China, Iran and Russia oppose US-European push to refer Iran to UN Security Council
China, Iran and Russia have jointly condemned efforts by the United States, Britain, France and Germany to refer Iran’s nuclear file to the UN Security Council over Tehran’s restrictions on access to its nuclear facilities.
The three countries said the proposed referral by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) lacks a legal basis and could further escalate tensions.
“The alleged ‘referral’ to the UN Security Council lacks a legal basis, intends to aggravate the situation, and is inconsistent with the co-authors’ stated commitment to diplomacy,” the joint statement said.
The United States, Britain, France and Germany are urging the IAEA Board of Governors to adopt a resolution referring the matter to the Security Council.
Beijing, Tehran and Moscow also rejected the IAEA finding that Iran was non-compliant with its inspection obligations in 2025, describing the assessment as politically motivated and unfounded.
The three governments argued that US and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities are the main reason Tehran has restricted IAEA access to those sites.
China, Iran and Russia called on UN member states to carefully consider the potential consequences of the proposed resolution and refrain from supporting it.
The dispute comes amid renewed international tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and the future of cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA.
