Nuclear Agency Refers Iran To UN Security Council

 VIENNA, Sept 10 (Bernama-dpa) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has referred Iran to the UN Security Council over its refusal to cooperate with nuclear inspectors, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

The symbolic escalation was initiated by the US, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

In a resolution, the IAEA's board of governors expressed "grave concern" that IAEA inspectors have no up-to-date information on uranium stocks and no access to nuclear facilities in Iran.

The text said the issue "needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency".

Tehran should disclose everything so that the IAEA could confirm that no nuclear material was being diverted for military purposes. Tehran denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

The resolution was supported by 23 of the 35 states on the board of governors. 

According to diplomats, Russia, China and Niger voted against it. The remaining countries abstained or did not take part in the vote.

 Due to the denial by Moscow and Beijing, it is unlikely that the UN Security Council will now take action against Tehran.

Tehran has increasingly restricted IAEA inspections in recent years. This was in response to US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal with Iran. 

Since the first attacks by the US and Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities last year, the Islamic Republic has almost completely ceased its cooperation with the IAEA. 

The agency has no access to more than 400 kilograms of uranium that is almost weapons-grade, which Iran had produced in recent years. Inspections are impossible in view of the ongoing military operations, said Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi.

-- BERNAMA-dpa