United Nation watchdog says Iran not complying with nuclear obligations

A United Nations watchdog has found Iran has not been observing its nuclear obligations, which could lead to sanctions being restored on Tehran.

Iran said almost immediately after the U.N. announcement said the findings were "politically motivated" but that it would institute counter-measures.

The watchdog group, the board of governors for the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, said it had discovered traces of uranium at sights that were not reported since 2019, according to news reports Thursday.

The agreement, which reportedly dates back to the 1970s, stipulates that the international organization must be privy to Iran’s nuclear production and activities to ensure all such activities are non-military.

The IAEA board condemned the non-compliance in a resolution that also asks Iran to provide answers to this discovery.

A joint statement from Iran's MFA & Atomic Energy Organization posted on X stated that the resolution was “politically motivated” and that Iran would respond.

“Accordingly, the President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has issued necessary directives for launching a new enrichment facility in a secure location, and replacing first-generation centrifuges at the Martyr Ali Mohammadi (Fordo) enrichment center with advanced sixth-generation machines,” the statement reads.