IAEA Board Refers Iran to UN Security Council for First Time in 20 Years

The IAEA’s 35-member Board of Governors voted on September 9 to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council over breaches of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations, the first such referral since 2006. The U.S., Britain, France and Germany led the resolution after the agency said Iran had not restored inspector access or accounted for 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%. Inspectors have not returned to affected sites since U.S. and Israeli strikes began in June 2025. Iran maintains its program is peaceful, while China and Russia opposed the referral and argued that it lacked a legal basis.