Iran defies international pressure after the UN nuclear watchdog finds it non-compliant with nuclear obligations, announcing a new uranium enrichment facility.
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| Following a UN nuclear watchdog vote declaring Iran non-compliant, Tehran vows to build a new enrichment site and accelerate its nuclear program advancements. Image: CH |
Vienna, Austria — June 12, 2025:
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday formally declared that Iran is not complying with its nuclear obligations, marking a major turning point in global nuclear diplomacy and triggering swift retaliation from Tehran.
In response to the resolution passed by the IAEA’s 35-member Board of Governors, Iran announced it will construct a new uranium enrichment facility “in a secure location,” signaling a significant escalation in the ongoing standoff over its nuclear program. The announcement also confirmed that “additional measures” are under consideration, including the installation of advanced IR-6 centrifuges at the Fordo underground site to replace older models.
Nineteen countries voted in favor of the resolution—including the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—while Russia, China, and Burkina Faso opposed it. Eleven countries abstained, and two did not cast votes.
The resolution calls on Iran to urgently clarify the presence of uranium traces found at several undeclared sites, a long-running concern for Western intelligence agencies that suspect Iran operated a covert nuclear weapons program until at least 2003.
Iran, bound by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is obligated to disclose all nuclear activities and material to the IAEA. The resolution underscores that Iran’s failure to cooperate since 2019 constitutes “non-compliance” under its Safeguards Agreement.
In a joint statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran criticized the resolution as politically motivated, asserting that the Islamic Republic “has no choice but to respond.”
Tensions are expected to escalate further as the authority to reinstate UN sanctions under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal expires this October. If Iran continues to withhold full cooperation, the issue may soon be referred to the UN Security Council.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are ongoing. Oman confirmed that it will host the sixth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks this coming Sunday. The IAEA resolution expresses support for a negotiated solution, urging all sides to return to the table to resolve international concerns.
The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for a range of scenarios. President Donald Trump recently warned that military action remains on the table if diplomacy fails, and the State Department has begun drawing down non-essential personnel from Middle Eastern missions.
The IAEA’s latest internal report describes Iran’s cooperation as “less than satisfactory,” particularly regarding unexplained nuclear material found at undeclared locations. With time running out and pressure mounting, the future of Iran’s nuclear path now hangs in the balance, with global security implications looming large.