# Two-thirds of IAEA board backs Western statement pressuring Iran Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-09-15 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Iran urged to explain uranium traces at undeclared sites Meta Description: Two-thirds of U.N. nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors, backed by the US, UK, France, and Germany, press Iran for answers on uranium traces at three URL: https://financedigest.com/two-thirds-of-iaea-board-backs-western-statement-pressuring-iranhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-09-14t193729z2lynxmpei8d13grtroptp4iran-nuclear-iaea-1736815212325-compressed.jpg) VIENNA (Reuters) – Two-thirds of the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation Board of Governors endorsed a non-binding statement by the United States, Britain, France and Germany on Wednesday pressing Iran to explain why uranium traces were found at three undeclared sites. At its last quarterly meeting in June the International Atomic Energy Agency’s [Board of Governors passed a resolution](https://www.financedigest.com/hsbc-board-recommends-shareholders-vote-against-spin-off-resolution.html "HSBC board recommends shareholders vote against spin-off resolution") expressing “profound concern” that the traces remain unexplained due to insufficient cooperation by Iran, and calling on Tehran to engage with the watchdog “without delay. The Vienna-based IAEA [says there has been no progress](https://www.financedigest.com/sweden-finland-and-turkey-have-made-progress-on-nato-membership-sweden-says.html "Sweden, Finland and Turkey have made progress on NATO membership, Sweden says") and no engagement by Iran since then. Rather than pass a new resolution at this week’s board meeting, the four countries behind June’s resolution – the United States, Britain, [France and Germany – issued](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-france-agreed-to-fix-u-s-subsidies-issues-says-macron.html "U.S., France agreed to “fix” U.S. subsidies issues, says Macron") a joint statement reaffirming support for that text and sought to get as many other countries as they could to sign up it. We call upon Iran to act immediately to fulfil its legal obligations and, without delay, take up the (IAEA) Director General’s offer of further engagement to clarify and [resolve all outstanding safeguards issues,”](https://www.financedigest.com/apple-says-issues-with-imessage-facetime-resolved35792.html "Apple says issues with iMessage, FaceTime resolved") the joint statement presented by Germany to the board said. A list of countries [provided by Germany showed that 23 countries on the board supported](https://www.financedigest.com/keysource-to-provide-critical-facilitiesmanagement-support-for-leeds-city-council.html "KEYSOURCE TO PROVIDE CRITICAL FACILITIESMANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR LEEDS CITY COUNCIL") it. The 12 that did not included Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, [South Africa](https://www.financedigest.com/inmobi-and-coca-cola-win-mma-smarties-south-africa-award-for-beat-can-campaign.html "InMobi and Coca-Cola Win MMA SMARTIES South Africa Award for Beat Can Campaign"), India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Senegal and Vietnam. That is fewer supporters than the 30 countries that voted in favour of the June resolution, which only [Russia and China](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-sharply-scales-back-far-east-war-games-with-china.html "Russia sharply scales back Far East war games with China") opposed. Those two did not back Wednesday’s joint statement, either. India and Pakistan abstained in June. Libya went from abstaining on the [resolution to supporting](https://www.financedigest.com/holcim-supports-resolution-with-u-s-regarding-legacy-operations-in-syria.html "Holcim supports resolution with U.S. regarding legacy operations in Syria") the joint statement. A resolution passed by the Board of Governors carries the weight of a formal decision by the IAEA’s [top policy-making body that meets more than once a year](https://www.financedigest.com/global-crypto-regulation-body-likely-in-next-year-top-official-says.html "Global crypto regulation body likely in next year, top official says"). [Countries banding together to issue](https://www.financedigest.com/imf-should-issue-new-reserves-to-help-countries-tackle-overlapping-crises-groups.html "IMF should issue new reserves to help countries tackle overlapping crises – groups") a statement without submitting and passing a resolution are merely expressing an opinion. The [issue of the unexplained uranium particles has become an obstacle in wider talks](https://www.financedigest.com/more-than-one-in-ten-brits-are-embarrassed-to-talk-to-anyone-about-their-money-issues.html "More than one in ten Brits are embarrassed to talk to anyone about their money issues") to revive Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers since Tehran is now seeking a closure of the IAEA’s investigation as part of those negotiations, Western powers say. This has jeopardised the [talks to revive](https://www.financedigest.com/british-pm-sunak-revives-talks-for-arms-london-ipo-ft.html "British PM Sunak revives talks for Arm’s London IPO -FT") the now badly eroded deal that restricted Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for relief from Western sanctions, the three European powers said on Saturday, venting their frustration. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Catherine Evans) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---