US Draft Resolution at IAEA Demands Iran Open Up on Sites, Uranium Stocks

The United States is urging the UN nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors to support a draft resolution demanding Iran reveal the status of its bombed nuclear sites and stored enriched uranium. The US-drafted text, circulated ahead of the board's quarterly meeting, could complicate delicate talks between Washington and Tehran. Iran has a history of retaliating against IAEA resolutions by increasing its nuclear activities or reducing cooperation. Previous resolutions, submitted by the US, Britain, France, and Germany, have passed with significant margins. One adopted in November required Iran to promptly inform the agency about its enriched uranium stock and damaged sites, a demand that remains unmet.

The draft resolution states that Iran must provide the IAEA with precise information on nuclear material and safeguarded facilities, granting all necessary access for verification. These steps are deemed "essential and urgent" and require immediate action. Notably, the text stops short of referring Iran to the UN Security Council, a move some diplomats had considered. Such a referral would have followed a June 12, 2025 resolution that declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations, shortly after Israel began bombing Iranian nuclear sites.

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It was exactly the United States who undermined this cooperation.

While circulating a draft does not guarantee a formal submission or vote, it signals the US intention. Current US-Iran negotiations aim to extend a ceasefire and potentially lead to broader discussions, including Iran's nuclear program. President Donald Trump has stated his objective is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a claim Iran denies.

Meanwhile, Russia's ambassador to the IAEA criticized the proposed resolution, stating it would only antagonize Iran. He accused the United States of undermining cooperation, referencing the IAEA's access to Iranian sites prior to the bombing. Russia and China have consistently opposed recent resolutions targeting Iran.

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provide the Agency with precise information on nuclear material accountancy and safeguarded nuclear facilities in Iran and grant all access it requires to verify this information.