The IAEA Board passed a resolution criticizing Iran and calling on it to intensify cooperation with the UN regulator.

Iran has condemned the decision of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to adopt a resolution criticizing Tehran as “hasty and unwise,” Iranian state television reported.

The 35-nation Board of Governors of the United Nations nuclear watchdog passed a resolution on Wednesday calling on Iran to increase its cooperation with the regulator and reverse its recent ban on inspectors.

“The decision of the Western countries was hasty and unwise and will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on the process of diplomatic engagement and constructive cooperation. [between Iran and the opposing parties]“, state television quoted the Iranian mission to the United Nations as saying.

The request to the IAEA Board, submitted by the UK, France and Germany but rejected by China and Russia, is the first of its kind since November 2022.

The move comes amid an impasse over Iran's increasing nuclear activities and fears among Western powers that Tehran may attempt to develop a nuclear weapon, which Iran has consistently denied.

The resolution was passed with 20 votes in favor – including the United States, which was initially hesitant for fear of escalating tensions in the Middle East. Twelve countries abstained and one country did not participate, three diplomats told AFP.

Although the motion of no confidence is symbolic at this stage, it aims to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran, with the option of possibly referring the matter to the UN Security Council.

Tehran had already threatened “a serious and effective response” and described the motion of no confidence as “devoid of any legal, technical and political basis”.

In the past, similar resolutions have prompted Tehran to retaliate by removing surveillance cameras and other equipment from its nuclear facilities and increasing its uranium enrichment activities.

According to the IAEA, Tehran has significantly expanded its nuclear program and now has enough material to build several nuclear bombs.

During debates in the IAEA Board of Governors, which began in Vienna on Monday, European powers condemned the expansion of Iran's nuclear program “to an alarming level” and described it as “unprecedented for a state without a nuclear weapons program.”

“Strong and renewed message”

According to the IAEA, Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state that enriches uranium to the high level of 60 percent – ​​just below weapons quality – and at the same time accumulates large uranium stockpiles.

The resolution sends “a strong and renewed message of support” for the IAEA's efforts to address the problem, said a statement from the E3 countries – Britain, France and Germany.

“The Council will not stand idly by while Iran challenges the foundations of the non-proliferation system and undermines the credibility of the international safeguards regime,” they added.

“We hope that Iran will use this opportunity to resolve these outstanding issues so that no further action by the panel is required.”

Iran has gradually withdrawn from its obligations under the nuclear agreement it signed with world powers in 2015.

The historic agreement provided relief for Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program, but it collapsed after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States under then-President Donald Trump in 2018.

Efforts to revive the agreement have so far failed.

In a joint statement quoted by Iran's official IRNA news agency on Wednesday, Tehran, Moscow and Beijing called on “Western countries to show political will … and take the necessary steps to resume implementation” of the 2015 agreement.

However, the US rejected this claim, saying Iran rejected a deal when it was still possible and “continued its activities that destroyed the chance of that deal and is now making baseless claims to obscure history.”