UN Warns It Has Lost Knowledge of Iran’s Nuclear Programme After US-Israel Attacks

By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN peace affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo on Friday warned the Council members that there has been a “lost continuity of knowledge” on Tehran’s nuclear programme since the US and Israel attacked Iran and the tensions is growing after new strikes across the Middle East.

Council discussed the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015), which endorsed the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and major world Powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Ms. DiCarlo presented the Secretary-General’s latest report on the resolution’s implementation, covered developments since December 2025.

Russian Federation, echoed by China’s delegate, objected to the holding of today’s meeting, stressed that resolution 2231 (2015) is no longer in force.

“Since 17 October 2025, the Security Council has had no mandate to discuss these matters,” she said.

Some Council members continue to flout the rules requesting meetings on agenda items “that simply do not exist” – for narrow political reasons.

She requested a procedural vote on the holding of today’s meeting.

The meeting proceeded after a procedural vote passed by 11 votes in favor despite objections from Russia and China. Pakistan and Somalia abstained.

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefed members on the Secretary-General’s most recent report on resolution 2231 (2015), dated 19 June 2026.

The report indicated that the International Atomic Energy Agency had not conducted any in-field verification activities in Iran under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement the instrument that had once enabled the Agency to verify and monitor Iran’s compliance under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

“The Agency also reported a significant deterioration in its situational awareness following the attacks against Iran by the United States and Israel that began on 28 February 2026,” she said.

“It has now lost continuity of knowledge across all of Iran’s declared nuclear facilities extending to the production and current inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate.”

French delegate said the origin of this crisis is the conduct of Iran”, which has persistently violated its commitment under the Plan of Action.

He noted that Teheran has breached the terms of the memorandum of understanding it signed with the United States, he described that document as “a first positive step” providing for cessation of hostilities, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the launch of negotiations, which within 60 days should result in a non-proliferation agreement.

This is an essential precondition for the lifting of sanctions, he said, underscoring Paris is committed to ensuring that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon.

Russian Federation expressed regret that most Council members “continue to indulge attempts by some States to cast doubt on procedural reality” by holding meetings on what she described as a non-existent agenda item.

She rejected claims that resolution 2231 (2015) remains valid and warned that sanctions linked to that mandate are being used for political purposes.

She reiterated Moscow’s opposition to the Council’s “anti-Iranian” approach, she said Western countries are unfairly blamed Tehran for the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal, arguing instead that the agreement was undermined by the United States’ 2018 withdrawal.

Britain, France and Germany further worsened the situation by backing United States strikes on Iran, she added.

She said that concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme are unfounded, she said.

Russian envoy noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency has never verified a transfer of nuclear material for military purposes in the country.

Bahrain’s delegate said the region has experienced “one of the most dangerous waves of escalation in its modern history” due to Iran’s actions.

He said Tehran failed to uphold commitments under resolution 2231 (2015) and the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, adding:

“For Iran, diplomacy is not a path for resolving disputes but rather a means of managing crises and gaining time.”

He stressed that confidence-building requires both full IAEA cooperation and an end to Iran’s regional attacks and threats to navigation.

Pakistan Ambassador said “Pakistan calls on all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further actions that could further undermine regional peace and stability,”.

He stressed the critical need for diplomacy and dialogue, he said the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the US and Iran in Islamabad in June offers a “viable road map” to address all outstanding issues through diplomatic means.

“Any interruption of this diplomatic process would complicate the issue further,” he cautioned.

He spotlighted Pakistan’s robust support for continued constructive negotiations on such sensitive topics.

China recalled that his country voted against the holding of today’s meeting, urged Iran and the US to return to negotiations, “filter out distractions”, address each other’s legitimate concerns and lift sanctions on Iran as soon as possible.

Iran must abide by its non-proliferation treaty commitments not to acquire nuclear weapons,. It retains the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, as verified by strict IAEA safeguards.

US delegate said “Iran’s leaders have a historic opportunity to transform their country”.

She said “the door to diplomacy remains open and is our preferred path”, she added that her country will hold Iran to account for violating international peace.

“If you shoot at civilian objects or ships, we will respond,” she said.

Germany’s representative said that “a verifiable agreement that addresses the urgent concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear activities is indispensable”.

He added that Berlin is prepared to support lifting nuclear-related sanctions, but only after Iran takes “concrete, verifiable steps” on its nuclear programme and returns to full compliance with its obligations under the non-proliferation treaty.