IAEA Access Stalemate and Push to Refer Iran to the UN Security Council

Since the joint U.S.–Israeli air strikes on Iran’s uranium-enrichment facilities on February 28, Tehran has barred International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors from the damaged sites. The IAEA Board of Governors is preparing a resolution that would refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council for the first time in two decades, a move backed by the United States, Britain, France and Germany.

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The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) established a framework for monitoring Iran’s nuclear program. The United States withdrew from the deal in May 2018 under President Donald Trump. Iran has repeatedly accused the United States of violating the agreement, while the IAEA has documented attempts by Tehran to conceal weapons-related aspects of its program. Access issues predate the 2025 attacks: in November 2021 the IAEA reported that Iran reneged on a September 12, 2021, agreement to restore inspections at the Karaj nuclear workshop, hindering verification of JCPOA-related activities.

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• The IAEA estimates that Iran possessed 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60 % U-235 before the February 28 strikes.

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• Enrichment to 60 % is a short step from weapons-grade material; the IAEA’s yardstick equates the amount to enough for approximately ten nuclear weapons if further enriched.

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• Satellite imagery from February 1, 2026 shows a new roof over a previously destroyed building at the Isfahan nuclear site, indicating ongoing reconstruction efforts.

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• Director-General Rafael Grossi told the IAEA Board that the Agency has received no information from Iran on the status of declared nuclear material or facilities and has been unable to conduct in-field verification since the June 2025 attacks.

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• U.S.

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• Iranian officials maintain that the country “would never produce nuclear weapons” and argue that the IAEA’s demands threaten national security, especially after the attacks.

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• “The Agency’s lack of information about these facilities and associated nuclear material and our inability to conduct verification activities at these facilities is a matter of serious proliferation concern. The situation needs to be rectified with the utmost urgency.” — General Rafael Grossi, director

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The only publicly disclosed estimate of Iran’s 60 %-enriched uranium stock comes from the IAEA, cited by the Strait Times. No alternative figures appear in the other sources, leaving the precise quantity and its current status unverified. Additionally, while the board’s draft resolution is described as “under negotiation,” the exact wording and timeline for formal submission remain unspecified.

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Diplomats indicate that the board will consider the resolution “next week,” after which the IAEA Board of Governors is expected to refer the matter to the UN Security Council. The Security Council’s response may be constrained by the veto power of permanent members Russia and China, both of which have historically opposed referrals against Iran. The IAEA has signaled readiness to support diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring verification access.

The Straits Times