Iran, Russia and China say referring Iran's nuclear file to the UN Security Council has no legal basis

Iran, Russia and China issued a joint statement on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 (18 Shahrivar 1405) on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors meeting, saying the draft resolution proposed by the United States, Germany, France and Britain to refer Iran's nuclear file to the UN Security Council has no legal basis. According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, the three countries said in the statement that the claimed finding of Iranian non-compliance with safeguards obligations in June 2025 was politically motivated and paved the way for attacks on Iran's IAEA-safeguarded nuclear facilities. They also said that since all provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 expired on October 18, 2025, the three European countries' attempt to trigger the so-called snapback mechanism was void and without legal effect. The joint statement cited Tehran's positive response to a request for access to the Bushehr nuclear power plant in mid September 2026 as a sign of Iran's commitment to constructive engagement, and called for an immediate and permanent halt to all attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities.