Western powers seek UN Security Council referral for Iran over nuclear inspections

The United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany are pushing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors to refer Iran to the UN Security Council. This move would mark the first such referral in approximately two decades.

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi reported that the agency has lost continuity of knowledge regarding Iran’s declared nuclear material and facilities for over a year. This loss of access follows military strikes by Israel and the US against Iranian enrichment infrastructure in 2025 and early 2026. Grossi noted that Tehran has provided no information during the latest reporting period regarding the status of its nuclear stocks, which include uranium enriched to 60% purity.

The push for referral follows a June 2025 IAEA Board resolution finding Iran in breach of non-proliferation commitments due to unexplained uranium traces at undeclared sites. While the Western powers seek to escalate the issue to the UN Security Council, analysts expect Russia and China to use their veto power to block any resulting binding sanctions.