IAEA Board of Governors Meeting: 26-27 November 2015
Statement by HE Mr David Stuart, Resident Representative to the IAEA
Agenda Item 4(b): Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement and relevant provisions of
Security Council resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Mr Chair,
The Australian delegation thanks the Director-General for his report of 18 November on safeguards implementation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including its helpful annexes.
Mr Chair,
Australia has consistently welcomed progress made towards addressing international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, including the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed between the E3/EU+3 and Iran on 14 July and endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on 20 July.
We welcome the progress identified in the Director-General’s report, particularly Iran’s advice that it will implement the modified Code 3.1 of the Subsidiary Arrangements to its Safeguards Agreement and provisionally apply its Additional Protocol, effective on JCPOA Implementation Day, and the Agency’s advice that Iran has begun removing centrifuges and related infrastructure from the Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz and the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.
Mr Chair,
Under Iran’s parallel Roadmap with the Agency, it agreed to accelerate and strengthen efforts to resolve all past and present outstanding issues, including those set out in the annex to the Director-General’s November 2011 report GOV/2011/65 titled “possible military dimensions (PMD) to Iran’s nuclear program”. We look forward to receiving, we hope by this time next week, the Director-General’s final assessment on the resolution of all past and present outstanding issues.
Australia strongly supports the Agency taking a central role in the monitoring and verification of Iran’s commitments under the JCPOA, as it has under the Joint Plan of Action agreed by the E3/EU+3 and Iran in November 2013. We are pleased the Agency has begun conducting preparatory activities related to this task.
Mr Chair,
We acknowledge the hard work in building trust on all sides to get to the point where we have the prospect of implementing the JCPOA fully. This is an ongoing process, the success of which will depend on the continuing goodwill of the parties to the agreement, with the active support of the Agency – both its Secretariat and its Member States.
Australia supports the public release of the Director-General’s report GOV/2015/65.
Thank you.