The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution on Thursday calling on Iran to provide it with access and information regarding its nuclear program, as required by UN resolutions.
The vote came a day after the IAEA chief renewed his call for Tehran to allow inspections at major nuclear sites attacked by Israel and the United States in June.
Tensions between Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog have flared repeatedly in recent years and escalated further after a 12-day war in June that saw Israeli and U.S. strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities.
Since the war, agency inspectors have not had access to sites like Fordo and Natanz, hit by the strikes, but they have been able to visit other sites.
Thursday’s resolution “urges Iran to comply fully and without delay with its legal obligations under […] UN Security Council resolutions and to extend full and rapid cooperation to the IAEA, including by providing information and access requested by the Agency,” according to the text.
The vote was adopted by 19 votes in favor, three against and 12 abstentions.
“We have carried out a number of inspections, but we have not been able to go to the attack sites. I hope we can do that. Indeed, we have to go because it is part of Iran’s commitments,” IAEA director Rafael Grossi told reporters on Wednesday after opening the regular meeting of the Vienna-based agency’s board of directors.
“I hope we can move forward constructively.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday evening rejected any cooperation with the IAEA “regarding the bombed sites”.
“We only cooperate with nuclear facilities that have not been affected, in compliance with IAEA regulations,” he said on Telegram.
