Iran Calls IAEA Board's UN Security Council Referral a 'Political Tool'

Iran's mission to international organisations in Vienna has rejected the UN nuclear watchdog's decision to refer its nuclear file to the UN Security Council, describing the move as a "political tool" rather than a technical step.

The resolution was adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors a day earlier, over allegations that Iran has failed to comply with its nuclear obligations. It was submitted by Britain, France, Germany and the United States, and reportedly passed with 23 votes in favour, three against and eight abstentions.

The text asks IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to report Iran to both the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly. If acted upon, it would mark the first time in two decades that the agency has referred Iran to the Security Council.

Speaking in an interview, Reza Najafi, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, said the agency should stick to its technical mandate and not serve as a vehicle for any country's political objectives.

Asked whether Tehran would retaliate, Najafi said the practical impact of the resolution remained unclear. "We should see what would be the actual effects of such a resolution. In our view, there wouldn't be any actual effect. What will we assess? We will assess and based on our assessment we will react to that," he said.

The resolution cites Iran's refusal to allow IAEA inspectors back to nuclear sites that were struck by U.S. and Israeli attacks, leaving the agency unable to verify the status of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile.

Najafi disputed that characterisation, arguing it shifts responsibility onto Iran for a crisis he attributed to outside aggression. "The threat against Iran and attack on the nuclear facilities still continues. So, what has happened there? Indeed, the access to all facilities existed there before the attack, and it was the attack and the aggression against Iran which caused the current situation. So, Iran should not be blamed for that," he said.

Separately, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the IAEA's "political moves" would encourage countries to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA in late June 2025 under a parliamentary law, citing the agency's failure to condemn the Israeli and U.S. strikes on its nuclear sites earlier that month and related safety concerns.