IAEA Board Demands Iran Reveal Uranium Stock and Nuclear Site Access

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has passed a resolution asking Iran to provide immediate updates on its enriched uranium stock and damaged nuclear facilities. The 35-nation Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted the resolution on Thursday, calling for “without delay” access and information from Tehran.

The resolution mainly renews and adjusts the IAEA’s mandate to monitor Iran’s nuclear programme, but it also stresses that Iran must answer questions about its uranium stock and bombed sites. This comes five months after military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States.

Iran has maintained that its nuclear programme is purely for peaceful purposes. However, before the resolution was passed, Iran warned that it could reduce cooperation with the IAEA if the measure went through.

The resolution passed with 19 votes in favor, three against, and 12 abstentions. Russia, China, and Niger voted against it.

The IAEA says it cannot inspect the sites struck in June or verify Iran’s uranium stockpile until Tehran provides an official report. The affected sites include three uranium enrichment facilities that were operational at the time of the attacks.

Before the June strikes, Iran reportedly had 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity—close to weapons-grade levels. The IAEA notes that this quantity could theoretically be enriched further to make up to 10 nuclear bombs. Western countries have expressed concern, saying there is no clear civil reason for such high enrichment levels.

The IAEA has called for urgent action, saying that monitoring Iran’s nuclear materials and facilities is “long overdue” and critical for global nuclear safety.