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UN atomic energy chief asked to report to Security Council on Iran

4 February 2006 – The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today passed a resolution in Vienna requesting the Agency's Director General to report to the United Nations Security Council on Iran.

The action followed three days of debate on the issue sparked when France, Germany and the United Kingdom – the so-called “EU-3” – requested a special meeting of the Board after Tehran broke IAEA seals on equipment used to produce enriched uranium.

By asking IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei to report to the Council all IAEA reports and resolutions relating to the implementation of safeguards in Iran, the Board moved the issue for the first time to the Security Council.

Last September, the Board of Governors found that Iran's breaches of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) were within the competence of the Security Council, which can impose sanctions, but did not refer the matter to the 15-member body.

Prior to the adoption of the resolution, Mr. ElBaradei said, “The draft resolution which is now before the Board (sponsored by Britain, France, Germany) says that we should report on that issue. But the sponsors made it clear that the Security Council is not expected to take any action at least before March.”

He said the period from now until then represents “a window of opportunity” for diplomacy.