran has already amassed a substantial stockpile of highly enriched uranium for which it has no credible peaceful purpose.” She called for Iran to “stop further production of 60% enriched uranium and downblend its 60% stockpile entirely.”
The U.S. also criticized Iran’s refusal to reinstate experienced IAEA inspectors. While acknowledging Tehran’s recent acceptance of four additional inspectors, Holgate dismissed the move as insufficient, stating, “If Iran hopes to build meaningful confidence moving forward, it must fulfill entirely its safeguards obligations and enable the Agency to provide assurance that its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.”
This maneuver by Tehran was widely seen as an attempt to avert a censure resolution but ultimately fell short of addressing core international concerns.
The European Union echoed these concerns, describing Iran’s nuclear program as a mounting regional threat. The EU noted, “Iran’s unabated nuclear advances over the last five years are of utmost concern. The risk of a nuclear proliferation crisis in the region is increasing as a result of Iran’s escalating nuclear trajectory.”
The EU highlighted Iran’s accumulation of 60% enriched uranium, installation of thousands of advanced centrifuges, and removal of IAEA monitoring equipment. It stated that these actions have resulted in a “loss of continuity of knowledge” about critical components of Iran’s nuclear program, rendering the Agency “unable to provide assurance of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.”
Both the U.S. and EU reaffirmed their support for the IAEA’s monitoring and verification efforts, urging Tehran to return to full compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). They emphasized the importance of restoring transparency measures, such as the Additional Protocol, to rebuild global trust in the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities.
