From the Liveblog of
Friday, September 19, 2025
After US pressure, Iran withdraws IAEA resolution banning attacks on nuclear sites
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VIENNA — Iran decides at the last minute to withdraw a resolution prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities that it had put forward along with China, Russia and other countries for a vote before an annual gathering of the UN nuclear watchdog’s member nations.
Western diplomats, who speak on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, say the US has been heavily lobbying behind the scenes to prevent the resolution from being adopted. The US has raised the possibility of reducing funding to the International Atomic Energy Agency if the resolution was adopted and if the body moved to curtail Israel’s rights within the agency, the diplomats say.
In 1981, the provision of assistance to Israel under the IAEA’s technical assistance program was suspended as a result of an Israeli strike on a nuclear reactor in Iraq. At the time, the attack was strongly condemned in resolutions by the UN Security Council, the IAEA General Conference and the IAEA Board of Governors.
The resolution withdrawal comes as US allies have started the clock on reimposing UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
Addressing the IAEA’s General Conference, Iran’s Ambassador to the UN Reza Najafi announces that “guided by the spirit of goodwill and constructive engagement, and at the request of several member states,” it deferred action on the draft until next year’s conference.
The Times of Israel Community.