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IAEA under pressure to drop Iran’s resolution banning attack on nuclear sites: Envoy
Iran's ambassador to United Nations organizations in the Austrian capital Vienna, Reza Najafi, said on Tuesday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has come under political pressure not to support Tehran’s proposed resolution prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities.
The Iranian diplomat addressed the issue of Iran’s draft resolution aimed at prohibiting armed attacks against nuclear facilities, outlining the process behind the resolution, its objectives, and the challenges it faces.
He said that similar resolutions have previously been approved at the UN security council, including a resolution against Israel’s attack on Iraq’s nuclear reactor, known as Tamuz I located near Baghdad on June 7, 1981.
The ambassador also warned that attacks on nuclear facilities — especially those housing nuclear materials — could lead to catastrophic environmental damage and serious public health risks. He highlighted the urgent need for countries to back the resolution.
Najafi said that the draft resolution is expected to be put to a vote either Thursday or Friday. He noted that while Iran has actively sought support through diplomatic outreach in various capitals and in Tehran, US pressure could sway the positions of certain countries, leaving the final outcome uncertain until the vote occurs.
He emphasized the resolution’s significance, highlighting that the prohibition against attacking nuclear facilities is a fundamental principle of international law. This principle is enshrined in key documents, including the UN Charter, the IAEA Statute, and the NPT. Therefore, even if the resolution is not adopted, it still holds considerable importance, he added.
Iran’s move came after attacks by Israel and the US on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June.