UN Nuclear Watchdog Refers Iran to Security Council Over Noncompliance Concerns Amid Ongoing Conflict

The Board of Governors of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has passed a resolution accusing Iran of failing to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation commitments and referring the matter to the UN Security Council (UNSC). The diplomatic move, backed by the United States and its key European allies, comes more than six months into the US-Israeli war against Iran, and as tensions flare in the Strait of Hormuz, where the US and Iran have traded attacks on vessels in recent days.

The IAEA resolution expressed "grave concern" over Iran's "continued noncompliance" with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which it is a signatory. Under the NPT, Iran is forbidden from producing nuclear weapons and is required to meet IAEA safeguards to verify that any nuclear material it has is for peaceful purposes. However, the IAEA has not had access to key nuclear facilities in Iran since the US and Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran in June 2025, which included attacks on key Iranian nuclear sites, such as Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan facilities.

Iran has condemned the resolution, calling it baseless and politically motivated. Reza Najafi, Iran’s representative to the UN in Vienna, stated that the resolution was passed under political pressure from the US and its allies. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also criticized the move, noting that attacks on safeguarded facilities disrupted verification processes which are then used as a pretext for resolutions.

While US President Donald Trump has demanded that Tehran completely dismantle its nuclear enrichment programme and threatened further action, analysts suggest the UNSC referral may face hurdles due to veto-holding members like Russia and China.