Why it matters:
Iran says the resolution deliberately ignores the root cause of the current situation: illegal and provocative attacks by the United States and Israel on safeguarded Iranian nuclear sites — attacks that even forced the IAEA to withdraw its inspectors. Tehran argues that the Western-drafted text is an effort to shift blame and rewrite established facts already acknowledged in the IAEA’s own reports.
The big picture:
The latest report by IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi confirms that Iran’s verification activities were disrupted as a direct result of the US–Israeli strikes on safeguarded facilities in June 2025.
Iran had nonetheless granted full access to all sites unaffected by the attacks and facilitated the resumption of certain verification measures.
Tehran says the US and its European allies are now presenting a distorted narrative, pretending that “conditions are normal” and ignoring documented aggression against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
What he’s saying:
Reza Najafi in Vienna:
“This resolution is a futile and discredited attempt by the US and the European troika to make up for their humiliating failure to activate the illegal snapback mechanism in New York.”
“The IAEA’s own report clearly states that the suspension of verification activities and withdrawal of inspectors were inevitable security measures following the unlawful attacks by the United States and the Israeli regime.”
“Despite these circumstances, Iran acted in good faith and allowed full access to all facilities not targeted in the attacks, while preparing the ground for resuming verification.”
“The sponsors of this resolution have deliberately blinded themselves to the documented facts — including the IAEA’s confirmation of the June 2025 attacks on Iran’s safeguarded facilities.”
“A country that openly boasts about attacking another state’s peaceful nuclear sites — as the US president has — is in no position to lecture Iran about diplomacy or legal obligations.”
Key points:
- Iran says the Western draft is designed to exert “maximum political pressure” and promote a false, misleading narrative about the current safeguards situation.
- Tehran argues that the US and its allies refuse to acknowledge their own aggression because one of the “main perpetrators” is also the sponsor of the resolution.
- Iran maintains that meaningful diplomacy is possible only when the other side shows genuine good faith — not when pressure, threats, and distortions are presented as negotiation.
- Najafi said the Western states “interpret diplomacy as depriving Iran of its legitimate rights,” a stance Iran “will never accept.”
Go deeper:
The IAEA Board adopted the Western-drafted resolution on Thursday with 19 votes in favor, 3 against, and 12 abstentions.
Iran’s parliament had mandated limits on cooperation with the IAEA following the US–Israeli attacks and required any future engagement to be based on full security protections and Iranian law.
Tehran says the resolution does not alter its policy: cooperation will continue only if the agency remains professional, impartial, and free from Western political influence.
Mojtaba Darabi - ahmad shirzadian
