Iran Backs Down on Nuclear Attack Ban Amid US Pressure
US pressure forces Iran to withdraw IAEA resolution.
Iran abruptly withdrew a contentious resolution banning attacks on nuclear facilities from a vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) General Conference on Thursday, following intense behind-the-scenes lobbying by the United States. The resolution, co-sponsored by Iran, China, Russia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Belarus, and Zimbabwe, aimed to condemn June 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and reaffirm a global prohibition on targeting peaceful nuclear facilities.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Reza Najafi announced the deferral to next year’s conference, citing “goodwill” and requests from member states. The move came as Western diplomats revealed U.S. threats to slash IAEA funding if the resolution passed or if Israel’s agency rights were curtailed, recalling a 1981 suspension of aid to Israel after its strike on an Iraqi reactor. “The resolution would’ve been crushed in a vote,” claimed Howard Solomon, U.S. acting representative in Vienna, dismissing it as a distorted portrayal of events and international law.
The decision coincides with heightened tensions, as France, Germany, and the UK initiated a “snapback” mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran for alleged non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal. This veto-proof process, embedded in the agreement, could reinstate sanctions within 30 days unless diplomatic talks resume. European leaders signaled flexibility if Iran allows UN inspectors access to its sites and accounts for over 400 kg of highly enriched uranium flagged by the IAEA.
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The withdrawn resolution condemned June 2025 attacks—attributed to Israel and supported by U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—as “unlawful” violations of international law. Iran’s Mohammad Eslami, head of its civilian atomic energy organization, had urged IAEA members to address these “reckless” attacks, decrying U.S. political pressure and budget manipulation as “serious concerns.” Najafi emphasized unity, insisting the resolution sought to avoid division among IAEA’s 180 member states.
The U.S. justified its actions, with Solomon stating that Iran’s “grave and growing” nuclear enrichment program posed an imminent threat to Israel and the region, necessitating President Trump’s “decisive action.” Israel’s June strikes targeted Iranian nuclear and military sites, driven by fears of Tehran nearing atomic weapon capability, though Iran insists its program is peaceful.
As the IAEA General Conference debates nuclear safety and security in Vienna, the withdrawal underscores the delicate balance of power and diplomacy. With the snapback clock ticking, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed skepticism about Iran’s intentions, telling Israel’s Channel 12, “The latest signals from Iran aren’t serious.” The standoff leaves global powers bracing for either a diplomatic breakthrough or escalating sanctions, with Iran’s nuclear ambitions at the heart of the storm.
