European Powers Push for New Anti-Iran Resolution at IAEA Amid Grossi’s Tehran Visit

As Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived in Tehran for diplomatic discussions, European powers are reportedly preparing a fresh resolution at the IAEA’s Board of Governors meeting next week to increase pressure on Iran.

Diplomatic sources cited by Reuters indicate that the draft resolution seeks a “comprehensive report” from the IAEA, extending beyond routine quarterly reviews, to intensify scrutiny over uranium traces allegedly found at undeclared Iranian sites. The push reflects ongoing European concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and aims to prompt a return to negotiations for new, albeit narrower, restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for limited sanctions relief.

This proposal is reportedly supported by Britain, France, and Germany—the E3—while the United States is expected to back it despite not spearheading the initiative. The suggested report would go beyond the IAEA’s standard documentation, focusing heavily on unresolved aspects of Iran’s program and putting additional pressure on Tehran amid recent escalations.

A European diplomat underscored the need for the resolution, stating that a more thorough report could serve as a foundation for addressing concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities.

However, the timing of this resolution poses a diplomatic risk, as Grossi’s visit to Tehran was aimed at advancing dialogue based on a joint statement issued in March to address these issues. The E3 had previously criticized Iran for exceeding its uranium enrichment levels, a move they argue deviates from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreements. Nonetheless, Tehran maintains that its compensatory measures were in response to the non-compliance of the deal by the E3 and the U.S.