UN nuclear watchdog declares Iran in noncompliance with safeguards obligations

The flag of the International Atomic Energy Agency flies in front of its headquarters during an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, on February 6, 2023. (Heinz-Peter Bader/AP)
The flag of the International Atomic Energy Agency flies in front of its headquarters during an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, on February 6, 2023. (Heinz-Peter Bader/AP)

The International Atomic Energy Agency passes a resolution declaring that Iran is in noncompliance with its nuclear safeguards obligations.

“Iran’s many failures to uphold its obligations since 2019 to provide the Agency with full and timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple undeclared locations in Iran… constitutes non-compliance with its obligations under its Safeguards Agreement,” says the resolution.

The UN nuclear watchdog passes the resolution at its Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, the first such censure against Iran in two decades.

The US, France, UK, and Germany submitted the resolution.

The vote passes with 19 in favor, 3 opposed — Russia, China, and Burkina Faso — 11 abstentions, and 2 who did not vote.

The measure is sure to give additional momentum to efforts by European countries to reinstate United Nations Security Council sanctions on Iran this year.

The resolution renews a call on Iran to provide answers “without delay” in the investigation into uranium traces found at several locations that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites, according to a draft resolution seen by the Associated Press.

The resolution comes amid reports that the US believes that Israel is considering a strike on Iran’s nuclear program in the coming days, even as Washington and Tehran prepare for their sixth round of nuclear talks.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.