IAEA board refers Iran to UN Security Council over nuclear ‘non-compliance’

What the report says

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-member Board of Governors voted on Wednesday to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council over what the board described as non-compliance with nuclear safeguards obligations, according to Al Jazeera. The resolution was backed by at least 23 countries, while Russia, China and Niger opposed it. Al Jazeera said the step was pushed by the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom and represents the first such referral in 20 years.

The move deepens a long-running dispute between Iran and Western governments over the country’s nuclear program. The board’s text called on Iran to urgently remedy the non-compliance, and the European Union said Tehran had suspended cooperation with the IAEA and was not allowing inspections at its nuclear sites. The IAEA’s chief, Rafael Grossi, said the agency urgently needed access and updated information to verify nuclear material and activities.

Iran rejected the resolution and blamed the United States and Israel for the crisis. Its mission to the UN warned of retaliation before the vote and later called the resolution the product of what it described as hostile actions by Washington and Israel. Al Jazeera noted that any Security Council action is uncertain because Russia and China hold veto power.

Background cited by Al Jazeera says Iran, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, says its program is peaceful, while the IAEA has raised concerns about enriched uranium stockpiles and the agency’s lack of access since strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025.