IAEA Board of Governors
Extraordinary Meeting
Australian Statement
H.E Ambassador Ian Biggs, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
23 June 2025
Chair,
Australia remains concerned by the precarious security situation in the Middle East.
The world is facing a dangerous moment. What happens now matters. We continue to join others in calling for dialogue, de-escalation and diplomacy.
The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon. This Board has found that Iran has not been complying with its safeguards and non-proliferation obligations. Australia has been clear that any Iranian nuclear-weapons program would be a threat to international peace and security. It remains essential to reach a diplomatic solution to this crisis for the people of the region and for global stability, including to provide assurance that Iran can never develop a nuclear weapon.
Chair,
Australia again expresses our appreciation for the work of the Director General and the IAEA, which is continuing in the most challenging of circumstances. The IAEA’s exercise of its nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation mandate has been, and remains, essential.
The safety of Agency staff in Iran remains a matter of paramount importance.
It is essential that the Agency is able to resume inspections in Iran as soon as possible. The world seeks assurance that none of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile has been diverted. This is of particular significance regarding Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, which the Director General has said is almost equivalent to what is needed to have a nuclear weapon and is a matter of serious concern.
We continue to note the potential risks to nuclear safety and security. We note the Director General has indicated that at this stage no increase in off-site radiation levels has been detected in Iran.
Chair,
For a lasting solution to this crisis, it remains essential that Iran act promptly to return to full compliance with its safeguards obligations and cooperate fully with the IAEA – consistent with repeated resolutions of this Board. It is also vital that Iran demonstrate its commitment to the NPT. Any steps in the opposite direction would further exacerbate this situation, and would gravely undermine the global non-proliferation regime.
Constructive diplomacy and engagement remain the only viable path to achieving a long-term solution. We join calls by others, including members of this Board, that now is the time for peace. Iran needs to return to the negotiating table.
Chair,
We again thank the Director General and the Secretariat, and ask that the Director General continue to keep the Board informed of all relevant developments.
Thank you, Chair.