Western Powers Seek UN Referral for Iran as IAEA Lacks Access to 60% Uranium for 1 Year
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 7
Western Powers Seek UN Referral for Iran as IAEA Lacks Access to 60% Uranium for 1 Year
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 7
Summary
France, Germany, the UK and the US are pressing the IAEA board to send Iran back to the UN Security Council, reviving a step not taken in nearly 20 years.
More than a year after losing access to key sites hit in June 2025, the IAEA said it still cannot verify Iran’s declared nuclear material, including uranium previously enriched to as much as 60%.
Rafael Grossi told the 35-member Board of Governors that Iran provided no new information on its material or facilities during the latest reporting period and urged Tehran to restore effective cooperation urgently.
Iran rejected the push, saying inspection limits stem from US and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities, and warned it would take “necessary measures” if the resolution advances.
The draft resolution is still being negotiated, and any follow-up action at the Security Council could run into Russian and Chinese vetoes.
If naval blockades and strikes fail to deter Tehran, what extreme measures might the UN Security Council authorize next against Iran?
As the IAEA loses track of highly enriched uranium, will the upcoming Vienna resolution spark the very regional war it aims to prevent?
With Hormuz shipping slashed and LNG exports down 95%, could Iran’s threatened maritime exclusion zone trigger a global energy collapse?
Iran, the US, and the 2026 Nuclear Showdown: UN Deadlock, Maritime Warfare, and Global Oil Turmoil
Overview
In September 2026, the Iran nuclear crisis reached a breaking point after years of escalating conflict. Following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites in 2025, Iran expelled all IAEA inspectors, creating a total monitoring blackout. As Iran amassed a large stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the US and European allies pushed for a UN Security Council referral, but Russia and China blocked enforcement of renewed sanctions. Meanwhile, military clashes in the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global oil flows, causing a record spike in fuel prices. The collapse of diplomatic agreements and ongoing maritime warfare now threaten to trigger wider regional instability.