IAEA Refers Iran Nuclear Case to UN Security Council Over Treaty Violations

The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approved overnight, between Wednesday and Thursday, by a majority vote of member states, the referral of Iran’s nuclear issue to the UN Security Council for discussion. The IAEA is asking the council to address Iran’s violations of commitments it made under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The proposal to refer Iran to the Security Council was led by the United States, Britain, France and Germany. It was approved by 23 of the IAEA Board of Governors’ 35 countries. Three countries, Russia, China and Niger, opposed it. Eight abstained, and one did not take part in the vote.

As previously reported, on June 12, 2025, one day before the launch of Operation "Rising Lion," the IAEA Board determined that Iran was violating its commitments under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Among other things, it was alleged that uranium traces were found at several undeclared nuclear facilities in Iran, which came under scrutiny following the Mossad’s 2018 exposure of the "nuclear archive." Iran did not cooperate with IAEA inspectors who sought to examine the matter.

In addition, since last June, Iran has refused to cooperate with the IAEA or allow its inspectors to visit nuclear facilities. Iran has also not answered the question of where its enriched uranium is.