Iran Pushes for UN Resolution to Ban Attacks on Nuclear Sites at IAEA Conference
Iran is making a big move at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting in Vienna. The country plans to propose a resolution that would ban attacks on nuclear facilities worldwide. This comes just months after US and Israeli strikes hit Iran’s nuclear sites during a tense 12-day conflict in June, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Top Iranian nuclear leaders, including Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) head Mohammad Eslami, landed in Vienna for the 69th IAEA General Conference. The event kicks off on Monday and wraps up on Friday. Iran has confirmed it will table the resolution, but details of the final draft remain under wraps.
Eslami didn’t hold back when speaking to Iranian state media. He slammed the IAEA’s handling of the recent attacks, especially director Rafael Grossi’s neutral stance. "We saw the agency fail to act professionally. It didn’t condemn the strikes and instead played it safe with double standards," Eslami said. He added that even if the resolution fails, it highlights how the UN Charter has taken a real hit.
Iran aims to rally support from other member countries during the conference. But officials know it’s an uphill battle. Deputy nuclear chief Behrouz Kamalvandi revealed that the US is twisting arms to stop it. "Washington is pressuring nations to vote no and even threatening to pull funding from the IAEA," Kamalvandi told reporters.
To build its case, Iran points to past examples. Back in 1981, UN Security Council Resolution 487 condemned Israel’s bombing of Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor as a breach of the UN Charter. IAEA resolutions in 1985 and 1990 also stressed protecting nuclear sites under safeguards.
Tensions have simmered since the US pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under President Donald Trump in 2018. Since then, the IAEA Board of Governors has issued four censure resolutions against Tehran. Iran maintains its nuclear program is purely for civilian use. Earlier this year, both US intelligence and the IAEA found no proof that Iran is chasing nuclear weapons, according to Al Jazeera.
The June escalation started when the IAEA labeled Iran non-compliant with safeguards, which Iran says greenlit the Israeli attacks on June 13. The 12-day war claimed over 1,000 lives and racked up billions in damage across Iran.
In a positive step, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck a deal last week in Cairo with the IAEA to resume inspections. These were paused after the bombings and will cover all facilities, including the damaged ones. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council greenlit the agreement.
The council, made up of top figures like those appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, plus government and military leaders, issued a strong statement on Sunday. It warned that any new hostile moves against Iran or its nuclear sites—like reviving old UN sanctions—would halt the inspections.
Right now, IAEA inspectors can only access the Bushehr nuclear plant. Iranian officials are checking if bombed underground facilities are safe for visits. Some hardline lawmakers in Iran oppose restarting inspections, arguing it could spark more strikes from the US and Israel.
As the IAEA conference unfolds, all eyes are on whether Iran’s resolution on protecting nuclear facilities gains traction amid ongoing global nuclear tensions.
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