Board of Governors International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Agenda item 5f: Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement and relevant provisions of the United Nations[...]

Board of Governors International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Agenda item 5f: Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement and relevant provisions of the United Nations Security Council resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran (GOV/2026/33 and Corr.

EU Statement on

Agenda item 5f: Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement and relevant provisions of the United Nations Security Council resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran (GOV/2026/33 and Corr.1)
Board of Governors - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Vienna, 8-12 June 2026

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino and Ukraine.

The European Union thanks the Director General for his reports and DDG Aparo for the technical briefing. We reiterate our full support for the Agency's professional, independent and impartial work and commend its continuous monitoring of the situation.

The European Union follows developments in Iran and the Middle East with utmost concern. The EU remains strongly committed to peace, security and stability in the Middle East, and remains in close contact with our partners in the region. The EU calls for de-escalation, maximum restraint, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and full respect for international law by all parties, including the principles of the UN Charter, and international humanitarian law. The EU strongly condemns Iran's indiscriminate military strikes against countries in the region and expresses its solidarity with countries affected. It calls on Iran and its proxies to immediately cease these attacks and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region, in line with UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2817, which should be fully implemented. Ensuring nuclear safety, security and physical protection, and preventing any actions that could further escalate tensions or undermine the global non-proliferation regime is of critical importance. The IAEA's seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during armed conflict must be fully respected.

The EU has always supported diplomatic efforts as the only way conducive to a durable solution to Iran's non-proliferation crisis, which remains a key threat to European, as well as regional and international security. We urge all sides to seek a negotiated solution. The European Union, including through the efforts of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and to bring about a lasting negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. In this regard we also commend the efforts of mediators. We echo the DG's readiness - through the Agency's verification and monitoring capability - to support an eventual agreement.

Despite all diplomatic efforts, Iran's escalating nuclear trajectory over the last six years constitutes an urgent and profound nuclear proliferation crisis in the region. As of June 2025, Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% comprised 440 kg, which the Agency has been unable to further verify and cannot draw any safeguards conclusion for 2025 in respect of nuclear material previously declared at several of Iran's nuclear facilities due to Iran's persistent lack of cooperation. The Director General has reported that the IAEA has lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the previously declared inventories of nuclear material in Iran and its enrichment capacities, including low and highly enriched uranium. As stressed in the DG's report, this is a matter of proliferation concern and of compliance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement. Iran must urgently address this to allay concerns regarding the possible diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful uses. Let us be clear - Iran remains the only NPT non-nuclear-weapon State to have produced such a quantity of HEU, for which there is no credible civilian justification.

The reinstatement of six UNSC resolutions, including financial and nuclear restrictions, as a result of snapback, and as approved by the UNSC last September, requires Iran, inter alia, to suspend all its activities related to uranium enrichment, and to discontinue the construction of related facilities. We deplore that Iran has not allowed the Agency to verify these obligations, and call all UN member States to fully implement the restrictive measures under the reinstated UNSC resolutions.

We have always been clear that Iran must never be allowed to develop or acquire a nuclear weapon and that it must comply with all its legally binding obligations under the NPT. Full cooperation by Iran with the IAEA as well as adherence to Iran's legal obligations under the NPT and its Safeguards Agreement are crucial. The EU is gravely concerned by Iran's almost complete suspension of its cooperation with the IAEA. As clearly indicated by the DG, Iran's implementation of its Safeguards Agreement cannot be suspended under any circumstances. We note that Iran has granted the Agency access to one of its 22 facilities. However, it is critical and urgent that Iran provides the IAEA with updated verifiable declarations about the quantity and whereabouts of nuclear material and related activities and allows inspections to resume in all its nuclear facilities, as required by its NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant UNSC Resolutions. As clearly indicated by the Agency, there is no technical reason preventing IAEA inspectors returning to all nuclear facilities.

We further call upon Iran to fully implement modified Code 3.1, which cannot unilaterally be suspended, to reapply the Additional Protocol and to ratify it, and to take urgent steps to return to full compliance with its legal obligations under the NPT and Iran's NPT Safeguards Agreement. This is indispensable to address in a credible and transparent manner the international community's serious doubts about the asserted exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme.

Chair,

Taking the above steps by Iran is both critical and urgent. The EU therefore fully supports the draft resolution tabled by the US and E3 and calls on all Board members to do likewise. This resolution has been carefully balanced to focus on Iran's expected actions to return to compliance with its obligations, while preserving space for diplomacy.

The EU reiterates its full support to the IAEA and the Director General in their critical work to uphold the implementation of safeguards, nuclear safety and security in Iran and to pursue clarity on their nuclear programme. We urge Iran to facilitate the full and effective implementation of verification activities by the Agency and to engage with the Agency in clarifying, without any further delay, the unresolved safeguards issues in accordance with its NPT Safeguards Agreement.

We look forward to continued regular reporting from the Director General. With this, the EU takes note of the report under this agenda item and requests that it be made public.

Thank you, Chair.