IAEA Chief Urges Iran to Reengage as West Pushes for UN Referral

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi on Monday urged Iran to restore access to key nuclear facilities, saying such a move could have “very positive repercussions” for Tehran as Western powers push for the country to be referred to the UN Security Council.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been denied access to several key Iranian nuclear sites since Israel, later joined by the United States, launched a 12-day conflict in June 2025 that included strikes on nuclear facilities. Nuclear sites have also been targeted in the latest war, which began on February 28.

“The best, shortest way for a positive outcome is for Iran to engage with us,” Grossi told reporters after opening the IAEA Board of Governors’ quarterly meeting.

A draft resolution prepared by the United States, Britain, France and Germany seeks to refer Iran to the UN Security Council over its failure to meet nuclear reporting obligations. The draft, seen by AFP, calls on Grossi to submit the resolution to the IAEA’s members, the Security Council and the UN General Assembly.

Asked whether referring Iran to the Security Council was the right approach, Grossi said his engagement with Tehran would continue regardless of the resolution.

“If Iran engages with us in a serious dialogue, if we can start getting access… I can guarantee to you that this will have very, very positive repercussions,” he said.

Before the June 2025 strikes, the IAEA estimated that Iran had around 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, well above the 3.67% limit established under the now-defunct 2015 nuclear agreement and close to the 90% enrichment level generally required for weapons-grade material.

The whereabouts and condition of that stockpile have remained unclear since the 2025 strikes.

Grossi described the lack of communication with Tehran as “regrettable” and stressed that the outstanding nuclear issues would not disappear without renewed access.

“These issues are not going to disappear until we address them, until we have the necessary access, until we can return,” he said.

Iran’s UN mission criticised the proposed resolution on X, calling it a “new desperate action” that would bring “no benefit”.

In June, the IAEA Board of Governors had already approved a Western-backed resolution demanding that Iran provide information and grant inspectors access to its uranium stockpile and production facilities.