IAEA warns it cannot verify Iran nuclear material as Western powers push UN referral

September 8, 2026 at 06:50 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told the agency's Board of Governors on Monday that Tehran provided no information on its declared nuclear material during the latest reporting period. France, Germany, the UK and the US are pressing the IAEA to report Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in two decades. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman warned Tehran will take 'necessary measures' if the Western powers pursue the resolution.

Key Facts

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said the agency lost continuity of knowledge over uranium stocks enriched to 60 percent at facilities hit in June 2025 attacks.
France, Germany, the UK and the US are seeking support for a draft resolution at the 35-member IAEA board to refer Iran to the UN Security Council.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warned Iran will take 'necessary measures' if the Western powers pursue the resolution.
The draft resolution has not yet been formally submitted to the board, and negotiations over its wording are continuing.

IAEA Verification Gap

Grossi told the Board of Governors that Tehran provided no information during the latest reporting period on the status of its declared nuclear material or facilities. Inspectors have been unable to conduct on-site verification for more than a year since the agency lost access to key facilities. The agency lost continuity of knowledge over previously declared stocks of uranium enriched to as much as 60 percent at facilities hit in US and Israeli attacks in June 2025. Grossi described the lack of information and access as a proliferation concern that 'needs to be rectified with the utmost urgency'.

Western Push for UN Referral

France, Germany, the UK and the US are pressing the IAEA to report Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in two decades. The proposed text asks Grossi to transmit the resolution, previous board decisions and his latest report to the UNSC and General Assembly. It also calls on Iran to provide the information and access required by inspectors. The draft has not yet been formally submitted to the board, and negotiations over its wording are continuing.

Iranian Response

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Western governments were again turning to the IAEA after failing to achieve their objectives elsewhere. He argued that restrictions facing inspectors were a consequence of US and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Baghaei warned that Iran would take 'necessary measures' if the Western powers pursued the resolution.