Diplomatic pressure at UN sees Iran withdraw resolution protecting nuclear sites

On September 18, Iran abruptly withdrew a resolution that would have prohibited attacks on nuclear facilities, a measure it had co-sponsored with China, Russia, and several other nations, just ahead of a vote at the annual International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference.

Western diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity to US media, said the United States had been lobbying intensively behind the scenes to block the measure. The U.S. reportedly warned that adoption of the resolution—particularly if it moved to limit Israel’s rights within the agency—could lead to cuts in funding for the IAEA.

The resolution aimed to “strongly condemn” the June 2025 attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, which Iran labelled “deliberate and unlawful” and a “clear violation of international law.” It also reaffirmed that “all states must refrain from attacking or threatening to attack peaceful nuclear facilities in other countries.”

Iran’s Ambassador to the U.N., Reza Najafi, told delegates that the decision to defer the vote until next year’s conference was made “guided by the spirit of goodwill and constructive engagement, and at the request of several member states.”

Najafi stressed that the resolution was never intended to create division and insisted that “on matters of such importance and sensitivity, it is imperative that the general conference conveys a unified and unambiguous message.”

He added, “We firmly believe that the voice of this body should not be distorted under the weight of the intimidation and political pressure exerted by one of the aggressors.”

Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s civilian atomic energy organisation, also expressed concern earlier this week that “recent threats made by the United States, as well as the exertion of political pressure on countries and the instrumental use of the Agency in various forms, including through influence on its budget, are matters of serious concern.”

The withdrawal comes as Western powers, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, prepare to reactivate U.N. sanctions on Iran over alleged violations of the 2015 nuclear agreement. This so-called “snapback” mechanism is designed to be veto-proof and could reinstate sanctions within a month unless Iran resumes direct negotiations with the U.S., allows full access for nuclear inspectors, and accounts for over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium currently under IAEA monitoring.

French President Emmanuel Macron, when asked about the snapback process on Israel’s Channel 12, indicated that he expects sanctions to proceed, commenting: “Yes. I think so because the latest news we had from the Iranians is not serious.”

The move highlights growing tensions at the IAEA, which annually gathers high-ranking representatives from 180 member states in Vienna to debate nuclear policy, approve the agency’s budget, and consider resolutions on nuclear safety and security.

Historical context underscores the stakes: in 1981, the IAEA suspended technical assistance to Israel after its strike on Iraq’s nuclear reactor, an attack condemned by the U.N. Security Council, the IAEA General Conference, and the agency’s Board of Governors. Now, nearly 45 years later, Iran’s proposed resolution had sought similar protections for its nuclear facilities, only to be withdrawn under international pressure.

By Tamilla Hasanova