Tehran, Iran – Iran is actively pursuing a resolution intended to prohibit attacks on nuclear installations during the ongoing 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), taking place in Vienna. This initiative has garnered the backing of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which has reaffirmed its commitment to nuclear inspections following recent military strikes by the United States and Israel amidst a 12-day conflict in June.

Iran’s chief nuclear officials are present in Vienna for the conference, which is scheduled to conclude on Friday. They have indicated plans to present a resolution that would establish a ban on all assaults on nuclear facilities. However, the specific wording of the proposed resolution has not yet been disclosed to the public.

Upon arrival in Vienna, Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), remarked that the conference represents a significant chance to address issues pertaining to the IAEA, particularly concerning Director Rafael Grossi’s actions, which have raised concerns about the agency’s integrity. Eslami highlighted a perceived inconsistency in how the agency has responded to international incidents, notably pointing out its explicit condemnation of attacks in Ukraine while maintaining a neutral stance regarding assaults on Iran.

Even if the proposed resolution does not pass, its introduction underscores a broader concern regarding the integrity of international agreements established under the United Nations framework. Iranian officials, including Behrouz Kamalvandi, the deputy head of the AEOI, have revealed that the US is exerting pressure on member states to veto the resolution, suggesting that the US has even threatened to reduce financial support to the IAEA.

Historical precedents for similar resolutions exist. Kamalvandi referenced UNSC Resolution 487 from 1981, which condemned Israel’s airstrikes on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor, asserting that such actions violated the UN Charter and reaffirmed the rights of all states to pursue peaceful nuclear energy under IAEA safeguards.

Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been consistently described by the nation as aimed solely at peaceful civilian purposes. This perspective is bolstered by findings from US intelligence and the IAEA earlier this year, neither of which identified any pursuit by Iran of nuclear weapons.

In a related context, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently secured an agreement with the IAEA in Cairo to recommence nuclear inspections that had been halted due to the ongoing tensions. This arrangement, approved by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, encompasses all facilities, including those impacted by the recent military actions.

Despite the commitment to nuclear inspections, there remains some internal resistance within the Iranian establishment, particularly from hardliner factions within parliament, who express concerns that further inspections could provoke additional military action from the US and Israel. The Supreme National Security Council has signaled that while discussions with the IAEA continue, any hostile actions against Iran’s nuclear facilities could lead to a suspension of the proposed agreements.

This development accentuates Iran’s ongoing effort to position itself within the global narrative of peaceful nuclear energy while navigating a complex geopolitical landscape shaped by historical tensions and contemporary diplomatic engagements.

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