VIENNA: The board of the International Atomic Energy Agency has formally referred Iran to the United Nations Security Council, the first such referral involving Tehran in approximately 20 years, after accusing it of failing to meet its nuclear safeguards obligations.
The resolution was approved by 23 members of the IAEA’s 35-country Board of Governors. Russia, China and Niger voted against it, eight countries abstained and one did not participate in the vote. The United States, Britain, France and Germany backed the measure.
The dispute centres partly on Iran’s failure to provide satisfactory explanations about uranium particles detected at previously undeclared locations and restrictions on IAEA access following attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful and described the resolution as politically motivated.
The IAEA estimates Iran held about 440.9kg of uranium enriched to 60% before recent attacks on its facilities. Inspectors have been unable to fully verify the current location and condition of that stockpile. Referral to the Security Council does not automatically produce new sanctions, and any further action would require agreement among council members.