In a closed-door meeting in Vienna, members of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) governing board on Thursday adopted a resolution demanding clarification from Iran regarding its stockpile of enriched uranium and damaged nuclear sites.
The resolution, approved by diplomats on the 35-nation UN Governing Council, called on Iran to fully and without delay comply with its legal obligations” under existing UN Security Council resolutions “and to extend full and prompt cooperation with the IAEA.
“Iran must … promptly provide the agency with accurate information on Iran’s nuclear material inventory and secure nuclear facilities and provide the agency with all access it needs to verify that information,” Reuters said, referring to a draft resolution submitted to the board.
In a statement to the board, the US, Britain, France and Germany said their message was clear – Iran must urgently address its security problems.
“They must provide practical cooperation through access, responses and resumption of monitoring so the agency can do its job and help restore trust,” Reuters reported.
What is the purpose of the resolution?
— Renew and amend the International Atomic Energy Agency’s mandate to report on aspects of Iran’s nuclear program.
— The resolution states that Iran must quickly provide the IAEA with the answers and access it desires.
Who supported the resolution?
According to Reuters, there were 19 votes in favor, three against and 12 abstentions. Russia, China and Niger were the countries that opposed it.
Iran reacts
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Western-backed resolution passed by the UN nuclear watchdog had disrupted Tehran’s cooperation with the agency.
“By these actions and ignoring Iran’s interactions and goodwill, these countries have tarnished the credibility and independence of the IAEA and are disrupting the process of interaction and cooperation between the agency and Iran,” AFP quoted Araghchi as saying, according to a statement from the foreign ministry.
Iran, which says its nuclear aims are entirely peaceful, warned before the top three US and European powers tabled the resolution that if it passed it would “adversely affect” Tehran’s cooperation with the agency.
Iran has still not allowed inspectors into nuclear sites that Israel and the United States bombed in June, and the IAEA says accounting for Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, which includes near-bomb-grade material, is “long overdue” and needs to be “urgently” addressed.
