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IAEA board votes to refer Iran to UN Security Council for probe failures

The closed-door vote saw 23 of 35 board members back the referral, while China and Russia opposed, setting up potential sanctions despite their UN veto power.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Trade & Tariffs

The UN nuclear watchdog’s board voted to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in 20 years, citing Iran’s failure to cooperate with an investigation into uranium traces found at undeclared sites, Associated Press reports.

Western officials suspect the traces could indicate Iran maintained a secret nuclear weapons programme until 2003, while Iran says it is not pursuing nuclear weapons and that its programme is entirely peaceful.

The referral could open the door to possible sanctions and asset freezes. However, punitive measures are considered unlikely because Iran’s allies Russia and China hold veto power on the Security Council.

According to diplomats cited by Associated Press, 23 of the IAEA’s 35 board members voted for the resolution in Vienna, with China, Russia and Niger opposing, eight countries abstaining, and one country not voting because it was in arrears.

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