Members of the UN nuclear agency are working on a resolution that accuses Iran of not fulfilling its obligations.
Unleashing the Troubles of the Atomic Arena: Iran's Nuke Saga
VIENNA (AP) — Western nations, with an ironclad grip, prepare to present a resolution at the United Nations' nuclear agency assembly, marking the first time in 20 years that Iran will be designated non-compliant with its nuclear safeguards obligations.
This bold move comes at a delicate time as the U.S. Administration wrestles with Iran, attempting to hammer out a deal to limit its nuclear program. The two parties have clashed in numerous rounds of talks, yet no definitive agreement has been reached.
The impending resolution will be presented by an alliance of France, the U.K., Germany (nicknamed E3), and the United States. A senior Western diplomat verified these plans.
Consult the Old World Powers
Washington's State Department declared that they're teaming up with European allies to strategize the future move, scheduling the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in June.
"We're pooling our forces with our partners on our posture for the forthcoming IAEA Board of Governors meeting, and we're considering all possible strategies," the department communicated. "We remain deeply concerned about Iran's nuclear program and its unwavering refusal to uphold its safeguards obligations."
In an April 2024 report, the U.S. State Department contended that Iran's "unwillingness to provide adequate responses to the IAEA's questions regarding potential undeclared nuclear material and activities," defies its obligation to accept safeguards under Article III of the NPT Treaty.
The Draft Resolution
The draft resolution, sighted by The Associated Press, asserts:
"Iran's countless instances of shirking 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."
Moreover, the resolution suggests that the IAEA's "inability to confirm that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively peaceful raises questions that are within the purview of the United Nations Security Council, as the body tasked with the foremost responsibility for maintaining international peace and security."
It implores IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi "to carry on his efforts to implement this and previous resolutions and report again, including any new developments on the issues."
The amendment dance
Before the draft resolution is officially presented, board members can propose amendments.
Under the safeguards obligations, which are part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran is lawfully bound to report all nuclear material and activities and grant IAEA inspectors the right to verify that none of it is diverted from peaceful purposes.
In the IAEA's comprehensive report circulated among member states last weekend, the UN nuclear watchdog relayed that Iran's cooperation had been less than satisfying when it comes to uranium traces found by agency inspectors at various locations in Iran that Iran has failed to report as nuclear sites.
The IAEA has been asking Iran for answers regarding the origin and present location of the nuclear material since 2019.
Did they or didn't they?
Iran flat-out denies ever operating a nuclear weapons program, asserting that its nuclear program is wholly benign.
"This resolution is a significant step," the senior Western diplomat admitted. "But we're not closing the door on diplomacy on this issue."
"The intention of the resolution is for Iran to settle the matter," the source added, underscoring the intention to provide Iran with an opportunity to comply and respond to the accumulated requests from the past six years.
The board of governors "emphasizes its support for a diplomatic solution to the problems posed by Iran's nuclear program, leading to an agreement that addresses all international concerns related to Iran's nuclear activities, encouraging all parties to actively engage in diplomacy," the draft resolution reads.
If Iran fails to cooperate, an exceptional IAEA board meeting will likely be convened in the summer, at which another resolution could be passed, potentially referred to the Security Council for additional sanctions.
The three European nations have threatened, in the past, to reimpose the sanctions previously lifted under the original 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which concludes on October 18.
Iran has reacted to such resolutions adopted by the agency's board in the past by amplifying its nuclear program and forbidding inspectors' access.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned the IAEA against taking any "politically-motivated action" by some board members, as this could hinder cooperation between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog, he wrote in a post on X.
- In light of the escalating tensions over Iran's nuclear program, the State Department in Seattle has announced a strategic alliance with European partners to discuss the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in June, expressing deep concern about Iran's non-compliance with its nuclear safeguards obligations.
- Amidst the preparations for presenting a resolution at the United Nations' nuclear agency assembly, Seattle politics and policy-and-legislation are closely monitoring the unfolding situation, with the general news media reporting on the potential implications for international peace and security.
