IAEA Approves Resolution Demanding Iran to Report Uranium Stockpiles

IAEA illustration. (Twitter/@rafaelmgrossi)

JAKARTA - The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) consisting of 35 countries passed a resolution supported by the United States on Wednesday, which ordered Iran to declare its remaining enriched uranium stocks and allow inspectors to verify it.

The text of the resolution proposed by the United States, Britain, France, and Germany was adopted with 21 votes in favor, three against, and 10 abstentions, diplomats said in the closed-door meeting, Al Arabiya reported from Reuters (11/6).

The countries that opposed were Russia, China, and Niger, they said, adding that Venezuela was not allowed to participate.

The move came hours after the US and Iran launched military strikes against each other, after US President Donald Trump said Iran had shot down a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli and US strikes in June last year destroyed or severely damaged Iran's uranium enrichment plants, but most of the enriched uranium they produced, including material close to nuclear weapons grade, is thought to still survive.

The Mullah's country has yet to inform the UN nuclear watchdog of the fate of the material, or allow IAEA inspectors back to the bombed site to inspect it.

The US led the effort for this resolution, but Iran called it a "cover for military aggression," as inspectors had access before the attack.