🇷🇺 Statement by Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov on the agenda item 5 (d) of the session of the IAEA Board of Governors «Safeguards Agreement in Connection with the NPT with the Islamic Republic of Iran»
📍Vienna, March 4, 2026
💬 First of all, we would like to emphasize our principled disagreement with this agenda item in the wording in which it was placed on the agenda by the IAEA Secretariat
Russia does not recognize the alleged restoration of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran. The attempts by the United Kingdom, Germany and France to force through the «snapback» in the UN Security Council are null and void for us both legally and politically. In this regard, the E3 had and still have no grounds whatsoever to attempt to entrench the so-called «snapback» within the IAEA by imposing on the Board of Governors in November 2025 a non-consensual anti-Iranian resolution. The Russian Federation voted against that document. We also firmly reject and consider null and void the mandate given to the Director General to report on the implementation of the allegedly restored UN Security Council resolutions. Reporting to the Board of Governors must be carried out exclusively with regard to the implementation of the Safeguards Agreement between the IAEA and the Islamic Republic of Iran
However, this is only the legal aspect of the issue; there is also its political dimension. To discuss Iran’s compliance with any demands regarding its nuclear programme, as well as its technical parameters against the backdrop of the events currently unfolding in the country and across the region is not merely inappropriate but also unworthy of such an authoritative body as the IAEA Board of Governors. It is a grotesque distortion and a caricature of real politics
❗What should truly concern us now is the preservation of the non-proliferation regime, the IAEA safeguards system and the confidence of states in it. It is precisely these that have been dealt a devastating blow by the United States and Israel - already the second one in the past eight months. One must not forget that one of the states in this tandem is a depositary of the NPT, while the other is not even a party to that Treaty, possesses a military nuclear programme and has a troubling track record of attacks against nuclear facilities of its neighbours
🇷🇺 Russia strongly condemns the unprovoked aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as the confirmed strike on the facility in Natanz which is under IAEA safeguards. This constitutes a blatant violation of international law, the Charters of the United Nations and the IAEA, as well as relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the Agency’s General Conference. We would also like to warn Member States and the Secretariat against making superficial assessments suggesting that direct strikes on Natanz would not lead to radioactive contamination of the surrounding area and therefore allegedly pose no danger. Such reasoning is simply irresponsible
☢️ Particular concern is caused by the risks that the U.S.-Israeli aggression has already created for the safety of the Bushehr NPP. The threat to the plant persists - this was confirmed yesterday by the Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, Mr. Alexey Likhachev. Explosions are being heard literally within kilometres of the perimeter of its physical protection zone. Any breach of the integrity of this nuclear facility would entail catastrophic consequences. We hope that the United States and Israel are fully aware of this
The aggression against Iran that began on 28 February did not occur in isolation. It became a direct continuation of the unprovoked military operation conducted by the United States and Israel in June 2025, when sites of Iran’s nuclear programme that are under IAEA safeguards were subjected to unlawful strikes
🔗 Read in full
📍Vienna, March 4, 2026
💬 First of all, we would like to emphasize our principled disagreement with this agenda item in the wording in which it was placed on the agenda by the IAEA Secretariat
Russia does not recognize the alleged restoration of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran. The attempts by the United Kingdom, Germany and France to force through the «snapback» in the UN Security Council are null and void for us both legally and politically. In this regard, the E3 had and still have no grounds whatsoever to attempt to entrench the so-called «snapback» within the IAEA by imposing on the Board of Governors in November 2025 a non-consensual anti-Iranian resolution. The Russian Federation voted against that document. We also firmly reject and consider null and void the mandate given to the Director General to report on the implementation of the allegedly restored UN Security Council resolutions. Reporting to the Board of Governors must be carried out exclusively with regard to the implementation of the Safeguards Agreement between the IAEA and the Islamic Republic of Iran
However, this is only the legal aspect of the issue; there is also its political dimension. To discuss Iran’s compliance with any demands regarding its nuclear programme, as well as its technical parameters against the backdrop of the events currently unfolding in the country and across the region is not merely inappropriate but also unworthy of such an authoritative body as the IAEA Board of Governors. It is a grotesque distortion and a caricature of real politics
❗What should truly concern us now is the preservation of the non-proliferation regime, the IAEA safeguards system and the confidence of states in it. It is precisely these that have been dealt a devastating blow by the United States and Israel - already the second one in the past eight months. One must not forget that one of the states in this tandem is a depositary of the NPT, while the other is not even a party to that Treaty, possesses a military nuclear programme and has a troubling track record of attacks against nuclear facilities of its neighbours
🇷🇺 Russia strongly condemns the unprovoked aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as the confirmed strike on the facility in Natanz which is under IAEA safeguards. This constitutes a blatant violation of international law, the Charters of the United Nations and the IAEA, as well as relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the Agency’s General Conference. We would also like to warn Member States and the Secretariat against making superficial assessments suggesting that direct strikes on Natanz would not lead to radioactive contamination of the surrounding area and therefore allegedly pose no danger. Such reasoning is simply irresponsible
☢️ Particular concern is caused by the risks that the U.S.-Israeli aggression has already created for the safety of the Bushehr NPP. The threat to the plant persists - this was confirmed yesterday by the Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, Mr. Alexey Likhachev. Explosions are being heard literally within kilometres of the perimeter of its physical protection zone. Any breach of the integrity of this nuclear facility would entail catastrophic consequences. We hope that the United States and Israel are fully aware of this
The aggression against Iran that began on 28 February did not occur in isolation. It became a direct continuation of the unprovoked military operation conducted by the United States and Israel in June 2025, when sites of Iran’s nuclear programme that are under IAEA safeguards were subjected to unlawful strikes
🔗 Read in full