IAEA's Resolution Against Iran Raises Tensions Amid Nuclear Negotiations
The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' atomic regulatory body, passed a significant resolution on Thursday against Iran due to its nuclear activities. This resolution could potentially lead to the referral of Iran to the UN Security Council if its noncompliance is not addressed. Out of the 33 member countries present, 19 supported the resolution backed by Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which calls for Iran to urgently remedy its violations of the safeguards agreement with the IAEA.
The resolution expresses the Board's concern that Iran's lack of cooperation could constitute a breach of its obligations, suggesting that further actions may follow. Iran is urged to undertake measures necessary for the IAEA Director General to provide assurances regarding the completeness and accuracy of its nuclear declarations.
Strikingly, this vote occurs amidst rising tensions related to Iran's nuclear ambitions. Oman has confirmed that a new round of negotiations between the US and Iran is scheduled for this Sunday, while reports circulate about potential preparations by Israel for a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
The resolution emphasizes the IAEA's inability to confirm Iran's nuclear program as solely peaceful, which raises issues that could draw the attention of the UN Security Council. A recent IAEA technical report criticized Iran for failing to supply credible information about traces of fissile material found at undeclared sites, raising suspicions about an undeclared nuclear program's existence.
Reportedly, Iran has amassed over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium at 60% purity, dangerously close to the threshold for nuclear weapon production, which is 90%. The resolution highlights that no non-nuclear weapon state has ever enriched uranium to such purity levels.
With this resolution, Western powers gain a mechanism to inform the Security Council about Iran's noncompliance, which could lead to the reinstatement of international sanctions lifted a decade ago under the 2015 nuclear agreement (JCPOA). This agreement was meant to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities in exchange for economic benefits. However, following the United States' withdrawal from the agreement during President Donald Trump's administration in 2018, Iran has not adhered to all its commitments under the JCPOA.
In response to the IAEA’s resolution, Iran declared it would initiate operations at a new uranium enrichment facility and upgrade its centrifuge technology at its existing plants. The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Agency has instructed the establishment of a new enrichment center while replacing older centrifuges with advanced sixth-generation models at the Fordow facility.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed the resolution as a politically motivated act lacking technical or legal validity, asserting that Iran has consistently fulfilled its safeguard obligations and that previous IAEA reports have not documented any compliance issues. Iran warned that further actions would follow in reaction to this resolution.
The landscape surrounding Iran's nuclear program is rapidly evolving, as international efforts continue to address concerns while Tehran pushes forward with its nuclear plans. The upcoming negotiations between the US and Iran will likely be pivotal in determining the next steps in this increasingly complex geopolitical situation.
Related Sources: