VIENNA — The board of the U.N. nuclear watchdog issued a strong rebuke to Iran on Thursday for its insufficient cooperation with the agency, marking the second such condemnation within a five-month period.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has urged Tehran to address questions regarding a prolonged investigation into uranium traces discovered at two sites that Iran has not officially acknowledged as nuclear facilities.
In the board’s vote, 19 members supported the resolution, while Russia, China, and Burkina Faso voted against it. Additionally, 12 members chose to abstain, and one member was absent from the vote, as reported by diplomats who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
France, Germany, and Britain sponsored the resolution, with backing from the United States, highlighting its significance during a vital period in international relations as Donald Trump is poised for a potential return to the presidency.
Trump’s first term was characterized by heightened tensions with Iran, marked by a “maximum pressure” policy against the nation. In 2018, he took the decision to withdraw the United States from the multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran, leading to the imposition of more stringent sanctions that severely impacted Iran’s economy.
The recent resolution followed a confidential IAEA report released earlier this week that indicated Iran has continued to disregard international calls to limit its nuclear endeavors, resulting in an expanded stockpile of uranium, which is enriched to levels nearing those suitable for weapons production.