At an October 27, 2026 UN Security Council meeting, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reported that Iran has not attempted to repair nuclear facilities damaged in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, but warned that 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium remain unaccounted for. While U.S. President Donald Trump defended the war as necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Tehran despite rising fuel prices hitting Republicans before midterm elections, Iran rejected nonproliferation breach referrals and condemned the military strikes.
Status of damaged Iranian nuclear facilities
- ▪Iranian nuclear sites damaged by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes include the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, Natanz enrichment plants, Esfahan complex facilities, and the Khondab heavy water research reactor.
- ▪IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated on October 27, 2026, that the agency identified no activity to repair or reconstruct Iranian nuclear facilities damaged in U.S. and Israeli military strikes in 2025 and 2026.
IAEA concerns over unaccounted enriched uranium
- ▪IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi informed the UN Security Council on October 27, 2026, that 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium remain unaccounted for due to lack of inspector access.
- ▪The IAEA reported that Iran holds 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, a technical step away from 90% weapons-grade levels.
- ▪IAEA inspectors have been unable to verify the status of nuclear material in Iran since being withdrawn for safety after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes began in June 2025.
IAEA access to nuclear sites
- ▪Iran declared the Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant to the IAEA before June 2025 airstrikes, but has since rejected repeated requests for inspector access.
- ▪IAEA inspectors continue verification work at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant as Iran cooperates on safeguards equipment ahead of transferring spent fuel to a dry-storage facility.
Legal nonproliferation obligations
- ▪IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council on October 27, 2026, that Iran cannot unilaterally suspend its legal nonproliferation obligations under any circumstances.
- ▪Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran is legally bound to declare all nuclear material and permit IAEA inspectors to verify it is not diverted from peaceful uses.
UN Security Council referral and debate
- ▪Bahrain, Denmark, Latvia, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States requested an October 27, 2026 UN Security Council meeting after the IAEA referred Iran for nonproliferation non-compliance.
- ▪The IAEA Board of Governors voted to formally refer Iran to the UN Security Council for breaching nuclear nonproliferation obligations
- ▪At an October 27, 2026 UN Security Council meeting, Iranian UN deputy ambassador Gholamhossein Darzi accused the U.S. of war crimes while U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz demanded Iran explain its safeguard failures.
Diplomatic efforts to restore nuclear verification
- ▪IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi signed the Cairo Agreement with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on September 9, 2025, to address security concerns and restore nuclear verifications.
- ▪Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, and Egypt conducted regional mediation efforts to re-engage Iran and establish acceptable IAEA verification arrangements.
Trump assertions on Iran military strikes
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump cited preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons as a primary reason for launching war against Iran on February 28, 2026.
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that military strikes carried out by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025 obliterated Iran's atomic program.
US political fallout from fuel prices
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump argued that higher fuel prices resulting from the Iran war were necessary to prevent Tehran from securing nuclear weapons.
- ▪Higher fuel prices and economic fallout from the 2026 war with Iran emerged as a political liability for Republicans ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
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