The governing board of the United Nations nuclear watchdog passed a United States-backed resolution on Wednesday, demanding Iran provide "complete information" on its enriched uranium stocks and grant inspectors access to verify them. The resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) comes amidst ongoing military exchanges between the US and Iran, following Washington's accusation that Tehran was responsible for downing an Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz.

This escalation marks the most significant military engagement since a ceasefire in April ended weeks of intense US and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory assaults by Iran across the Gulf region. Iran has strongly condemned the IAEA resolution, labeling it "politically motivated" and warning that it could impede ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire and end the war.

The resolution, put forward by the US, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, was adopted by the 35-member IAEA board with 21 votes in favour. Russia, China, and Niger voted against it, while 10 member states abstained. One country did not participate in the vote.

According to IAEA estimates, Iran possessed approximately 440kg of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity—close to weapons-grade—before the initial US and Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities in June of the previous year. These attacks targeted three of Iran's primary nuclear sites located in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Following these strikes, Iran halted its cooperation with the IAEA, and inspectors have been unable to access or verify the status of the enriched uranium since that time.

The IAEA's resolution emphasizes that the agency has been unable to confirm whether any uranium has been diverted from its intended purpose. It calls on Iran to "provide the Agency with complete information on nuclear material inventories" and to grant the IAEA the necessary access "without delay" for verification.

Iran's ambassador to the UN in Vienna, Reza Najafi, rejected the resolution, describing it as "counterproductive," "politically motivated," and "legally flawed." He expressed concerns that the resolution would negatively impact the delicate negotiations with US representatives aimed at achieving a complete cessation of hostilities. Najafi stated that it "further complicates the volatile situation, volatile ceasefire and the unfinished negotiations between Iran and the US."

Earlier, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had characterized the resolution as an attempt to shift responsibility for the US-Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure back onto Tehran. He suggested this action was aimed at influencing the ongoing war and related diplomatic efforts.

The demand for transparency from the IAEA highlights the persistent international concern over Iran's nuclear program, particularly in the context of heightened regional tensions and ongoing conflict. The resolution's passage and Iran's reaction underscore the complex geopolitical landscape and the challenges in achieving both nuclear accountability and lasting peace.