General Assembly adopts resolution backing IAEA by 150 votes to 2

The General Assembly today adopted a resolution reaffirming strong support for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The vote was 150 in favour to 2 against, with 1 abstention. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation voted against. Cuba abstained. The 193-member Assembly adopted the text, titled “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency” (document A/81/L.7), according to the UN meetings coverage release. The release does not list how the other members voted, the United States included.

Before the final vote, the Assembly voted to retain operative paragraph 1, which takes note with appreciation of the agency’s annual report (A/81/325). The recorded vote was 137 in favour to 6 against, with one abstention. Burkina Faso, Iran, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger and the Russian Federation voted against. Cuba abstained.

Kuwait’s representative introduced the draft. He said the annual report gave the Assembly a chance to reaffirm its support for the agency’s work on peace, security and the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Mr. Grossi briefed the Assembly on Syria, Iran and Ukraine. On Iran, he said the agency had completed most of the technical preparations needed to verify its nuclear activities. He hoped negotiations between Tehran and Washington would produce an agreement. “There will not be a lasting, stable solution without a diplomatic agreement”, he said, adding: “For a diplomatic agreement to happen, we need the verification.”

UN News reported that he called for a swift return of inspectors to Iran. He said “the bases on which a diplomatic agreement could be concluded exist” and urged the parties to “redouble efforts”. The return of inspectors, he said, “requires a return to the negotiating table”.

UN News also gave the background. It reported that Iran has sharply restricted access since the June 2025 strikes on its nuclear sites. It said the IAEA estimated in March that just over 200 kilogrammes of uranium enriched to 60 per cent remained at Isfahan, with more at Natanz. In September, it said, the agency’s board of governors referred Iran’s non-compliance to the Security Council, which Tehran contests. The French edition of UN News added that a war between the United States and Iran began in February 2026.

Iran’s delegate told the Assembly that the agency’s credibility depends on impartiality. He accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iranian nuclear facilities without condemnation from the IAEA or the Security Council. He said Iran has not abandoned its safeguards obligations, but “no country can reasonably be expected to provide access amid military operations”. The sources do not record a reply from the United States.

On Syria, Mr. Grossi said the agency had gained access to previously restricted facilities after nearly two decades. “All the nuclear material in Syria is now under monitoring and verification”, he said. Syria’s speaker said Damascus is now declaring nuclear materials and submitting them to international safeguards.

On Ukraine, Mr. Grossi warned of continuing nuclear safety risks at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. He said the agency recently negotiated its eighth localized ceasefire between the Russian Federation and Ukraine to allow essential repairs. UN News reported 287 agency missions to Ukraine. Ukraine’s representative accused Russia of defying General Assembly resolution 78/316 (2024). Russia’s representative blamed Ukraine for the situation and accused Western States of pushing the agency beyond its mandate.

The representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea called the agency “a political instrument of the United States and its Western allies”. Japan’s and the Republic of Korea’s representatives urged Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons programme.