IAEA board refers Iran to UN Security Council over nuclear non-compliance

The 35-nation IAEA Board of Governors has referred Iran to the UN Security Council for breaching its nuclear non-proliferation obligations, the first such referral in 20 years.

• The resolution, initiated by the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, passed with at least 23 votes in favour; Russia, China and Niger opposed.
• The European Union said Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA and refused inspections, demanding updated verifiable declarations on nuclear material and resumed access to all facilities.
• Iran's UN mission denounced the referral as stemming from "criminal acts of aggression" by the US and Israel, saying attempts to force Iranian "surrender" and plunder its oil "will never happen."
• IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told the board the agency's inability to verify Iran's nuclear facilities is "a matter of serious proliferation concern."