Iran Withdraws Draft Resolution To Ban Attacks On Nuclear Facilities

Iran Withdraws Draft Resolution To Ban Attacks On Nuclear Facilities

Last week, Iran established a new framework for collaboration with the UN nuclear watchdog. (File)

Austria:

Iran withdrew a draft resolution at the UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday evening that sought to prohibit attacks against nuclear facilities amid its conflict with Israel, citing American pressure as the reason for this last-minute decision.

In mid-June, Israel conducted an unprecedented bombing operation against Iran, sparking a 12-day conflict that included Israeli and US strikes on critical Iranian nuclear installations.

Iran, alongside Belarus, China, Nicaragua, Russia, and Venezuela, had proposed a draft resolution at the annual general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condemning these attacks.

However, Iranian Ambassador Reza Najafi informed the IAEA meeting that the draft resolution would not be submitted for voting.

"A significant number of IAEA member states... have indicated through separate communications with Iran and other resolution sponsors that they are experiencing intense pressure and intimidation from the United States to vote against the resolution," he stated.

Multiple diplomats told AFP on Friday that the United States had suggested it would decrease its voluntary contribution to the IAEA budget if the resolution passed.

"Several developing nations with technical cooperation projects with the agency expressed concern about such threats," one diplomat remarked.

The resolution "strongly condemns the deliberate and unlawful attacks carried out in June 2025" on Iran's nuclear facilities, declaring them "clear violations of international law".

The document stated that nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards "shall not be subject to any kind of attack or threat of attack".

Such attacks present "serious risks to... international peace and security... and undermine the overall credibility and integrity of the non-proliferation regime," according to the text.

Last week, Iran agreed to a new framework for cooperation with the IAEA after suspending collaboration following the Israeli and US strikes.

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote Friday on reimposing severe economic sanctions on Tehran regarding its disputed nuclear program.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Friday that he had presented a "fair and balanced" nuclear proposal to European powers to prevent the reinstatement of UN sanctions.