IAEA accuses Iran of ‘noncompliance’: Why, and what now? | US-Israel war on Iran News
The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has adopted a resolution accusing Iran of failing to meet its nuclear nonproliferation commitments and has referred the issue to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This diplomatic move, supported by the United States and key European allies, coincides with heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing hostilities between the U.S. and Israel against Iran.
The IAEA’s resolution expresses “grave concern” regarding Iran’s “continued noncompliance” with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which Iran is a signatory. The NPT prohibits Iran from developing nuclear weapons and mandates its cooperation with IAEA safeguards to ensure any nuclear material is used for peaceful purposes. However, since the escalation of military conflict in June 2025, which included attacks on critical Iranian nuclear sites like Fordow and Natanz, the IAEA has been unable to access key facilities to verify Iran’s nuclear activities.
The IAEA board underscored that the lack of information about declared nuclear material and restricted access to facilities raises “proliferation concerns” that must be urgently addressed. It has urged Tehran to engage in negotiations aimed at rebuilding international confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. This marks the first instance in two decades that the IAEA board has issued such a resolution.
In response, Iran has condemned the resolution as baseless and politically motivated. Iranian representative to the U.N. in Vienna, Reza Najafi, stated that the resolution was influenced by political pressure from the U.S. and its allies. He noted that Iran has been unable to grant inspectors safe access to its nuclear facilities due to the ongoing conflict but stressed that Iran has not halted its compliance with safeguards obligations. Najafi added that cooperation would be possible only under circumstances that ensure safety.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi accused the U.S. of using the situation as a pretext for passing the resolution. Gharibabadi emphasized that U.S. attacks on Iranian facilities disrupt normal verification processes and complicate international inspections.
The U.S. has positioned Iran’s nuclear program as a focal point in the current conflict, with President Donald Trump reiterating demands that Iran dismantle its nuclear enrichment program. On the same day as the IAEA report, Trump warned that the U.S. had observed suspicious activity at Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain site and threatened further military action.
Experts suggest that the UNSC is unlikely to take decisive action, given that both Russia and China are veto-holding members and are expected to oppose any measures that align with Western pressures. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group described the IAEA resolution as “an exercise in futility.”
Historically, the IAEA has been critical of Iran’s compliance with international nuclear regulations, particularly in the early 2000s when it accused Iran of failing to disclose nuclear materials. However, the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) resulted in Iran agreeing to limit its nuclear activities under stringent oversight. The agreement, however, faltered following the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to resume its nuclear advancements beyond the deal’s restrictions.
Current estimates suggest Iran may possess approximately 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, an amount sufficient for the potential fabrication of ten nuclear weapons, should it choose to further enrich the material.
