The United Nations has appointed Iran as one of the 34 vice presidents to oversee the upcoming review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a decision that has drawn criticism from several member states. The appointment took place on Monday as part of the preparations for the treaty’s quinquennial review conference.

The United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia formally opposed Iran’s inclusion in the leadership of the review process, citing Tehran’s history of non-compliance with its NPT obligations. Despite these objections, the U.N. proceeded with the appointment, positioning Iran in a prominent role on the panel.

Iran’s participation in the non-proliferation review has raised concerns due to the findings of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In June of the previous year, the IAEA reported that Iran violated its Safeguards Agreement under the NPT by failing to fully disclose and protect nuclear materials that could be used for weapons development. The agency uncovered evidence of activities including four tests conducted in 2003 at Iran’s Marivan site involving “full-scale hemispherical implosion systems,” which are components relevant to nuclear weapon design.

Further aggravating the situation, Iran reportedly prepared for a “cold test,” an experiment containing nuclear materials designed to simulate a nuclear explosion without a nuclear detonation. The country also planned to manufacture neutron initiators, devices used to trigger nuclear reactions in weapons. When IAEA inspectors requested access to Iran’s Marivan facility in 2019, Iranian authorities denied entry to the control bunker, which was subsequently demolished.

While the U.N.’s decision reflects the organization’s approach of engaging all member states in arms control discussions, critics argue that Iran’s role should be contingent on acknowledging past violations and committing to transparency. Supporters of Iran’s involvement assert that its participation presents an opportunity for dialogue and cooperation within the framework of the NPT.

The treaty review conference is scheduled to occur later this year, continuing the ongoing global effort to monitor and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The inclusion of Iran in the leadership positions underscores the complexities inherent in managing nuclear non-proliferation amid geopolitical tensions.