The United Kingdom has called on Iran to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to return to all its nuclear sites, saying renewed inspections are necessary to restore international confidence in the country’s nuclear programme.
UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, made the appeal during a UN Security Council meeting on Iran.
MacIntosh said the IAEA remained ready to resume safeguards activities in Iran at short notice, adding that cooperation with the agency was necessary to address concerns over the country’s nuclear material.
IAEA Board Refers Iran to UN Security Council
MacIntosh said the IAEA Board of Governors referred Iran to the Security Council after determining that the country had continued to fail to meet its nuclear safeguards obligations.
The referral followed the board’s June 2025 determination that Iran was not complying with its obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.
According to the UK statement, the decision marked the first time in two decades that the board had referred Iran to the Security Council over the issue.
MacIntosh said the referral reflected the seriousness of concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities and followed repeated opportunities for the country to address the reported non-compliance.
UK Raises Concerns Over Iran’s Enriched Uranium Stockpile
The UK ambassador said Iran had accumulated more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 per cent.
She stated that Iran remained the only country without nuclear weapons enriching uranium to that level and argued that there was no credible civilian justification for doing so.
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Shayna Feinman, an Arizona woman who disappeared more than two years ago, has reportedly been found alive in Mexico, although her family is awaiting confirmation of her identity. The Tijuana Municipal Security and Protection Service (SSPCM) said Feinman was located in the Encino neighbourhood on October 23, 2026. Authorities said her physical characteristics matched those of the missing woman. Feinman, who was 38 when she disappeared, was last seen on March 9, 2024, while reportedly walking to a friend’s house near the Peach Springs and Hyde Park area of Seligman, Arizona. According to Mexican authorities, officers confirmed her identity and placed her under their protection before moving her to a safe location. Arrangements were then initiated to enable her family and consular officials to contact her. Family Awaits Independent Confirmation of Her Identity Despite the announcement from Mexican authorities, Feinman’s sister, Kara, said the family had not yet met the woman found in Tijuana and was waiting for confirmation from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. Speaking to FOX10, Kara said physical similarities alone were not enough to establish that the woman was her sister. “There are a ton of people that are short like she was and have dark hair, everywhere,” she said. Kara added that the family was hoping for a positive outcome but wanted to remain calm until further information became available. “I can only hope and pray [for] good news, but right now, we have to be realistic, rational and calm,” she said. Paul Wick, a spokesperson for the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that the agency was aware of reports that Feinman had been located in Mexico. However, he said the information had not been independently confirmed. “At this time, the information remains unconfirmed, and there is insufficient evidence to verify her identity,” Wick said. Feinman Disappeared After Leaving for a Friend’s House Feinman disappeared in March 2024 after reportedly setting out on foot to visit a friend near Seligman. She never arrived at her destination, and her whereabouts remained unknown for more than two years. Investigators recovered her mobile phone and other personal belongings from a nearby property during the initial investigation. The sheriff’s office also reported that people who had last been seen with Feinman were not cooperating with detectives at the time. Her disappearance prompted a search for information about her whereabouts, with Yavapai Silent Witness previously offering a $20,000 reward for information relating to the case. Feinman’s family also travelled to the area where she was last seen to search for answers. During the visit, relatives received some of her personal belongings and were reunited with a family dog they had not seen since she was reported missing. Murder Charges Against Two Men Were Dismissed The investigation into Feinman’s disappearance previously led authorities to pursue murder charges against her boyfriend, Cavett Richards, and William DalCerro. According to FOX10, investigators announced probable cause to charge both men with second-degree murder, conspiracy and concealment of a dead body. The allegations were pursued despite the fact that search teams had not recovered Feinman’s remains. Both men had previously been arrested on unrelated weapons and stolen-vehicle charges, according to the report. Court documents from Yavapai County Superior Court show that the murder charges against Richards and DalCerro were dismissed in January 2025. The current circumstances surrounding Feinman’s disappearance and the events that may have led her to Mexico remain under investigation. Detectives Investigate How She Reached Mexico Authorities are continuing to seek information about why Feinman disappeared and how she may have travelled from Arizona to Mexico. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has not yet confirmed that the woman found in Tijuana is Feinman. Yavapai Silent Witness had previously asked residents in the area and surrounding communities to review security-camera footage for information that could assist investigators. The organisation’s website had not been updated to reflect the reported discovery at the time of the supplied report. US Consular Officials Arrange Possible Return to Family Mexican authorities said arrangements were being made with the US Consular Office to facilitate the woman’s safe return to her family. The process is expected to involve contact between consular officials, the family and the relevant authorities as the identification procedures continue. Feinman’s relatives are awaiting confirmation from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office before determining whether the woman found in Mexico is their missing family member. The investigation remains ongoing.
MacIntosh also said the stockpile of highly enriched uranium had remained unaccounted for for more than a year.
The statement further accused Iran of denying the IAEA the access required to inspect sites considered particularly sensitive from a nuclear proliferation perspective.
IAEA Unable to Reach Safeguards Conclusion
MacIntosh said the IAEA reported in June 2026 that it could not draw a safeguards conclusion regarding the nuclear material because of the unresolved issues and restrictions on access.
According to the UK representative, the agency identified the situation as a proliferation concern.
She said Iran’s continued refusal to address the outstanding issues had led the board to refer the matter to the Security Council.
The statement urged Iran to meet its safeguards obligations and cooperate fully with the IAEA.
UK Says Diplomatic Solution Remains Possible
Despite the referral, MacIntosh said a path towards resolving the dispute remained available.
She cited the IAEA’s readiness to resume safeguards activities in Iran and said the return of inspectors to all nuclear sites should be the first step.
The UK representative said verification was essential to rebuilding international confidence that Iran’s nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.
She also called on UN member states to recognise the seriousness of the reported non-compliance and urge Iran to cooperate with the agency in good faith.
Britain Reaffirms Opposition to an Iranian Nuclear Weapon
MacIntosh said the United Kingdom remained committed to achieving a lasting and sustainable diplomatic solution to the dispute.
She said Britain’s objective was to ensure that Iran never developed or acquired a nuclear weapon.
The UK statement presented renewed IAEA access, compliance with safeguards obligations and cooperation with international inspectors as key steps towards addressing concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme.
About Samantha Allen
Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide.
Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.
