U.S. and European powers prepare new Iran nuclear resolution
Draft reportedly seeks renewed referral of Iran’s nuclear file to the U.N. Security Council
Western powers are reportedly pursuing a new resolution that could return Iran’s nuclear file to the U.N. Security Council. Iran says attacks on its nuclear facilities and continuing military threats have made normal IAEA inspections impossible, while the IAEA says it lacks access needed for verification.
The United States, Britain, France and Germany have reportedly prepared a draft resolution urging the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors to refer Iran’s nuclear file again to the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly. Reuters and the Associated Press were cited as reporting that the draft could be put to a vote at the Board’s meeting on September 7.
The four countries accuse Iran of failing to meet its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and of insufficient cooperation with the IAEA. Iran rejects the move. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said renewed referral would be legally contradictory and blamed U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities for disrupting inspections. Iran says inspections of damaged sites require new security arrangements, while the IAEA says it has been unable to verify the status of most declared facilities and related nuclear material since the attacks.