The IAEA General Conference provides an annual platform for countries to voice their perspectives on the global nuclear landscape. This year, Iran’s participation carries heightened significance. In recent months, attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States and Israel, coupled with the agency’s silence, have raised serious questions about the IAEA’s true mission. Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, emphasized that Iran will provide a fully transparent account at the conference and will not allow double standards to cast a shadow over the peaceful nuclear program’s future.
Through its resolution, Iran seeks to classify attacks on nuclear facilities as violations of international law and urges the international community to take a clear stance. This concern is not limited to Iran alone; the security of all nations depends on protecting peaceful nuclear infrastructure.
The Resolution and U.S. Opposition
Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, stated that the United States opposes Iran’s proposed resolution to ban attacks on nuclear facilities. This opposition reflects Washington’s instrumental view of the IAEA, using it to advance political objectives. The U.S. has even threatened to halt its financial contributions to the agency if the resolution passes—an act that openly challenges the institution’s independence.
Iran’s proposed resolution, however, is grounded in prior United Nations documents, including Security Council Resolution 487 and other IAEA General Conference decisions that explicitly condemn attacks on nuclear facilities. The U.S. opposition, therefore, is not based on international law but on geopolitical interests and a double standard in dealing with Iran.
Iran’s Strategic Message to the World
Iran’s presence in Vienna conveys a strategic message with two core elements: first, the reaffirmation of Iran’s legitimate right to peaceful nuclear energy under the NPT and the IAEA Statute; second, a warning of the dangerous consequences of repeated attacks on nuclear facilities. Through transparent narration, Iran seeks to demonstrate that the IAEA’s inaction threatens not only Iran’s security but also the credibility of the global non-proliferation system.
In effect, Iran’s stance at the conference could pave the way for broader consensus among independent nations. Many governments worry that if this trend continues, their own nuclear facilities could face similar attacks. Iran’s initiative thus presents an opportunity to form an ethical and legal coalition against unilateral U.S. policies.
Outlook for Iran’s Nuclear Diplomacy
Iran’s nuclear diplomacy in Vienna extends beyond presenting a single resolution. Multilateral meetings with various countries provide a chance for Tehran to directly explain its positions and gain new political support. Additionally, this presence allows Iran to expose the illegal actions of Israel and its allies within a transparent, lawful framework.
If this process is accompanied by domestic cohesion and sustained international engagement, it could strengthen Iran’s standing in the global nuclear system. By transparently conveying the threats and pressures it faces, Iran not only heightens public awareness but also signals to other countries that defending Iran’s nuclear rights is, in fact, defending collective security and the future of the nuclear industry worldwide