IAEA Unable to Track Iran’s Nuclear Materials After Strikes

TDT | Manama

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has lost continuity of knowledge across all of Iran's declared nuclear facilities following US and Israeli strikes that began on February 28, 2026, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council.

Briefing the council, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said the attacks had significantly undermined the agency's ability to monitor Iran's nuclear activities. She cited the UN Secretary-General's latest report on Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement.

According to DiCarlo, the loss of oversight extends to the production and inventory of key nuclear-related materials and equipment, including centrifuges, rotors, bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate. The IAEA has also reported a "significant deterioration" in its situational awareness following the strikes.

The agency has not conducted any in-field verification activities under Iran's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement since the attacks, further limiting its ability to assess Tehran's nuclear programme.

DiCarlo noted that the situation has been compounded by Iran's decision to stop the provisional application of its Additional Protocol in 2021. Since then, the IAEA has not received updated declarations from Iran and has been unable to conduct complementary access visits to sites across the country.

Despite the challenges, DiCarlo said all parties continue to express support for a diplomatic solution. She highlighted the June 17 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, which includes agreements on the handling of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and IAEA-supervised down-blending of enriched material.

The UN reiterated its support for renewed negotiations aimed at achieving a peaceful and lasting resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue.