Iran failing to comply with nuclear obligations for first time in almost 20 years, says UN watchdog
12 June 2025, 09:55 | Updated: 12 June 2025, 10:03
Iran is failing to comply with nuclear obligations a UN watchdog has said, marking the first time the country has failed to do so in almost 20 years.
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Iran insisted it has "always adhered" to the safeguard obligations, as laid out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Tehran said it "has no choice but to respond to this political resolution," and said it would launch a new enrichment site "in a secure location".
"Other measures are also being planned and will be announced subsequently," Iran added.
It comes as Iran and the US are set to hold a sixth round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme this Sunday in Oman, the sultanate's foreign minister has said.
Within hours, it also emerged that Israel is now understood to be considering military action against Iran in the coming days.
Sources have told US media a strike could be imminent as Washington and Tehran move closer to agreeing provisions for uranium enrichment.
Israel views that as unacceptable as it aims to curb Iran's nuclear capabilities.
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The announcement by Oman's foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi comes as the US is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest.
Meanwhile, there have been warnings that ships could be targeted in regional waters over the tensions.
Mr al-Busaidi made the announcement on the social platform X.
"I am pleased to confirm the 6th round of Iran US talks will be held in Muscat this Sunday the 15th," he wrote.
Iran for days had been saying there would be talks, but Oman, which is serving as the mediator, had not confirmed them until now.
There was no immediate comment from the US.
Reaching a deal is one of the several diplomatic priorities being juggled by US President Donald Trump and his trusted friend and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
An accord could see the US lift some of its crushing economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for it drastically limiting or ending its enrichment of uranium.
A failure to get a deal could see tensions further spike in a Middle East on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
Iran's economy, long ailing, could enter a freefall that could worsen the simmering unrest at home.
Israel or the US might carry out long-threatened air strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and Tehran may decide to fully end its co-operation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog and rush toward a bomb.
Iran and the US have held previous talks in Muscat and Rome.
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